AF nuclear enterprise: 'the way forward'

by Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie
Air Force Public Affairs Agency Operating Location

3/6/2014 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Senate Armed Service Committee's Subcommittee on Strategic Forces heard testimonies from key defense and military leaders on nuclear forces and policies in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2015 and the Future Years Defense Program during a hearing, March 5.

Air Force senior leaders Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, and Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration assistant chief of staff, provided the subcommittee with insight on where the Air Force posture stands and the way forward to continue to provide the U.S. a reliable and ready force.

"Stewardship and continuous improvement of the nuclear mission remains a top Air Force priority, in support of the president's mandate that the Unites States maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent," Harencak said.

Given that mandate to provide a safe, secure and effective arsenal, Wilson shared Air Force Global Strike Command's focus areas to accomplish that.

"Our focus areas will be to deter and assure with a safe, secure and effective nuclear force; winning the fight; strengthening and empowering the team; shaping the future and upholding the standards," Wilson said.

Motivated Airmen - military and civilian; officer and enlisted; active, Guard and Reserve - are central to performing the mission.

"It can be easy to lose sight that there are 25,000 Airmen in our command doing the mission absolutely right, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year," Wilson said. "We must continue to show they are important and we value the critical work they carry out every day with pride, discipline and precision."

Marking its fifth anniversary this year, Air Force Global Strike Command was created to provide a singular focus on the stewardship and safe, secure and effective operation for the bomber and ICBM legs of the United States' nuclear triad.