Which is NOT a DoD Nuclear Weapon System Surety Standard?

Which is NOT a DoD Nuclear Weapon System Surety Standard?

• A. Prevent UNAUTHORIZED Nuclear Weapons employment
• B. Ensure continuous weapon system readiness
• C. Maintain secure custody of nuclear weapons
• D. Prevent AUTHORIZED Nuclear Weapons employment

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is what DoD Nuclear Weapon System Surety Standards aim to accomplish. These standards are built around preventing the weapon from being used by someone who should not have authorization, while ensuring that weapons can be used safely and under proper command when authorized. They emphasize safety, security, and reliability, including secure custody of weapons and preventing any use without proper authorization. Why the option about preventing authorized employment isn’t a standard: the purpose of surety standards is to guard against unauthorized employment, not to block employment that is properly authorized. In practice, authorized employment under the right authority is exactly what the system is designed to enable and control. So stating that the standard is to prevent authorized use contradicts the purpose of ensuring controlled, legitimate employment. The other options fit the standard in that they reflect the protective aims: preventing unauthorized employment, maintaining secure custody, and keeping the system ready under proper command so that authorized use can occur when directed.

The concept being tested is what DoD Nuclear Weapon System Surety Standards aim to accomplish. These standards are built around preventing the weapon from being used by someone who should not have authorization, while ensuring that weapons can be used safely and under proper command when authorized. They emphasize safety, security, and reliability, including secure custody of weapons and preventing any use without proper authorization.

Why the option about preventing authorized employment isn’t a standard: the purpose of surety standards is to guard against unauthorized employment, not to block employment that is properly authorized. In practice, authorized employment under the right authority is exactly what the system is designed to enable and control. So stating that the standard is to prevent authorized use contradicts the purpose of ensuring controlled, legitimate employment.

The other options fit the standard in that they reflect the protective aims: preventing unauthorized employment, maintaining secure custody, and keeping the system ready under proper command so that authorized use can occur when directed.