AMC wing hits high marks for nuclear surety

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
Air Mobility Command Airmen showed strong support for "reinvigorating the Air Force nuclear enterprise" through a command-level no-notice inspection recently.

From Aug. 17 to 24, the AMC Inspector General officials completed a no-notice Limited Nuclear Surety Inspection, or LNSI, of the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. The wing received a "satisfactory" rating, the highest grade possible for this type of inspection. In the LNSI, AMC officials noted it's important to know the wing commander and all of the group commanders are new to the wing and weren't present during their last inspection in January.

"This is a great indicator the leadership has taken a quick grasp of the mission and that McChord has very strong processes in place allowing for smooth transition of leadership," Col. Jerry Martinez, AMC inspector general. "It shows their stewardship for the nuclear enterprise is taken very seriously.

"Despite the no-notice, the wing was completely ready to perform the NSI mission at a high level of expertise," Colonel Martinez said.

In December, AMC Commander Gen. Arthur J. Lichte set one of the command's focus areas to "enhance nuclear mission support." That effort included improving AMC's stewardship of the nuclear enterprise in policy, manning, personnel reliability program, training, equipment and nuclear command, control and communications. Additionally, the focus area shows to "reinforce the culture of accountability and rigorous assessment within the mobility air forces nuclear enterprise."

McChord's 62nd AW participated in a Defense Nuclear Surety Inspection in January and also received a "satisfactory" rating. In addition to the overall grade for the LNSI, the 62nd AW received extremely high grades in all the mission areas related to the inspection. Members of the Air Force Inspection Agency and U.S. Strategic Command were also on hand to observe the inspection.