Proficiency: Essential to deterrence

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Richard Pagliuco
  • 319th Missile Squadron commander
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Each of your commanders have an expectation regarding the manner in which you conduct all of your tasks here at F.E. Warren. That expectation is expressed in many ways, spoken and unspoken, but the bottom line is that we expect all tasks to be conducted in a safe, secure and effective manner. Ultimately, this rests and relies on the proficiency of each and every one of you; the Air Force needs you to be proficient.

Proficiency is the cornerstone of strategic deterrence. Just another esoteric statement you say? Well, let's look at it from a different angle. What does it mean if we are not proficient in our disciplines, beyond the obvious? I can answer this question by borrowing from the wisdom of a mentor dear to many of us on this base.

Let's, for argument's sake, agree nuclear deterrence is the foundation of our military strategy, which assures our allies we will provide for their national survival, dissuades our competitors, deters our foes from acting and defeats our enemies if necessary. Therefore, and without going into the attributes of the ICBM, we need this mission to ensure our collective national survival -- the nation's top-cover. So why do I need to be proficient and not only to the 90 percent level, but 100 percent, zero error, perfection at all times?

If we are not proficient, we introduce two unacceptable outcomes: The weapon system is either irrelevant to our combatant commander, or the weapon system becomes intolerable to the public at large.

If our maintainers do not turn wrenches to the proper torques and the missile destroys itself when it leaves the hole, the weapon system is irrelevant. If our operators do not ensure their emergency war order proficiency is honed to perfection and fail to launch when required, the weapon system is irrelevant. No commander wants a weapon in his order of battle if he cannot rely on it to do the mission. Without this day-to-day proven proficiency to the level of perfection, our combatant commander will not use the weapon system, leaving the weapon system irrelevant.

If our security forces fail to follow tactics or treat the endless rabbit-within-the-fence-line security situations without vigor, or introduce a situation where people with bad intentions can get a hold of one of our weapons, the weapon system is intolerable. If our operators, through lack of proficiency, introduce safety-rule violations or allow unauthorized entry, the weapon system is intolerable. If our maintainers do not have the proficiency to handle the weapon with expertise, the weapon system is intolerable.
Will you or the people you have sworn to serve allow a weapon system with the awesome lethality that these weapons possess to remain in the military's arsenal?
These weapons are ultimately the guarantor of national survival, and we are entrusted to operate, maintain and secure them.

Proficiency -- 100 percent perfection at all times, is the cornerstone that ensures this weapon system does not become irrelevant to our combatant commander or intolerable to the public.