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F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. - As part of an effort to knock
out multiple public affairs tasks, I spent a night at a missile
alert facility. At the risk of coming across as a missile field
newbie, I would like to explain what I learned about the operations
in the field and the ICBM Airmen who conduct them.
The first
thing that stuck out to me was the drive out to the site.
The
whole wing is constantly reminded about safe driving through safety
briefings, when getting a government driver's license, at
commander's calls and so on. Listening to the information, I would
always nod my head in approval, of course, but upon driving out to a
site for the first time alone, the importance of safe driving habits
really sank in.
The site that I visited is one of the go-to
Missile Alert Facilities
for tours, partially because of its relative ease of access due to a
good amount of paved roads. Still, I found myself driving along
stretches of dirt and gravel roads, up and down hills and making
sharp turns.
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February 8, 2016 - A Missile Alert Facility quietly rests amongst the hills in the
F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., missile complex. 24/7, 365 days a
year, the topside buildings houses support forces, while missileers
work underground, manning launch control centers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jason Wiese)
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Driving on the roads was not as easy as I thought it
would be, but I can imagine how someone might become
complacent doing so after many trips. I can also see how
that would be extremely dangerous.
In a lot of areas,
the side of the road leads to a drop off, and a rollover or
skid could happen very easily. It would be easy to miss
another vehicle coming over the next hill, and everyone
tends to drive in the center of the dirt roads, so awareness
is a must when driving in the field.
Once I arrived
on site, I was met with the usual strict security entry
measures, and once I got my camera equipment squared away, I
began work on the tasks for which I was assigned.
I
could not help but notice the hard work of the facility
managers and chefs out in the field. They are basically on
duty the entire duration of their three- to five-day
deployments to the missile complex. I also felt surer of the
security of our ICBM force when I saw the defenders
vigilance, even as my own eyelids started drooping.
Seeing all the Airmen conduct their duties round the clock
gave me a greater appreciation for the men and women who
operate in the missile complex.
As a husband with a
young son, it was difficult enough leaving the family for
the night I was there, but I was well aware that I was the
only one to go home to my family early the next day. There
are a lot of single Airmen out in the missile complex at any
given time, but we have a lot of families to thank for
giving up their husbands, wives, mothers or fathers for days
at a time.
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February 8, 2016 - A 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron Humvee
sits on the access road of a Missile Alert Facility in the F.E.
Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., missile complex, in this composite of
two photos. Security forces, missileers and other 90th Missile Wing
Airmen stay vigilant 24/7. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by
Senior Airman Jason Wiese)
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The next thing I learned was exactly how knowledgeable
our Airmen are about nuclear deterrence.
I spoke at
length with the incoming missile combat crew about what they
do and what they think about their mission. Any time you
talk with a
missileer about missiles or deterrence, you will learn
something.
I give credit to their training at
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and the additional
training they receive here. I have never met a missileer who
cannot go into detail not only about what, but why we do
everything we do for the nuclear deterrence mission.
Spending the night at the MAF afforded me the
opportunity to have a lengthier version of one of these
conversations.
The trip to the field was definitely
an eye-opening experience, but despite everything I learned
I am sure my knowledge of missile operations is still just a
drop in the ocean.
The more we learn about the
mission, the more we learn just how important our specific
roles are. When you know more about the overall mission
here, you will be more excited about the work you do every
single day as an ICBM Airman.
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jason Wiese
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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