Rough Riders rock NSI and NORI Published Feb. 5, 2014 By Capt. Stephen Milacci 91st Missile Wing Minot Air Force Base, N.D. -- This Monday, after months of preparation and 13 days of continuous observation by Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Force Inspection Agency and United States Strategic Command, the Rough Riders of the 91st Missile Wing proved once again that "Only The Best Come North!" During the inspection out brief, the AFGSC Inspector General, Col. Douglas Cox, proclaimed that the Rough Riders' performance during the back-to-back Nuclear Surety Inspection and Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspection was "the best seen." The NSI assesses a unit's ability to accomplish its assigned nuclear weapons mission and produce reliable nuclear weapons in a safe and secure environment in compliance with applicable directives. In essence, it is their license to perform a nuclear mission. This thorough inspection covers eight major graded areas, of which the 91 MW scored six "Excellent" ratings and the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" in the other two. The Rough Riders earned an overall rating of "Satisfactory," which is the highest possible rating for an NSI. The NORI is a performance-based readiness evaluation of nuclear-tasked units that requires them to demonstrate their operational capability of nuclear and nuclear support in a time-constrained environment. The Rough Riders again dominated the inspection, earning an overall rating of "Excellent," with "Excellent" ratings in two of the three major graded areas, and another "Outstanding" in the third. During the inspections, the IG noted 19 superior performers and 92 superior team members, to which the 91st Missile Wing Commander, Col. Rob Vercher, said, "I have never seen such an impressive performance." Just as the inspection team was leaving, the commander of AFGSC, Lt Gen Stephen Wilson, arrived at Minot to join in the celebration. After hearing about the amazing performance from the men and women of the 91st Missile Wing, he said, "Pretty spectacular results for the NSI and NORI ... Team Minot rocked it!"