Commentary: Why history matters for our Unit Compliance Inspection

  • Published
  • By Col. Rich Stuckey
  • 498th Armament Systems Wing commander
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  On March 31, 2006, Kirtland Air Force Base became the home of Air Force Materiel Command's newest organization - The Nuclear Weapons Center.
At stand-up, the center consolidated all major AFMC nuclear activities under the organization including:

1. The Missile Sustainment Group located at Tinker AFB, Okla., responsible for the management of cruise missiles including the ALCM and ACM,

2. The Nuclear Systems Group located on Kirtland AFB, responsible for providing nuclear weapon system engineering support to existing and developing systems in the areas of nuclear certification and ongoing sustainment programs and

3. The Munitions Maintenance Group responsible for providing nuclear maintenance capability. Kirtland AFB's selection as the center's home was no surprise as the base has been at the heart of nuclear activities for over 60 years. The initial stand-up of the center was considered "Phase 1."

"Phase 2" of the center's planned growth was to consolidate all major nuclear activities within the Air Force under the Nuclear Weapons Center. This was no easy task as it required established Air Force organizations outside of AFMC to transfer operational responsibilities and funding to the center - the dreaded turf wars!! This was accomplished; however, through the diligence and political expertise of the Nuclear Weapons Center's and AFMC's leadership, and on Feb. 29, 2008, the Nuclear Weapons Center was renamed the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.

During the approximate two years from stand-up, the center had consolidated numerous Air Force nuclear agencies and activities under its management umbrella, including the nuclear weapon storage vaults in U.S. Air Forces Europe, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons and Counterproliferation Agency responsible for the management of all nuclear warheads and bombs, the direct management of all Air Force nuclear weapon logistics, and the list goes on.

Several recent nuclear incidents have again raised senior leadership concerns relating to nuclear weapons surety. With a renewed interest in all things nuclear, the center is now entering "Phase 3" by direction of our Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff. This next phase stands up a new maintenance group with responsibility for weapon storage areas in the United States under the center's umbrella and an increase of over 288 personnel to provide additional technical talent to our nuclear enterprise.

Our Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center is again evolving to be a more complete center of excellence. So why is this short history lesson important to know as we prepare for our Unit Compliance Inspection?

The bottom line is that since our initial stand-up, the center has been on a "fast track" in its growth and evolution, and compliance to procedures, directives and policies may have taken a back seat during the numerous reorganizations and lack of fully manned units. Noncompliance is not an option in the nuclear business - the consequences are too severe, not only to the individual or unit, but also to the safety of this nation.

We must be in compliance every day, in the nuclear area and in every area, if we are to be deserving of our nation's trust! Beginning on Dec. 8, the center will have an opportunity to demonstrate to the Air Force and AFMC leadership that the decision made in 2006 was the right one! That is the day that a UCI of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center begins, and will continue through Dec. 15.

We should not fear the inspectors - we should appreciate the opportunity to show them how we are doing the job right and that the responsibilities delegated to the center are justified. The center has conducted numerous pre-UCI inspections and identified which areas are our strengths or which require improvement. All are actively involved to improve our center's strengths and eliminate the weaknesses.

If you know of a problem and can't fix it, raise it to your supervisor. If they can't fix it, take it up the chain-of-command. We will face the UCI as a team and will only be successful as a team through your hard work, attention to detail and a POSTIVE ATTITUDE. Success is simple ... put your best foot forward and show the inspectors how the "best of the best" conduct world-class business on a daily basis!