BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Air Force Global Strike Command continues its partnership with the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine in making significant progress with the Missile Community Cancer Study (MCCS) — a comprehensive investigation into potential health risks associated with service in the missile community.
One specific area which the MCCS is studying, is the discontinued practice of burning classified materials in launch control centers. To address these concerns, the 711th Human Performance Wing is conducting a detailed burn test to analyze emissions produced by the historic disposal process.
The emissions from this controlled test will be carefully measured and evaluated. Findings will be used to inform a comprehensive health risk assessment, which is expected to be completed and released later this year. This data-driven approach aims to provide clarity and transparency regarding past practices and their potential impact on the health of service members and support personnel.
In addition to this, the next phase of the epidemiologic study is continuing. This current phase — Phase 2 — marks a substantial expansion of the study’s scope, leveraging state and territorial cancer registry data. Phase 2 includes the analysis of hundreds of thousands of anonymized cancer cases and comparison populations, allowing researchers to compare incidence in the missile community to the rest of the Department of the Air Force and the U.S. general population. This comprehensive dataset significantly enhances the ability of the study team to detect patterns that may not have been detected in the more limited datasets used in earlier phases.
“The larger and more diverse the dataset, the more robust our conclusions will be,” said Col. Gregory Coleman, AFGSC command surgeon. “By analyzing data from hundreds of thousands of cases, we’re not only strengthening the scientific rigor of this study, but we’re also improving our ability to identify even subtle health risks associated with service in the missile community.”
The data is being reviewed in coordination with universities, scientists, and public health experts across the country to ensure rigorous scientific standards are applied throughout the process.
Air Force Global Strike Command provided an MCCS overview and its current progress during briefings to Congress on Sept. 11. The AFGSC and U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine commanders offered insight on the study’s methodology, outcomes from environmental testing, and the rigorous analysis from outside agencies.
“The Air Force Missile Community Cancer Study is vital,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, AFGSC commander. “We are committed to understanding the risks our Airmen face and taking action based on the study's findings. Investing in the occupational health of our missile community is not just a responsibility, it's an imperative for ensuring they are prepared to defend our nation in an increasingly complex world.”
Looking ahead, AFGSC will host its next virtual town hall, Oct. 7, to provide the latest updates on the MCCS and address questions. This event is open to current and former service members, family members, and other stakeholders who want to hear directly from Air Force leadership and medical experts involved in the study.
Details on how to participate in the town hall will be shared through official Air Force communication channels in the coming weeks.