Thomas H. Denbrock USAFAirmen perform a simulated nuclear weapons load onto a C-17 Globemaster. The 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base won honors as the nation's Prime Nuclear Airlift Force after a weeklong inspection. Advertisement

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- For the son of a Pahrump resident, there is no such thing as making a mistake.

Air Force civilian employee Thomas H. Denbrock, son of Annie Denbrock of Pahrump, is one of a small group of Air Force men and women responsible for the safety, security and reliability of a part of the nation's nuclear arsenal -- a job that leaves no room for error.

Denbrock is a senior maintenance representative with the 62nd Airlift Wing, a part of the Prime Nuclear Airlift Force mission. He and his fellow airmen recently took part in a week-long nuclear surety inspection where they received the highest score possible.

"It is my prime responsibility to assure that all of the maintenance being done on the aircraft is correct without any mistakes," said Denbrock, who graduated in 1976 from Mount St. Helens High School, Winlock, Wash. "I also coordinate all agencies required to complete the aircraft for the aircrew to complete its mission."

This nuclear airlift mission is divided into three main areas.

One is the personnel reliability program. This program ensures that airmen who deal with nuclear weapons are emotionally stable, reliable and physically able to do their jobs.

Another important part of the program is the upkeep and maintenance of the aircraft, and the third, and perhaps the most important, is the training to ensure the proper transport of the weapons.

For Denbrock and his fellow maintainers and aircrew members, this training is hardly left to chance.

"I have been at McChord for over 32 years, first as a jet engine mechanic to an aircraft maintenance supervisor," Denrbrock said. "It is in that field as an aircraft maintenance supervisor that gave me the skills and knowledge to be a senior maintenance supervisor for the PNAF mission," said Denbrock.

In a job where second chances are rare, Denbrock feels that attention to detail in every aspect of the job is paramount to success.

"This is a 'no-fail mission' that must go on time. To prepare this aircraft is very critical to certain inspections and operational checks that any other mission," he said.

Denbrock, who was in the Air Force for four years and has spent 28 years as a civilian worker, knows how critical the prime nuclear airlift force is to the Air Force and the nation, and that safely transporting the weapon systems is just as important as being prepared to use them.