Two wings get F on nuclear inspection

[unhappycamper]

Two wings get F on nuclear inspection
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 24, 2009 20:24:27 EST

Two Air Force wings failed nuclear inspections in November, showing that the service’s nuclear mission still isn’t back on track.

The 377th Air Base Wing and 498th Nuclear Systems Wing, both at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., received grades of unsatisfactory from Air Force Material Command and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for problems in personnel reliability, maintenance operations and nuclear weapons security.

The 498th maintains nuclear warheads and cruise missiles while the 377th oversees training and installation security for the DTRA, the Air Force Inspection Agency and the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, all based at Kirtland. The Nuclear Weapons Center maintains the service’s nuclear stockpile inside the U.S. The U.S. stockpile in Europe is overseen by U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

“Unsatisfactory inspection results should not be interpreted as suggesting that the ultimate security, safety or health of the American people has been put at risk,” AFMC commander Gen. Don Hoffman said in a statement. “However, we must meet the highest standards of safety, security and reliability in maintaining the nuclear force. Anything less than full compliance is not acceptable.”

The wings are already working to correct the problems, according to the statement. Hoffman did not take away the wings’ certification to handle nuclear weapons.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/11/airforce_failed_NSI_112409w/