Nuclear accountability starts here

  • Published
  • By Mike McKito
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sometimes change is implemented after thorough evaluation of a new process, but sometimes it is propelled by a negative event that requires action.

Change in an Air Force process was realized for Sheppard AFB and the service in October 2009 when the 363rd Training Squadron stood up the Nuclear Accountability Course. The new training curriculum put in place a process that would give nuclear munitions officers the knowledge of how to perform their duties before getting to their first assignment.

Based on what students who've recently graduated the course have said, the NAC is just the answer the Air Force was looking for.

Capt. Allison Barkalow, a munitions accountable systems officer for the 19th Munitions Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Mo., graduated the NAC course in August 2010.

"I have seen an overall re-emphasis of the roles and responsibilities of MASO and nuclear accountability and reporting section technicians," she said. "The NAC course provides an outstanding foundation for the career fields."

The event that led to the change was the transfer of six cruise missiles that contained nuclear warheads. However, this one event was not the sole reason for the course.

"The NAC was developed in response to the Air Force-wide reinvigoration of the nuclear enterprise at the direction of the chief of staff of the Air Force," said Capt. Albert Eiffes, Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer's Course instructor.

Captain Eiffes said that before NAC was developed, the skills necessary for managing a nuclear account were primarily learned through on-the-job training.

Now, through lecture and hands-on performance, the 18-day NAC course teaches the skills necessary to properly manage a nuclear account. It concludes with a 12-hour exercise testing the student's ability to correctly control data flow and documentation during austere conditions.

"(There) have been vast changes in the way nuclear operations are run; NAC has become fundamental to preparing munitions officers and enlisted for the processes and procedures involved," Captain Eiffes said.

Second Lt. Matthew Hall, also a MASO, assigned to the 17th Munitions Squadron at Minot AFB, N.D., graduated from the course in July 2010. The lieutenant described the previous training as inadequate. But after attending Sheppard's course, he said the training has greatly improved.

"The NAC is a separate course that officers take just before they are going to take over as the MASO," Lieutenant Hall said. "Thus, the training is fresh before they jump into such an important job."