Intricacies of a mission rarely spoken of

Published Sept. 21, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MISSILE COMPLEX, N.D. -- They wake up early, get their uniform on, and kiss their loved ones goodbye for a few days. Saying goodbye is a commonality in their line of work, but someone has to do it.

They are trained and held responsible for a number of intercontinental ballistic missiles located throughout the missile complex in North Dakota. They hold watch over these missiles nonstop for a 24-hour shift in an underground capsule located in one of the 91st Missile Wing's 15 missile alert facilities.

These men and women are always prepared to launch at any given time. If there are any potential problems that arise with the missiles' security or capability, these men and women are the ones responsible for ensuring America's ICBMs remain safe, secure, and reliable.

Meet one of the Air Force's silent sentinels, 741st Missile Squadron ICBM combat crew commander, Capt. Zach Eagle. He's been doing his job now for more than three years, performing more than 220 alerts with a monthly average of six to eight alerts.

"We sit on alert so that we are ready to launch if the President ever requires us to," said Eagle. "We are a rapid response capability, the most important feature of a missile alert facility. We are manned 24/7, 365 days a year - there are no days off. Ever since these capsules came online, there have always been crews present. We're always ready, all the time."

Crew members monitor each of the facility's 10 launch sites during an alert. Each launch site is equipped with multiple security systems. If anything sets off the alarms, whether it be a bird or human, the alarm notifies the crew members immediately, and specialized response security forces Airmen are dispatched.

"We'll dispatch security forces out to respond to the security situation," said Eagle. "When we take alert, we actually sign for custody of the missiles, so not only is it our job to ensure the security and maintenance of each site, it is ultimately our duty to say who may or may not enter the launch site."

Crew members are armed with a load of checklists, each one describing each and every situation that could possibly occur, and how to handle said situation.

"There is a checklist for everything," he continued. "Obviously we've come across a situation without a checklist, but that's when a checklist is created or modified."

When crew members aren't pulling alert, they are most likely spending their time training in the simulators on base or studying technical orders at the office.

"Members must go through extensive training before even going out on a tour so they can familiarize themselves with the facilities, area, roads, and local procedures," said Eagle. "Members go through three trainer rides, an evaluation, and many different types of certifications before actually going out on alert."

Several safety devices are also in place to prevent any accident from occurring at the alert facilities.

"The use of special code components are used to ensure that not one sole person could possess enough information to launch a missile on their own," said Eagle.

While many active duty military members and civilians alike are unfamiliar with the alert facilities and their respective mission, the truth of the matter is, many missileers feel this mission deserves a lot more recognition than it receives.

"I think nuclear deterrence is the backbone of everything we [Air Force] do," said Eagle. "It's all about the people out here. It's security forces, maintenance crews, facility managers and the chefs; everyone together performs a mission so vital to our nation's security, yet it goes unrecognized."

While 91st MW Airmen don't deploy for a consistent six month tour, leaving every week for a facility adds up to a fairly long deployment, lasting approximately six to eight months in total time spent out at the facilities.

"There's no welcoming party for the facility managers and chefs and cops who come back after being gone for days at a time," said Eagle. "There's no one here to greet us when we get home. We have to go back home and get re-oriented into our everyday lives. If it weren't for this mission, I don't think a whole lot of other things would be possible."

Although everyone working out at the missile alert facilities endure constant deployments to the field, many of them believe the hardship is all worth it in the end.

"The biggest positive I get from this job is knowing that every time I'm on alert, I'm helping provide a blanket of freedom for my wife, mom, brother, friends -- everyone," said Eagle. "While I'm out there, I know that they're able to sleep a little bit better that night because I have control over that freedom. That's the most rewarding part of it."

[This article is the second of a series covering the missile alert facility team members and how they support the overall mission of the 91st Missile Wing.]