It was bad news all around for Malmstrom AFB near Great Falls, Montana.  Last month they failed another Nuclear Surety Inspection.  They previously failed an inspection in 2008.

At least Malmstrom did not temporarily lose its nuclear mission, like one base did recently.

In short, a Nuclear Surety Inspection (NSI) tests the security, safety and reliability of nuclear weapons so there won’t be nuclear accidents, incidents, and an unauthorized weapon detonation.

So yes, it is a big deal to fail an NSI.

This is not good news on many fronts.  First, the security safety and reliability of nuclear weapons is a big thing.  When units fail these inspections, the world takes notice.  Google Malmstrom AFB and see what’s out there – some of it is very negative.  It’s a black mark on the base, the command, the Air Force and the communities that support them.  It’s also a career ender for many in leadership – as it should be.

Secondly, with the plans on the table to drastically cut the nuclear stockpile in the United States, the DoD and the Obama Administration will probably see easy pickings to close an installation that some feel cannot do their jobs safely and securely.  It will be easy to say, “Let’s close it before something really bad happens.”

Not many people (outside of the Air Force) know what actually happened at Malmstrom AFB that caused them to fail the NSI.  From my experience as a veteran of the military (I was never stationed at a base that failed a major inspection) things are not too rosy at the Malmstrom AFB base right now.  It will be hell until they pass the re-inspection.

I will say it’s tough in the military these days – two wars, deployment after deployment, time away from family and friends, and when you get back to the “real world” you have inspections – major inspections that can cause you to want to volunteer for the next deployment just to get the hell out of there.

But that’s where the leaders need to take over – to lead – and ensure their people are ready.  There are outstanding people serving at these bases hungry for leaders to lead them.  It does not appear that is happening at several bases across the country.  That is not good for the United States of America and it certainly is not good for the future of Malmstrom AFB.