DoD School Meets Service Nuke Weapons Training Needs

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

07.02.1997

Courtesy Story

Defense.gov         

Managing nuclear weapons requires specialized education. When the services assign people to a nuclear mission, therefore, chances are they'll also sign them up for DoD-funded courses at the Defense Nuclear Weapons School here.

A field command of the Defense Special Weapons Agency, the school offers courses ranging in subject matter from awareness of weapons of mass destruction to nuclear accident remediation -- and in length from a few hours to several days. Students come to class here, or the class goes to them via mobile training teams, multimedia presentations and distance learning. Enrollees come from all civilian and military ranks in DoD; other federal, state and local agencies; and allied nations.

"As the Defense Department downsizes, the services aren't manned to support as many noncombat or combat-support activities as in the past, so they look to the defense agencies," said Byron Ristvet, academic dean. "We're adding new courses all the time. For example, we're going to teach courses on the medical effects of ionizing radiation and tactical targeting." He said the school also teaches a nuclear weapons crew members course and nuclear weapons effects course, and it manages a strategic targeting course for Strategic Command.

"This is the only place in DoD where you can learn to deal with nuclear weapons accidents," Ristvet added. "This is particularly critical for senior commanders responsible for nuclear weapons activities at multiple locations." Nuclear accidents are very unlikely, but commanders and their staffs must know how to handle them if they occur.

The Flag Officer Nuclear Accident Course (for military flag officers and civilians GS-12 and above) teaches lessons learned from past accidents; federal, state and local agency responsibilities; and key issues specific to a nuclear weapons accident. The course also consolidates procedural guidance and technical information needed to prepare DoD forces to respond to nuclear weapons accidents.

Other principal courses the school offers include:

All courses are available one or more times throughout the year at no cost to DoD employees and service members.

For general information and customer support, contact the school registrar's office at [phone] or DSN 246-5666; e-mail [e-mail], or visit the school's site on the World Wide Web at http://www.dswa.mil/dswainfo/dnws/index.html.

Story by Douglas J. Gillert, American Forces Press Service

• Date Taken: 07.02.1997
• Date Posted: 07.04.2025 00:40
• Story ID: 530104
• Location: WASHINGTON, US