After the Cold War, Strategic Air Command was disbanded. The resulting STRATCOM reorganized the checklists used to direct nuclear assets (tankers and bombers) against an enemy nation.
The reorganized checklists were made more adaptable to a wider range of nuclear options. But they also became more difficult to follow, resulting in a large number of crews making mistakes and failing their tests. Furthermore, the test standards were changed to no longer require 100% correct responses to pass. The result was that a significant number of crews could not execute their nuclear tasking properly. In an actual situation, this would result in crews not carrying out the desired order or carrying out an incorrect response to an order. This would have disastrous consequences if the U.S. ever needed to use nuclear force!
A workaround followed. Squadrons and Wings, desiring to maintain their nuclear readiness status, had to pass their Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspections. To do this, they would call around to obtain the test questions from other units who recently had an inspection. This became standard practice and was the situation when I retired from the USAF 11 years ago. Aircrews were routinely unable to accurately execute nuclear war orders!
Furthermore, because of the workaround practice, it appeared to command authorities that USAF aircrews WERE able to properly execute a nuclear war order. But they were not! If things have not changed in the last 11 years (and, in my experience, they probably have not), it is likely that the United States is currently in a position that it will NOT be able to correctly carry out a nuclear war order! 11 years ago, this struck me as a gigantic problem. So, I wrote my Senator - twice. I never received a reply.
This problem needs to be addressed! The same (or a similar) problem probably also exists in the U.S. Navy also. I understand exactly where the problems exist within the system, from the command level down to the checklist level. I know how the problem can be fixed, and I know who can fix it. And I am more than happy to help with no strings attached. All you have to do is reach out. I do not believe that this problem can be fixed within the current Air Force structure! Thank you!