Department of Defense
MANUAL
NUMBER 5210.42
January 13, 2015
Incorporating Change 4, May 9, 2022
USD(A&S)
SUBJECT: Nuclear Weapons Personnel Reliability Program
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This manual reissues DoD 5210.42-R (Reference (a)) as a DoD manual in
accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5134.08 (Reference (b)). It implements the
policy in DoD Instruction 5210.42 (Reference (c)), assigns responsibilities, and prescribes
mandatory procedures for the DoD Nuclear Weapons Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) to
ensure the safety and security of the U.S. nuclear deterrent mission.
2. APPLICABILITY. This manual applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field
Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this
manual as the “DoD Components”).
3. POLICY. In accordance with Reference (c), it is DoD policy that:
a. Nuclear weapons require special consideration because of their policy implications,
military importance, destructive power, and the political consequences of an accident or an
unauthorized act. The safety, security, control, and effectiveness of nuclear weapons are of
paramount importance to the security of the United States.
b. Only those persons who demonstrate reliability will be certified to perform specified
duties associated with U.S. nuclear weapons, nuclear command and control (NC2) systems,
material, and equipment, and special nuclear material (SNM). Those persons will be
continuously evaluated for adherence to PRP standards in order to maintain PRP status.
c. DoD personnel who are assigned to positions or who are in training for assignments to
sensitive positions within nuclear capable units will be enrolled in PRP.
