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Missile combat crew

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A missile combat crew (MCC), is a team of highly trained specialists, often called Missileers, manning Intermediate Range and Intercontinental ballistic missile systems (IRBMs and ICBMs, respectively).[1] In the United States, men and women, officially coded as Nuclear and Missile Operations Officers (AFSC 13NX), of the United States Air Force, operate underground missile systems at launch control centers located throughout the country.[2] 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.

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 for the Titan ICBM. For the Minuteman ICBM, the restriction was lifted on 1 January 1988.

Training

Combat crew training consisted of three phases, Undergraduate Missile Training(UMT), Unit Qualification Training (or Unit Orientation Training), and recurring training.

UMT 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 States missile launch complexes varied by system. Most launch control centers were built in population sparse locations, such as the Northern Tier (Washington, Wyoming, 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) 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 and Peacekeeper) with equipment racks. The Atlas F was in an underground silo, along with the launch crew quarters, separated by a tunnel.

Alert tours

Minuteman and Peacekeeper alerts were usually 24-hour tours, with additional 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.[3]

Project OIL CHANGE

OIL CHANGE was a test implemented by SAC 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.[4]

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).

Atlas

The Atlas-F silo-based variant had a crew complement of five members:[5]

  • MCCC
  • DMCCC
  • Ballistic Missile Analyst Technician (BMAT)
  • Missile Facilities Technician (MFT)
  • Power Generation Technician.

Titan

Titan II crews numbered four:

  • MCCC
  • DMCCC
  • Ballistic Missile Analyst Technician (BMAT)
  • Missile Facilities Technician (MFT).[6]

Minuteman/Peacekeeper

Minuteman 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.

Global counterparts

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 States 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 Hadès and SSBS S3D missiles was deactivated by President Jacques Chirac in February 1996.[7]

China

Nothing unclassified is known about Chinese ICBM personnel or their activities.

Chronology

Controversy

From the early days of United States missile crew operations until the late 1970s, the career field was closed to female personnel.[9] 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 Command relieved restrictions on same-sex crew pairings, into "mixed" crews on January 1, 1988.

  • Missile crew member opens blast door
    Missile crew member opens blast door
  • Briefing of 91st Missile Wing crews
    Briefing of 91st Missile Wing crews
  • Minuteman crew on alert
    Minuteman crew on alert

See also

References

  1. ^ Bulletin of Atomic Scientists: "The Ever-ready Nuclear Missileer", Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 14-21
  2. ^ F.E. Warren AFB Public Affairs: "Special child participates in first 'Missileer for a Day' tour", 26 June 2007
  3. ^ Air Force Link: "Missile squadron poised for 72-hour alerts", 2 Oct 2006
  4. ^ AFHRA: 351st Strategic Missile Wing History, Oct-Dec 1968
  5. ^ Issacs, Terry. (1993) "Silos and Shelters in the Pecos Valley: The Atlas ICBM in Chaves County, New Mexico, 1960-1965". New Mexico Historical Review, October 1993 Volume 68, number 4.
  6. ^ Donald Boelling, "Titan II Missile Combat Crew", 2007
  7. ^ Center for Defense Information: Current World Nuclear Arsenals
  8. ^ Air Force Historical Research Agency - Semi-annual History of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing, K-WG-44-HI Jan-Jun 88 Vol 1.
  9. ^ Air Force Historical Research Agency: "A Study of Females on Minuteman/Peacekeeper Crews", 31 January 1985
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