Nuke Personnel

The Defense Department recently updated its policy for the management of the Nuclear Weapons Personnel Reliability Program.

The July 16 instruction memo calls for the following:

a. Reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5210.42 (Reference (b)) and updates established policy and assigned responsibilities for the management of the DoD Nuclear Weapons PRP.

b. Implements the provisions in DoDD 3150.2 (Reference (c)) that personnel involved in nuclear operations shall receive appropriate training and will be continuously evaluated as required under a PRP.

c. Identifies the standards of individual reliability for personnel performing specific duties associated with nuclear weapons, nuclear command and control (NC2) systems and equipment, or specified quantities of special nuclear material (SNM).

d. Requires the selection and retention of only those personnel who are emotionally stable and physically capable and who have demonstrated reliability and professional competence. Individuals who do not meet or maintain program standards shall not be selected for or retained in the PRP.

View the memo here.

Inside the Air Force reported on Friday that DOD's inspector general had recently issued a fairly positive review of Air Force Global Strike Command's first three years in operation, commending many efficiencies in command relationships and noting additional opportunities to make more effective use of resources. Further:

The command was created in 2009 and charged with strengthening the Air Force's nuclear programs after two notable nuclear-related missteps -- in 2007, a transfer of nuclear weapons by a B-52 aircraft, and in 2008, a shipment of nuclear weapon component parts to Taiwan. The command -- which oversees 8th Air Force and 20th Air Force missions -- presides over three intercontinental ballistic missile wings, two B-52 wings and one B-2 wing.

Since its formation, AFGSC has been working to build up the nuclear enterprise and has taken over personnel and intelligence functions. Personnel specialists at both Numbered Air Forces (NAFs) have improved their processes for filling important nuclear billets both in an immediate and long-term context, the report states.

"We determined the AFGSC took a proactive role with regard to enhancing the Air Force's nuclear enterprise focus prior to initiation of our assessment," the report states. "Resultantly, the Air Force has reduced manning at the NAFs while increasing their relevance. . . . Our assessment team determined that both 20 AF and 8 AF have matured significantly since 2007."