Striving for perfection during NSSAV

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas Dow
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
A team of 34 individuals from across the Air Combat Command are evaluating the 5th Bomb Wing here as part of a Nuclear Surety Staff Assistance Visit March 10-14.

The NSSAV is a week-long process in which the NSSAV team gives the wing's nuclear surety and training programs a hard look prior to the upcoming Initial Nuclear Surety Inspection and Nuclear Surety Inspection. The team consists of subject matter experts in the nuclear surety field from all across ACC.

The importance of the NSSAV team's visit is quite clear when it comes to preparing the wing for the upcoming inspections.

"The ACC NSSAV is a critical step in the 5th BW's nuclear readiness process," said Col. Greg Bell, the 5th Bomb Wing vice commander.

"Its purpose is to provide our units with an objective evaluation of compliance with Air Force and Department of Defense Nuclear Surety standards," added Col. Bell.

Compliance to those standards means performing extremely difficult tasks and training perfect, every time. This pre-inspection process is designed to see if the standards are being met by going over all processes dealing with nuclear surety with a fine-toothed comb. This allows the NSSAV team to recommend whether or not the wing can proceed with the actual NSI inspections.

The team's findings also provide the wing commander an in-depth look on how prepared the wing is to accomplish the mission safely and securely.

While the NSSAV seems like a rigorous inspection, it is primarily designed to assist the wing by enhancing the wing's nuclear surety program. This is accomplished by pointing out possible shortcomings and how to fix them, as well as identifying outstanding performances by wing airmen. These observations are made possible by having subject matter experts in all fields relating to nuclear surety as part of the NSSAV team.

"The expert professionals on the ACC team can recognize both our stellar performers and identify any areas that can be strengthened," said Col. Bell.

By recognizing potential shortcomings early, the airmen of the 5th Bomb Wing are able to take the comments from the NSSAV team, and immediately make the changes necessary to perfect the task at hand.

"We will make a maximum effort to ensure any suggestions for improvement are implemented expeditiously," said Col. Bell.

Once the week-long NSSAV is complete, the team will provide a detailed summary to the wing, as well as up-channel an executive summary to the ACC and NAF commander. Based on these summaries and the recommendation of the NSSAV team, the wing will press on toward the INSI.