Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
2/27/2015
More than three dozen Air Force senior leaders convened at Minot AFB on Feb. 20 for the quarterly meeting of the Nuclear Oversight Board (NOB), whose creation was announced by former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in November, days before announcing his resignation, according to an Air Force press release. “We are here at Minot to get a first-hand perspective of the nuclear enterprise,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. “The demanding physical environment, the facility recapitalization needs and operations and maintenance demands, the unique operating environment of the Minot community, and the dedication of our northern tier airmen can best be understood in person.” While the NOB usually meets in Washington, officials visited Minot as part of an effort to work more intensively with a U.S. nuclear enterprise that has seen decades of neglect.
Force Improvement Program Gets Positive Reviews
In addition to James, attendees including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, and Global Strike Command chief Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, heard from airmen who told the group the Force Improvement Program (FIP) has had a “huge impact” since its establishment a year ago. The FIP is largely aimed at boosting morale within the nuclear enterprise, and airmen said that the FIP has brought deep cleaning of missile alert facilities and increases in base personnel, according to a Minot press release.
The board meeting marked James’ fourth Minot visit in the past year. “The airmen at Minot have the unique challenge of performing both the ICBM and strategic bomber missions in an austere, demanding environment,” Wilson said. “Hosting the Nuclear Oversight Board at Minot provided an excellent opportunity for the Air Force’s senior leaders to experience the nuclear mission first-hand and see how the ongoing changes to the nuclear enterprise have improved both airmen’s ability to do the mission and quality of life for them and their families.”
Aging Equipment and Infrastructure Noted
At Minot, Air Force leaders saw aging equipment and infrastructure needing upgrades, two things the service is working to address, according to the Air Force release. “It’s something we have to do to protect our nation,” Harencak said. “In this world there still is a nuclear threat, and our United States Air Force is there to meet it so we can defend our great nation and our allies.”
