Missile combat crew
Encyclopedia
A missile combat crew is a team of trained specialists manning Intermediate Range and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems (IRBMs and ICBMs, respectively). In the United States
, men and women of the United States Air Force
operate underground missile systems at launch control centers
located throughout the country. Crew size varied among the different missile systems, but the number was always greater than one, to abide by Strategic Air Command
's Two-man rule
for positive control of nuclear weapons.
IQT was performed by the 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron/392d Training Squadron at Vandenberg AFB, California and lasted 13 weeks. UQT/UOT was held at the missile base(s) the personnel was assigned to, and conducted by local instructors, lasting three or four weeks. Recurring training happened continually on a monthly basis, and was conducted by local instructors.
missile launch complexes varied by system. Most launch control centers
were built in population sparse locations, such as the Northern Tier (Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota), Midwest (Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Colorado) and the Southwest (Arizona, Texas, New Mexico). Each missile complex was organized near a missile support base (MSB). Crews would gather on the base, receive briefings and equipment, and travel out to their alert location by either truck or helicopter.
to test if two-person 36-hour tour for Minuteman
ICBM crews were feasible; before OIL CHANGE, three crew members were needed (MCCC, DMCCC, Alternate MCCC). The test ended in mid-1968, with the OIL CHANGE recommendations implemented 29 November 1968.
and Peacekeeper
missile crews numbered two: the MCCC and DMCCC. Tasks within the system technical orders were sometimes labeled for each crew position, although the majority of tasks could be accomplished by either member.
policy of entrusting lower-ranking officers (captains and lieutenants) with day-to-day functions.
" tells the fictional story of "push-button" officer PBX-127. The character's job is almost identical to that of a modern day missile combat crew member.
In the 1983 film "WarGames
", the prologue of the movie shows a missile crew performing a highly fictionalized changeover and alert, before a SAC
exercise commences.
relieved restrictions on same-sex crew pairings, into "mixed" crews on January 1, 1988.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, men and women of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
operate underground missile systems at launch control centers
Launch control center (ICBM)
A launch control center , in the United States, is the main control facility for intercontinental ballistic missiles . A launch control center monitors and controls missile launch facilities. From a launch control center, the missile combat crew can monitor the complex, launch the missile, or relax...
located throughout the country. Crew size varied among the different missile systems, but the number was always greater than one, to abide by Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
's Two-man rule
Two-man rule
The two-man rule is a control mechanism designed to achieve a high level of security for especially critical material or operations. Under this rule all access and actions requires the presence of two authorized people at all times.-Nuclear weapons:...
for positive control of nuclear weapons.
Origins
First missile combat crews were composed of trained aviators (i.e. B-47, B-36), but later generations had no aviation experience and were "grown" to be missileers from the start of their careers. Crews were composed of all males, until 1978, when the restriction of having women on crew was lifted.Training
Combat crew training consisted of three phases, Initial Qualification Training (IQT), Unit Qualification Training (or Unit Orientation Training), and recurring training.IQT was performed by the 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron/392d Training Squadron at Vandenberg AFB, California and lasted 13 weeks. UQT/UOT was held at the missile base(s) the personnel was assigned to, and conducted by local instructors, lasting three or four weeks. Recurring training happened continually on a monthly basis, and was conducted by local instructors.
Locations
Locations of United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
missile launch complexes varied by system. Most launch control centers
Launch control center (ICBM)
A launch control center , in the United States, is the main control facility for intercontinental ballistic missiles . A launch control center monitors and controls missile launch facilities. From a launch control center, the missile combat crew can monitor the complex, launch the missile, or relax...
were built in population sparse locations, such as the Northern Tier (Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota), Midwest (Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Colorado) and the Southwest (Arizona, Texas, New Mexico). Each missile complex was organized near a missile support base (MSB). Crews would gather on the base, receive briefings and equipment, and travel out to their alert location by either truck or helicopter.
Working environment
The missile launch control environment also varied by system. Early missiles such as Thor and Atlas, relied on support facilities above ground, with crews protected in a shelter of some sort. Later systems were buried underground, either with the missiles located nearby (i.e. Titan I and Titan II) or a distance away (Peacekeeper, Minuteman). In the underground environment, crews dealt with artificial lighting, recycled air, loud noises, and intimately close-quarters (in Minuteman-A and Peacekeeper) with equipment racks.Alert tours
Minuteman and Peacekeeper alerts were usually 24-hour tours, with additionally time required for briefings at the MSB, and travel time to and from site. An experiment with 72-hour tours, was started in 2006, but was ended sometime later for unknown reasons.Project OIL CHANGE
OIL CHANGE was a test implemented by SACStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
to test if two-person 36-hour tour for Minuteman
LGM-30 Minuteman
The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...
ICBM crews were feasible; before OIL CHANGE, three crew members were needed (MCCC, DMCCC, Alternate MCCC). The test ended in mid-1968, with the OIL CHANGE recommendations implemented 29 November 1968.
System specifics
Each missile crew had at least two officers on-site operating the equipment: the missile combat crew commander (MCCC) and deputy missile combat crew commander (DMCCC). The earlier systems, such as Atlas, Thor and Titan, required more personnel to monitor increasingly complex systems (as listed below).Titan
Titan II crews numbered four: MCCC, DMCCC, Ballistic Missile Analyst Technician (BMAT), and Missile Facilities Technician (MFT).Minuteman/Peacekeeper
MinutemanLGM-30 Minuteman
The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...
and Peacekeeper
LGM-118A Peacekeeper
The LGM-118A Peacekeeper, also known as the MX missile , was a land-based ICBM deployed by the United States starting in 1986. A total of 50 missiles were deployed. They have since been deactivated....
missile crews numbered two: the MCCC and DMCCC. Tasks within the system technical orders were sometimes labeled for each crew position, although the majority of tasks could be accomplished by either member.
Soviet/Russian
Very little is known about Soviet/Russian missile crew members. Following with Soviet doctrine, launch control functions are trusted with higher ranking officers (lieutenant colonel equivalents), in contrast to United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
policy of entrusting lower-ranking officers (captains and lieutenants) with day-to-day functions.
French
Little is known about the French ICBM system, including personnel issues. The land-based deterrent, consisting of Hades and SSBS S3D missiles was deactivated by President Jacque Chirac in February 1996.Chronology
- 1 Jan 1988 - Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
announces male and female mixed crews now allowed at missile sites.
In popular culture
American writer Mordecai Roshwald's 1959 science fiction novel "Level 7Level 7
Level 7 is a 1959 science fiction novel by the American writer Mordecai Roshwald. It is told from the first person perspective of a modern soldier X-127 living in the underground military complex Level 7, where he was expected to reside permanently, fulfilling the role of commanding his nation's...
" tells the fictional story of "push-button" officer PBX-127. The character's job is almost identical to that of a modern day missile combat crew member.
In the 1983 film "WarGames
WarGames
WarGames is a 1983 American Cold War suspense/science-fiction film written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes and directed by John Badham. The film stars Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy....
", the prologue of the movie shows a missile crew performing a highly fictionalized changeover and alert, before a SAC
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
exercise commences.
Controversy
From the early days of United States missile crew operations until the late 1970s, the career field was closed to female personnel. Changes were implemented to allow for full female crews on both Titan II and Minuteman/Peacekeeper crews. Recognizing the limitations in personnel scheduling, Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
relieved restrictions on same-sex crew pairings, into "mixed" crews on January 1, 1988.
External links
- Airforce.com: Description of Space and Missile Officer career field
- Mercenary-Missileer: Missile Forums - Virtual Coffee-house for missileers and interested parties
- Air Force Link: "Peace is our profession" photo article
- Womack, John. "Titan Tales: Diary of a Titan II Missile Crew Commander"