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Nuclear deterrence still essential

  • Published
  • By G. A. Volb
  • Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs
Nuclear deterrence, while somewhat passé given the end of the Cold War, remains essential to U.S. national security.

Even as world socioeconomic ties become increasingly intertwined and national borders, once providing a modicum of security via law enforcement, are done away with – U.S. deterrence remains decisive.

It’s the Minuteman missile, and those maintaining, directing and securing it, that ensures rogue states and, to a lesser extent, individuals who’d want to do us harm think twice.

The 526th ICBM Systems Wing and 309th Maintenance Wing here play a vital part in this piece of the security puzzle, as maintainers of the decades-old system.

“Last year, we established a new record of 99.82 percent of our missiles available to U.S. Strategic Command leadership, had there been a need,” said Col. Daniel Adams, commander of the 91st Space Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and one of several 526th ICBMSW and 309th MXW customers. “The success we’re having is a direct result of the fantastic support we receive from both units. “

Colonel Adams added that the flight hardware and ground support equipment was instrumental to the sustainment of the weapon system’s capability beyond the year 2020.

Recent improvements to maintenance processes under Lean, have shaved days off the time needed to turn missiles around for customers like Colonel Adams. The relationship between the 91st, 309th and 526th, he’s more than happy to admit, translates directly into readiness at the “tip of the spear.”

“Lean processes at Hill’s Air Logistics Center directly impact our programmed depot maintenance by giving us a quicker turn around on our special purpose ICBM transporter erectors and payload transporter vehicles,” emphasized Colonel Adams, referring to process improvements made by the 309th MXW. “They’re also coming back to us with fewer discrepancies. In fact, we continue to steal pages from the 309th’s playbook on how to do our business in a smarter, more efficient manner. The 91st is fully engaged in putting Air Force Smart Ops 21 into practice at Minot.”

Whether it’s flight hardware, like fully checked-out and ready-to-ship guidance sets, or one of the new systems to enhance the security of our launch facilities, the 526th and 309th have had a huge impact, according to Colonel Adams.

“Nuclear deterrence is just as important today, with multi-national threats to us and our allies, as it ever was in the days of the Cold War,” he said. “It’s an essential ingredient to the calculus of halting the proliferation and possible use of weapons of mass destruction.”

ICMBSW customers are even more important today given the deactivation of the Peacekeeper missile late last year. “Our ability to reach out from central North America to virtually any place of interest on the globe provides Strategic Command planners lots of options,” said Colonel Adams. “Call us the silent sentinels of the north, but America can sleep soundly knowing we’re helping preserve the peace.”