Photo by Sagar Pathak Strike Command Steps Up The legendary SAC is the benchmark for the Air Force’s new nuclear deterrent force.

By Adam J. Hebert, Executive Editor That didn’t carry on in the post- SAC years, and, as a result, the ser- vice committed a number of serious arms-related blunders. “The focus on existing standards had atrophied over the years,” said Brig. Gen. Everett H. Thomas, commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Beginning in 1992, the nuclear mis- sion was divided between and Air Force Space Com- mand. In many ways, it became sec- ondary in competitions for attention, , however, USAF’s nuclear resources, and prestige. element slowly drifted away from that Now, the SAC outlook is coming exacting standard. back—because that’s the way things It was a mistake, as everyone now will need to be when dealing with the readily, almost compulsively, concede. most powerful weapons on Earth. The That certainly goes for Lt. Gen. Frank creation of Global Strike Command, G. Klotz, the officer chosen to head with a singular focus on the nuclear or nearly 50 years, Strategic Air USAF’s new Global Strike Command. enterprise, is designed to underline Command maintained an unspar- “If there is one unchanging, immu- that. “It became clear” that nuclear ing, no-nonsense operational cul- table truth” about the nuclear arsenal, and conventional missions were “out Fture. After the Air Force disestablished said Klotz, “it is that it demands constant of balance,” Klotz said. Strike Com- the legendary SAC at the end of the and undivided attention.” mand is to put them back into balance.

26 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2010 Photo by Ted Carlson

Left, a B-2 stealth bomber on a train- tenance—all said they see the new focus the real world. Stoss noted that be- ing mission. Above, a B-52 on a Red most clearly in the new intensity of the cause of overlapping modernization Flag sortie over Nevada. Both bomber exercises and inspections. They are train- and upgrade schedules, the operating types are ready to perform nuclear or conventional missions. ing and being judged more frequently, tempo for Minuteman III operators and and more harshly, than at any point in maintenance personnel is at an all-time most of their careers. high. While on alert, “you never know Col. Ferdinand B. Stoss III, com- In some cases, the training must when something’s going to come up,” mander of the at be intensified just to keep pace with said 2nd Lt. John Farnell, a deputy Minot AFB, N.D., noted that the loss of focus was a change in culture that “took time, and it will take time to build it back.” Part of the problem, USAF photo he explained, was that over time the space side of the 13S career field that space and missile officers share became more prestigious than the missile side. When missileers finished their initial tours, most of the best and brightest were switching to space operations for their follow-on tours.

Best and Brightest Priorities have already changed. Stoss reports that space ops will still inherit the majority of graduating missileers be- cause that field requires greater numbers of midcareer officers. But the “best and brightest” missileers are now progress- ing into both career tracks—and there are more volunteers for career follow- on nuclear assignments than there are spaces available. Veteran airmen in the nuclear fields— Missile maintenance technicians work on a Minuteman III ICBM in its launch silo missiles, bombers, munitions, and main- during a nuclear surety inspection at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2010 27 Photo by Sagar Pathak

SSgt. Dustin Martin (l), SrA. Monicha Pugh (on ladder), and A1C Cody Mc- Setting Up for Nuclear Success Connell perform maintenance on a B-2 bomb bay simulator at Whiteman AFB, During the Cold War, had responsibility for nearly Mo. all things nuclear. In recent years, however, the nuclear mission has been split between Air Combat Command for bombers, Air Force Space Com- crew commander in the 740th Missile mand for ICBMs, and Air Force Materiel Command for sustainment. Nuclear Squadron. “It’s feast or famine.” issues were often not the top priority. This affects training as well. To restore the nuclear enterprise to its rightful place at the top of the Air “In the mid-to-late [1990s], many Force’s domestic priority list, USAF made many changes that have just recently been realized. Air Force Global Strike Command was created to alerts were the same,” said Lt. Col. oversee nuclear operations. It is the first all-new major command since Space Todd Schollars, who oversees missile Command was established in 1982. procedure training. Alerts have become Strike Command encompasses 23,000 airmen at five bases, and just as- “incredibly complex,” he said, because sumed control of the B-2 and B-52 bomber fleets in February. several missiles could be undergoing An additional B-52 squadron, the 69th Bomb Squadron, was activated at maintenance at the same time. Officials Minot so that both BUFF bases would have two operational squadrons and have had to increase the intensity of the ability to support the new Global Deterrence Force. GDF calls for one the training “just to replicate the field.” B-52 unit to spend a year at a time dedicated to nuclear missions. In other cases, the training has been The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., now has intensified to meet the most stressing Air Force-wide responsibility for sustainment. The NWC was created in 2006, but it is being expanded from less than 10 personnel to more than scenarios. Capt. Tom Meagher, a B-52 200. Brig. Gen. Everett H. Thomas is the first general officer commander of aircraft commander with the 69th Bomb the weapons center. Squadron, noted that the focus for one After several years with no senior officer on the Air Staff having an ex- week at the end of March was on strategic clusively nuclear focus, USAF established the A10 assistant chief of staff attack and dealing with fighter intercepts. position. Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston is the first A10. In recognition of the From 2007 through 2009, Minot was fact that (short of the Chief of Staff) there was no four-star general directly on the front lines of the Air Force’s responsible for nuclear sustainment, AFMC’s Gen. Donald J. Hoffman was nuclear struggles. The commander of placed in charge of oversight. the 5th Bomb Wing was among those Finally, the Air Force established a new program executive office position fired in 2007 after nuclear cruise missiles for strategic systems, collocated with the NWC at Kirtland. Brig. Gen. John F. Thompson became the first PEO for strategic systems in March. were accidentally flown from Minot to Barksdale AFB, La. 28 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2010 The commander of Minot’s missile test at any university, Klotz said, but performance, and a unit can expect wing was later relieved from command, 95 out of 100 could cause a base to to be inspected about twice per year. in October 2009, after a pair of high fail an NSI—if the errors are in the For the younger troops, today’s inten- profile nuclear-related incidents at the wrong places. sity is just a way of life. First Lt. Jannel base. Just two weeks after that, the Still, “Airmen will do what they Emery, an instructor and evaluator in 5th Bomb Wing’s replacement com- are asked to do,” said Smith, and with the 91st Operations Support Squadron mander was removed after units failed time and repetition, they “may think that tests missileers, put it succinctly: several inspections. (The three Minot this is normal.” “This is our job.” Airmen have “adapted wing commanders were all removed to intense ops,” she said. before their units joined Global Strike A Way of Life For bombers, conventional missions Command.) The goal is to identify potential were the priority for many years, but “Airmen didn’t fail the Air Force problems early, before they become it is no longer appropriate to even say when we had these breakdowns,” Maj. major issues, not to “pass” or “fail” the nuclear-capable bomb crews have Gen. C. Donald Alston, later said. “The a given number of units. Inspections divided attention, said Cox. Today’s Air Force failed our airmen. ... We had that are impossible to pass serve little focus is on nuclear responsibilities not given the enterprise the attention purpose—but so do NSIs that are not “first and foremost” with conventional that nuclear missions demand.” tough enough. operations an additional duty. With the Morale was down at Minot after the These inspections are important, nuclear mission serving as the “foun- mistakes and failed inspections last but just “one indicator of how a unit is dation” for everything the wing does, year, said CMSgt. Martin K. Smith, performing,” said Col. Sandra E. Finan, Cox said, other responsibilities such command chief for the 5th Bomb Wing, GSC inspector general at Barksdale. as the Pacific presence mission can be but the confidence has returned. “In our business, perfection is our methodically worked in. When the current bomb wing com- output,” but this must be achieved Bomber crews go beyond being mander, Col. Douglas A. Cox, was first by humans who are imperfect, Finan “dual-hatted” by offering both nuclear reassigned from to Minot last noted. Built-in operational redun- and conventional capabilities. “We’re October, he acknowledged that he was dancies can mask some problems if dual-wardrobed,” said Capt. Matthew concerned about what he would find. inspectors don’t dig deeply enough, so Guasco, a pilot with the 23rd Bomb What he found was “commitment and finding the correct level of inspection Squadron. Crews must “keep both ends dedication to get [things done] right,” difficulty is a constant balancing act. of the spear sharp.” he said. This January, the fledgling Global Strike Command today takes Things must be carefully balanced, 69th Bomb Squadron passed its initial larger sample sizes and brings more but Klotz notes USAF has performed nuclear surety inspection and the 5th inspectors, typically about 100 for an Bomb Wing simultaneously passed a NSI. This allows for a deeper drilling A mockup of a B61 bomb used for nuclear weapons load training at Minot no-notice NSI. down into procedures. AFB, N.D. AFGSC’s B-52s can deliver Getting 95 percent of the questions Finan said the no-notice NSIs are a a wide variety of cruise missiles and correct will earn someone an “A” on a valuable way to evaluate day-to-day gravity bombs. Staff photo by Adam Hebert

AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2010 29 Staff photo by Adam Hebert

this balancing act many times before. facilities, and there are plans for a Minot is adding operational B-52s to fill out a new bomb squadron. This SAC bombers performed conventional brand-new control tower and air traffic B-52 in a base hangar is being used missions as far back as the Korean War, control complex. for weapons load training. Both Minot and B-2s and B-52s today deploy to sup- Klotz said the other nuclear bases and Barksdale AFB, La., home of Strike port US Pacific Command’s continuous are also benefiting from infrastructure Command, will have two bomb squad- forward presence mission on Guam. improvements. Barksdale is adding rons and will require infrastructure improvements. Activating the 69th Bomb Squadron 1,100 airmen through various nuclear gives Minot and Barksdale two opera- personnel additions and the stand-up tional B-52 squadrons each, so that one of Global Strike Command. These three commands. Today, the remaining squadron can be assigned to the Global airmen should pose less of an integra- five “CONUS WSAs” belong to the Deterrence Force rotation. That job is tion strain than at Minot, however, Nuclear Weapons Center—not the local 100 percent nuclear for a full year. because Barksdale is surrounded by wing. Their profile has also been raised. The new squadron is bringing 800 air- the large communities of Shreveport “Previously, we had a young captain ... men to Minot—13 percent of the base’s and Bossier City. responsible for the inner workings inside population—but it will take time to build The base does, however, need new of the weapons storage area,” Thomas to full capability. Many of the aircrew buildings to replace some obsolete testified. “We moved that to a lieutenant members and crew chiefs are coming in structures, along with road and weapons colonel’s position.” from other weapons systems, and need storage area (WSA) upgrades. In addition to the construction at to ramp up their skills with the B-52. The Air Force has decided to re- the base, Minot airmen have noticed a The shortage of midcareer airmen with certify Barksdale’s WSA, which was marked increase in high-level visitors. nuclear skills is a problem here as well. closed to nuclear weapons years ago, In the past, “I think we were a little Lt. Col. Patrick Ballard, deputy com- so that B-52 crews have easier access forgotten about,” said Capt. Lauren mander of the 5th Maintenance Group, to strategic weapons for training and Eiffes, a B-52 standards and evaluation said sortie rates should stabilize by the exercises. Klotz told Congress that it officer. That is certainly not the case fall, but because of the spin-up times for will take about $150 million to reopen anymore, she said, citing visits from airmen new to B-52s, life may not fully the WSA, but the Air Force was going Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates “normalize” until the spring of 2011. to wait until the Nuclear Posture Review and Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USAF Infrastructure improvements are pro- was completed before moving forward. Chief of Staff. gressing to absorb Minot’s new person- The weapons storage areas are of Indeed, Gates cited the erosion in nel. Large numbers of new dorms and particular interest, because the Minot nuclear standards as the reason he forced other base housing are under construc- incident began in the WSA. In the then-Air Force Secretary Michael W. tion. The new bomb squadron needs “mid-1990s,” Thomas said, 10 domestic Wynne and Gen. T. Michael Moseley, additional hangars and maintenance weapons storage areas were operated by Schwartz’s predecessor, to resign in June 30 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2010 2008. Renewed attention brings with it six or seven fully mission-capable at until 2020, with a “guarded option” more personnel, higher standards, and most times. of preserving them to 2030. additional funding. After years of delay, the Air Force The Air Force has a “good handle” The nuclear enterprise needs all of included funding in the 2011 budget on which components will not last the this, because much of its resources are request to begin a helicopter replace- life of the weapon, he said. The key is ancient, beginning with 40-year-old ment program, with a target in-service long-term planning. Minuteman IIIs. “Much of the infrastruc- date of 2015. Tewksbury said security ICBMs are in a similar situation. The ture—for example, missile silos, launch forces would benefit from helicopters 2007 defense authorization act directed control centers, missile alert facilities, with greater speed, all-weather capabil- USAF to sustain the Minuteman III underground cables—were fielded even ity, and the ability to transport a TRF through 2030. The service recently put earlier, with previous generations of the in two aircraft instead of three. together its first ICBM roadmap in a Minuteman,” Klotz told lawmakers in decade to help meet this requirement. March. No “Showstoppers” The roadmap calls for “smaller but The last B-52, meanwhile, “left the Nuclear test and support equipment is steady investments ... to sustain the factory in 1962.” There are only 77 B- a particular concern. For years, Thomas weapon system until a replacement 52s and 20 B-2s, and no new bomber explained, there were questions about system is fielded. Block upgrades in has been produced since 1997. Global who was responsible for nuclear sustain- flight, ground, and support equipment Strike Command will advocate for a ment. At one point the Air Force tried subsystems are the best approach.” next generation long-range strike air- to launch a Mk 21 fuze refurbishment This echoes the approach the Air Force craft, one that will in all likelihood be program, but it had no general officer has used on the Minuteman in the past. nuclear-capable. involvement, and ultimately went no- The service is now wrapping up $7 bil- Another aircraft of concern is the where. The Air Force was forced to lion worth of multiyear propulsion and UH-1 used to help defend the nation’s start over. guidance replacement programs. Klotz missile fields. These Hueys date to The Mk 12 and Mk 21 fuzes that arm last year said these have modernized 1970, and have severe range, size, and ICBM warheads both need refurbish- “practically every inch” of the missile. performance limitations. Lt. Col. Jay ment, and the NWC considers these Some Minutemen are even getting Tewksbury, commander of Minot’s fuzes a top sustainment concern. Col. replacement re-entry vehicles from 54th Helicopter Squadron, notes that James D. Fisher, commander of the decommissioned Peacekeeper missiles. the Hueys are highly reliable and easy 526th ICBM Systems Group, notes that The roadmap notes that 2030 is still a to maintain, but their performance limi- the Mk 21 fuze was never designed to long way off, however, and “additional tations are too great to look past. For be refurbished—part of the reason the work” will be needed to identify what example, they lack a deicing capability, service is interested in developing with parts will need refurbishment to meet which can be a major problem at the the Navy a joint/common fuze that the new life requirement. Northern Tier missile bases. could be used for both the Minuteman Fisher said he sees no “showstoppers” The helicopter units work with spe- III and SLBMs. on the ICBM sustainment horizon, but cially trained, 17-man tactical response Nuclear gravity bombs are also on the the Air Force will “have to refresh some forces trained for counterterrorism op- agenda. The Air Force supports a life items of concern once again.” erations. Why 17 men? “Too many extension program for the B61 bomb It will take time to rebuild the nuclear people get in the way,” said MSgt. Duke carried by USAF’s heavy bombers systems, equipment, expertise, and McDuffie, superintendent of the 791st and many dual-role fighters. The goal culture that declined since SAC’s dis- Missile Security Forces Squadron’s is to improve the safety, security, and solution in 1992. Officials have not TRF unit. The team—ready to assault reliability of a weapon that still carries necessarily become accustomed to the a missile launch facility (silo) in “any vacuum tubes. new requirements, but all seem to feel configuration”—includes a command As the Nuclear Weapons Center works they are now operating at a higher level and control airman, an eight-man assault “on a comprehensive life extension of of proficiency. team, a four-man heavy weapons team, the versatile B61, [it is] also studying the The no-notice inspections clearly keep two snipers, and two spotters. need for weapons to meet future delivery airmen on their toes. Technically, they are All are security forces veterans serv- platform requirements,” Thomas said. “very little” notice inspections because ing three-year controlled tours, drawn Officials have already identified the teams might get shot if they showed up from volunteers among the security need for a next generation cruise missile. at nuclear weapons facilities completely forces airmen at the nuclear weapons USAF began developing the require- unannounced. Still, Kirtland’s Stuckey bases. ments for the new weapon this spring, noted, the last three inspections he was Team member SSgt. Augustin Tor- and is expected to soon begin a formal privy to offered five hours’ notice, then res said the team “specializes in close analysis of alternatives. four hours, then 24 hours. This serves to quarter combat,” for example within an The service is continuing to de- keep airmen at a “higher and consistent occupied missile silo. But despite the commission its stealthy Advanced level of readiness,” he said. popular reputations of assault teams like Cruise Missiles and cut its inventory Last November, when Thomas spoke this, Torres added, the TRF’s job is “not of Air Launched Cruise Missiles, but to Air Force Magazine at Kirtland, to kill everybody; ... [it] is to save lives.” dozens of ALCMs will continue to there were about a hundred inspectors The TRF concept originated in 2002 provide standoff punch for the B-52 performing a nuclear surety inspection to meet the greater security require- fleet. The plan, says Col. Richard M. at the base. Despite this and the other ments since 9/11, but Tewksbury notes Stuckey, commander of the 498th difficulties that inevitably lie ahead, that it takes three Hueys to transport a Nuclear Systems Wing at Kirtland, Thomas said, “I smile a lot more than TRF. Minot only has eight UH-1s, with is to sustain the remaining ALCMs I did when I got here.” n AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2010 31