The Air Force started a new course on advanced nuclear concepts at its Nuclear College at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Nuclear 300, as it is known, is a five-day professional continuing education offering that explores nuclear deterrence theory and application, nuclear operations policy and strategy, nuclear incident response, and nuclear surety and effects, according to Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center officials. “This course will be a game-changer for the way we professionally develop our nuclear enterprise leaders,” said Brig. Gen. Garrett Harencak, AFNWC commander, in his opening remarks to the inaugural class. “The [Nuclear] 300 course material goes much deeper into foundational nuclear deterrence and nuclear operations policy issues than any other course at the college,” added Harold Camacho, Nuclear College director. The course targets senior master sergeants and chiefs; field grade officers; staff officers from numbered air forces, major commands, combatant commands, and Air Force headquarters; and majors and lieutenant colonels who are squadron leaders. The first class began on Feb. 29. (Kirtland report by Col. Clarence Johnson)
While U.S. defense officials have spent much of the past decade warning that China is the nation’s pacing threat and its People’s Liberation Army represents an urgent threat in the Indo-Pacific, several defense researchers are skeptical that the PLA has the human capital, the structural ability, or the political appetite…