9. THE MILITARY ATOMIC WEAPONS ORGANIZATION The Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP) has its headquarters in Washington and its Field Command at Sandia Base. It coordinates all military assistance to AEC and provides special services to the Army, Navy, and Air Force in the military application of atomic weapons. It was activated on January 29, 1947, to provide a jointly staffed Army-Navy atomic energy organization. After passage of the National Security Act on July 29, 1947, the Air Force was represented, . Since 1947, the assignments of AFSWP have multiplied steadily. Its earliest functions included military participation in research and development ofatomic weapons in coordination with AEC, and coordination through established agencies of the radiological safety measures of the Armed Services. Both of these functions applied to the 1948 overseas tests. In 1949, AFSWP wasassigned responsibility for determinations in the field of effects of atomic weapons and participated heavily in the overseas and continental tests of 19501953. On August 1, 1952, Field Command-AFSWPestablished a Directorate of Weapons Effects Tests. Its Director is a Deputy Manager for continental tests. AFSWP now functions in the over-all military application of atomic energy for the Army, Navy, and Air Force by providing the following services: specialized training; stor- age and surveillance in conjunction with AEC; planning of continental and overseas tests with other affected agencies; determination of weapons effects; consolidation of Armed Forces! requirements for procurement of atomic weapons other than War Reserve requirements; assistance, as required, in the development of atomic weapons; assembling of atomic weapons; other technical services to the Armed Forces as required. Air Force support of the Commission's atomic weapons program is a major factor in many phases of the program. Muchof the responsibility, particularly in the testing phase, rests upon the Air Force Special Weapons Center, headquarters Kirtland Field, Albuquerque. The Air Force Special Weapons Center evolved from the Tactical and Technical Liai- son Committee established at Kirtland AFB in 1947 through the activation of the Special Weapons Command in December 1949, and the subsequent transfer of the Commandto the Air Research and Development Command, diction of the latter Command. It is now one of eight centers under the juris- ° The mission of Air Force SWC includes development testing and operational suitability testing of atomic and other special weapons; research as related to such tests; the develop- ment of associated equipment for nuclear weapons; and planning, control, and operation of special test facilities. It provides support to the Commission andits scientific contractors, including LASL and Sandia Laboratory. Bi 9 During the last three years, the Commission's relationships with the Military have be- OOE/AL 58 come progressively more complex. The Department of Defense has entered the development field as a co-equal collaborator with AEC on numerous joint projects, with prime responsibility of its own in substantial areas of weapon development and design. Asa result, it has become necessary to establish special direct working relationships with the individual services while being careful at the same time to insure that the values of AFSWP asan integrating agency are not lost. nin 6?