Warbirds, Rough Riders gear up for upcoming inspections Published Oct. 21, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Minot Airmen have been preparing for upcoming exercises and nuclear surety inspections set to showcase Minot's readiness to support its strategic mission around the world. "The Air Force's number one enterprise is found in the nuclear mission," said Lt. Col. Jon Dawson, 5th Bomb Wing inspector general. "It's our responsibility 24/7 to be able to demonstrate safe, secure and reliable operations." During the inspections, the main concentration of the base is focused on all operations associated with inspectable areas. These areas include, but are not limited to, the following: the flight schedule, maintenance schedule and training schedules. Inspectable units are members of both the 5th BW and 91st Missile Wing. "We'll be demonstrating our readiness to fulfill our nuclear mission," Colonel Dawson said. "There are different levels of inspection." These levels of inspection are organized via a three-tier system according to AF 90-201 Addendum. A Tier 1 NSI is a combined NSI and nuclear operational readiness inspection. This is a scheduled inspection and, to the maximum extent practical, the NORI portion will be conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Strategic Command Global Lightning and Thunder field training exercises. The time between these exercises won't exceed three years. A Tier 2 NSI applies to all Air Combat Command units with an operational or supporting nuclear mission. It provides for a full-scale, no-notice NSI designed to evaluate and rate all areas and activities that apply to the inspected wing. A Tier 2 NSI will happen within six months of the last Tier 1. Inspectors are required to give the inspectable wing a 72 hour notice. A Tier 3 LNSI applies to all ACC units with an operational or supporting nuclear mission. It provides for a limited scale and scope LNSI and will be executed using an NSI team tailored to the areas to be inspected. The LNSI may focus upon current nuclear surety issues and/or NSI trends and problem areas, and corrective actions taken to remedy deficiencies from the unit's most recent NSI. The Tier 3 LNSI will be conducted on a no-notice basis. The inspected wing may expect to receive as much as a 12-hour advanced notice so as to coordinate inspector general team arrival and logistics. "It is important to note that these inspections are extremely detailed and demand the highest standards of performance," said Brig. Gen. Joseph Reynes, the ACC IG. "There is no room for error in dealing with the nuclear enterprise of the Air Force. We must meet the highest standards of safety, security and effectiveness. Anything less than full compliance is unacceptable." High standards are an important aspect to the commitment Minot Airmen show on a daily basis. These inspections are scheduled to continue through this time next year. "Every day we are ready to accomplish our mission," Colonel Dawson said. "In essence, these inspections will showcase our wings' and give us an opportunity to show the rest of the AF, Department of Defense and any potential enemies that we are truly ready to accomplish our mission."