Nuclear Surety Inspection begins Published Jan. 19, 2010 By Laurie Arellano Chief, Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- A scheduled Initial Nuclear Surety Inspection (NSI) for the 69th Bomb Squadron along with a no-notice Limited Nuclear Surety Inspection for the 5th Bomb Wing began here Jan. 20. The inspection team is led by a senior officer representative from the Air Combat Command Inspector General's office with oversight provided by representatives from the Air Force Inspection Agency. The inspection is expected to conclude Jan. 23. An NSI is designed to evaluate a unit's readiness to execute nuclear operations and takes place at least every 18 months. Areas to be evaluated during the NSI include operations, maintenance, security and support activities needed to ensure the wing is performing its mission in a safe, secure and reliable manner. An Initial Nuclear Surety Inspection is a unit's first NSI, designed to evaluate its capability to perform its nuclear mission. A Limited NSI is a focused inspection of selected items within the nuclear surety program. This inspection involves a multitude of inspectors, across all inspection activities, conducting a very rigorous and tough inspection. These demanding evaluations of the wing's mission are a thorough test touching every facet of the base's wide reaching responsibilities. Due to the sensitive nature of the inspection process and the demands it places on the wing's leaders and Airmen, details and results of the inspection will not be released until after it concludes.