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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 Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Com- mand. In many ways, it became sec- ondary in competitions for attention, Cold War, 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 91st Missile Wing 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, Strategic Air Command 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 Guam to Minot last noted. Built-in operational redun- and conventional capabilities.