Air Force Global Strike Command has racked up a high readiness rate since its establishment in mid-2009, said AFGSC Commander Lt. Gen. James Kowalski on Wednesday at the Four-Star Forum of AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference in National Harbor, Md. In August, the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., made news by failing a nuclear readiness inspection by not performing up to the command’s stringent standards across the board. Despite the attention gained from the Malmstrom inspection, Kowalski said AFGSC has demonstrated excellence in overseeing the nation’s ICBM and nuclear-capable bomber force. Out of 30 readiness inspections across the command, there have been only two occasions when a wing failed, he said. “We have nothing to be embarrassed about,” said Kowalski. While all Air Force units go through two types of inspections—compliance inspections and readiness inspections—AFGSC has a two-tiered readiness process by having separate nuclear readiness inspections, he said.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.