Maintaining our commitment to excellence in the nuclear enterprise

Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

2/22/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  – On Feb. 15, Air Force officials announced the split of the space and missile career field to ensure more focused development for officers performing these critical missions.

The change affects approximately 3,100 officers Air Force wide coded as either “Space Operations” or “Nuclear and Missile Operations” within the former 13S career field, officials said. Those officers previously coded as “Space Operations” will remain in the 13S career field and those officers previously coded as “Nuclear and Missile Operations” will have their AFSCs changed to 13N.

“Space and Missile Operations have become more and more technical in application and execution–each in their own unique ways,” said Col. Joseph Prue, career field manager for space operations officers. “This split will enable each career field to continue cultivating technical expertise via separate, yet equally important, avenues in order to be more effective and efficient in meeting current and future AF needs.”

Within Air Force Global Strike Command, an estimated 844 13S positions will be converted to 13N.

This change will allow the Air Force to further strengthen the nuclear enterprise, said Col. Zannis Pappas, the new career field manager for “Nuclear and Missile Operations,” or AFSC 13N.

“For several years, a portion of 13S officers have been designated for nuclear duty. This formalizes a distinction that already exists, but giving us our own career field to focus on nuclear expertise and leadership development,” said Maj. William Weiford III, executive officer to the director of operations, AFGSC.

Those selected for the 13N career field will develop the leadership and nuclear technical competency required to lead the nation’s ICBM nuclear forces.

Affected officers should contact their career field managers or MAJCOM functional managers for more information about how the change will affect them.

“The transformation of the career field will give space and missile officers opportunities to develop the depth and breadth they need for command, as well as the opportunity for career-long development in specific mission areas,” Prue said.

Editor’s Note: Capt. Karen Mock, AFGSC Public Affairs, contributed to this article, with background information provided by the office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Public Affairs.