'Systematic problems' threaten US nuclear force: Hagel

The US nuclear force is plagued by low morale, manpower shortages and mismanagement that could jeopardize its safety and effectivenesss, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.
Pentagon reviews, he said, "found evidence of systematic problems that if not addressed could undermine the safety, security and effectiveness of elements of the force in the future."
Hagel told reporters that two reviews "show that a consistent lack of investment and support for our nuclear forces over far too many years has left us with too little margin to cope with mounting stresses."
The reviews came in the aftermath of a scandal in which airmen were caught cheating on a proficiency test for those who oversee intercontinental ballistic missiles.

And they followed the sacking of some senior officers for personal misconduct, including the head of the ICBM force after he went on a drunken bender during a trip to Russia.
Hagel said troops that worked with nuclear weapons often felt they had no career prospects.

"The root cause has been a lack of sustained focus, attention, and resources, resulting in a pervasive sense that a career in the nuclear enterprise offers too few opportunities for growth and advancement," he said.
The Pentagon chief unveiled an "action plan" that includes reorganizing the command structure, restoring "pride" in the mission and more funding for equipment and additional personnel.

Hagel said the Pentagon would issue a funding request to Congress to invest in the neglected nuclear force.
"We will need to make billions of dollars of additional investments in the nuclear enterprise over the next five years," he said.
Most of the recent scandals have been centered on the land-based missiles maintained by US Air Force crews, though the Navy also had a cheating scandal among sailors who work on submarines armed with nuclear missiles.
Hagel said the "good news" was that "there's nothing here that we can't fix" but he acknowledged that "we've taken our eye of the ball here."

He was due to travel today to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where airmen oversee intercontinental nuclear missiles and bomber aircraft.