The 898th Munitions Squadron at Kirtland AFB, NM, has been recertified for nuclear operations after receiving a “ready” rating in an inspection conducted at the base June 7-11. Air Force Materiel Command decertified the unit back in January after it fell short of performance standards in a nuclear surety inspection in November 2009. JoAnne Rumple, AFMC spokeswoman, said the decertification enabled the squadron to temporarily suspend maintenance activities and complete corrective actions. She said squadron personnel focused during this period on ensuring that documentation, maintenance processes, management, and technical skills complied with the highest standards. The squadron falls under Kirtland’s 498th Nuclear Systems Wing, a component of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, also located at the desert base.
The Pentagon’s new Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military has 90 days to find ways to combat the problem within the ranks, and the group will consider all options to address an issue that has “shattered the dreams” of many service members who joined with optimism about…