Team McChord readies for NSI

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  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Base officials are ramping-up to welcome members of the Air Mobility Command Inspector General team and Defense Threat Reduction Agency in the new year for the operational phase of McChord's Nuclear Surety Inspection. 

The teams will focus on four major graded areas throughout the inspection: nuclear surety program management and administration, the personnel reliability program, tools, test, tie down and handling equipment and logistics movement, said nuclear surety manager Tom Thompson, 62nd Airlift Wing Safety. 

The inspection includes the teams accompanying the 4th Airlift Squadron on an upcoming mission, Mr. Thompson said. 

The nuclear surety program management and administration area will look at the wing leadership's involvement in the program and wing safety. 

The PRP area will focus on the 62nd Medical Squadron, the 4th AS and the 62nd Force Support Squadron. Tools, test, tie down handling equipment will examine tie down devices and chains maintained by the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron and the logistics movement area will spotlight the 4th AS's ability to conduct the missions. 

The 62nd Maintenance Group's role in selecting and preparing the airplanes and the command post's role in monitoring mission movements will also be examined, Mr. Thompson said. 

Each area will receive a separate grade which will contribute to the wing's overall grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, he said. 

"The PNAF mission is the No. 1 'no-fail' mission of this wing," said Col. Jeffrey Stephenson, 62nd Airlift Wing commander. "Our nation's leaders, the American people and global allies sheltered by America's Nuclear Umbrella look to our Air Force and this wing to guarantee the safety, security, reliability and surety of our nation's nuclear deterrent. I'm counting on every Airman in the Wing to meet our responsibility in every area of this critical mission." 

"We're expecting an outstanding grade (the highest possible grade) in all of the four areas," Mr. Thompson said. "As the only PNAF unit in the Air Force, it is a responsibility the wing and the nuclear surety office take very seriously. Wing leadership has made it clear: outstanding is the standard." 

This week Air Force leadership released the Nuclear Enterprise Roadmap, a document directed by the Secretary of the Air Force to address cultural and systemic challenges across the service's nuclear forces. The roadmap is vital to improving Air Force stewardship of the bomber, missile and associated logistics capabilities that form the foundation of America's strategic nuclear deterrent, according to Air Force officials. 

The 62nd AW's nuclear surety program has won an Air Force Safety Award nine of the last ten years. 

The 62nd AW PNAF mission has also maintained a constant state of readiness, as shown most recently by the results of the 2007 limited-notice, multiple-agency NSI, said Maj. Jeffrey Meyers, chief of the 4th AS office which plans and executes the PNAF missions. 

"We look forward to once again showcasing the wing's No. 1 no-fail mission," Major Meyers said. "We take tremendous pride in our highly-focused program, which is grounded in extensive training, high standards, precise execution and support through leadership commitment at all levels." 

"With PNAF, nothing is taken for granted; nothing is assumed," said Colonel Stephenson. "Like every mission we do, it is executed by the book." 

The administrative phase of the inspection is scheduled for Jan. 7-12.