Standards never changed and tough minds remain

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, 20th Air Force commander, takes a break from his schedule of events during his visit and addresses members of the 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron here Feb. 18. The Airmen braved the cold in order to greet Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Burg during their visit. (U.S. Air Force photo by: SrA Kelly Timney)

Standards never changed and tough minds remain

Published Feb. 18, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Kidron Vestal
Deputy Chief, Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (ACCNS) -- Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, 20th Air Force commander, visited Minot Air Force Base Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 to discuss the nature of nuclear surety here.

"The standards have not changed...did not change," General Burg said, but offered, "Our application of those standards has changed dramatically."

One of the examples of how the nuclear enterprise has achieved this coordination is in the application of 100 percent inspections. This means that for any given area, 100 percent of its interests have the potential to be inspected, he said.

But for General Burg, the inspection process should serve as an indication of excellence, not the means to an end.

"You inspect to validate. You create excellence and then you validate it," said the general.

While the bar for excellence is high, the general said the mission can be accomplished "very well", by Airmen with "tough minds." One of the motivations General Burg holds is the energy he says he draws from seeing young Airmen.

"I respect the destructive power of this Airman," the general said of seeing an armed troop.

Other special experiences he noted include: guard mount and pre-departure.

While General Burg's visit was only for one day, he said, "We're looking at everything all the time."