Fellow Missileers

There was so much information this month that we are sending out a second dispatch with topics ranging from wing visits to technical histories to some updated missile music.  

90th Missile Wing: Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink (center) visited the 90th Missile Wing on January 21, 2026 including a stop at missile launch facility and A01 near Albin, Wyoming. During the tour, Meink observed how Airmen protect, maintain and operate a ready and secure deterrent force while adapting legacy systems to support future modernization. The SECAF traveled to the missile field and back aboard both the UH-1N from the 90 MW and the MH-139 Grey Wolf on loan from the Malmstrom AFB. The visit underscored the importance of modernizing support platforms and infrastructure to ensure continued mission effectiveness during the transition to Sentinel.

Want to know more? See: SECAF Visit

341st Missile Wing: U.S. Air Force Lt Gen David Tabor, Air Force director of plans and programs (AF/A8) toured Malmstrom AFB in January. Lt Gen Tabor assessed the sustainment of the Minuteman III at the launch facility to ensure immediate mission readiness while evaluating the modernization benefits and infrastructure required for the integration of the Sentinel weapon system.

Historic Minot AFB Video Discovered: The Lackland AFB Historian posted this video from basic training. If you wore the BDU Camo uniform in the '70–'90-time frame this may make you smile...enjoy. SEE: Minot AFB Publicity

Atlas Missile History: AAFM member and former Atlas D maintenance team member at the 389 SMW, F. E. Warren AFB, Jim Widlar was interviewed recently about his experiences as a Cold War veteran.  One of the founding members of AAFM, Jim has spent quite a few years educating the public on the role of the Atlas missile and his time supporting the system in the early 1960’s You can listen to his interview here: https://youtu.be/Sg8XxVgI2J0?si=AxZJqAAdP47vOml8

Technical histories:

In May 2026, the Air Force Historical Foundation presented its Journal Article Award to Dr. David K Stumpf for his “Old School” technical research highlighting his work on the evolution of the USAF Missile program including works on the Navy’s Regulus I and II cruise missiles and the Air Force Titan II and Minuteman.  Later in the year, the Foundation released a special edition (Special 2025 – Volume 72, Number 5) dedicated to David’s many articles published in the Journal including the six published in this edition.  David keeps on saying this is his “last publication” but only time will tell if that is true.

Check out the publication which includes 100 pages of David’s work

at https://afhistory.org/the-journal-of-the-air-force-historical-foundation-special-edition/ 

Master Alarm Reset: As the mid-2020’s are officially here, a new brand of music has come to light by a group of anonymous Missileers calling themselves Master Alarm Reset (a function of the Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT) console currently deployed across the MMIII Launch Control Centers).  The music uses artificial intelligence to generate the instruments and voices, but the lyrical content is 100% Missileer-generated with the perspective and sense of humor only they could create.  Their latest album is called Status As Presented and features two versions, one punk-inspired and one in the genre of electronic dance music.  The band also put out a holiday single in late 2025 called Christmas Underground.   The music is available on all major streaming services including Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube. 

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0G5M5FBQ6?ref=dm_sh_oX3Q4GBJT0lVHCZAcp9F3DrbZ 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CD8U2FzL50f9ELSMlTduN?si=EuxnZjaqRA-RY-owW0rswQ

YouTube - https://youtube.com/@masteralarmreset?si=qGPuHBTWbmzyHgoE

You can also find their music on Pandora by searching for “Master Alarm Reset”. All streaming royalties, purchases and planned future merchandise sales profits are being donated to The Torchlight Initiative to educate, inform, and advocate for Missileers affected by service-connected cancers. Be on the lookout for the full story in the next AAFM newsletter.

And Now for Something Entirely Different:

Air Force updates fitness test requirements. “We care about the long-term health of our Airmen and that starts with physical fitness,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach. “The habits Airmen build, by working out daily directly impact their quality of life in and out of uniform. I am confident our commanders will continue to implement a culture of fitness, so our warfighters are healthy and ready."

The components of the updated bi-annual PFA offer Airmen a choice between traditional and alternative exercises:

Cardiovascular: 2-mile run or 20-meter HAMR.

Strength: One minute of push-ups or two minutes of hand-release push-ups.

Core: One minute of sit-ups, two minutes of cross-leg reverse crunches, or a timed forearm plank.

Body Composition: Waist-to-Height Ratio measurement.

Per the Secretary of War’s guidance, PFA scores will be included in officer and enlisted performance briefs beginning in February 2026. The first groups to be affected by this change will be colonels in February 2026, then lieutenant colonels, majors, and chief master sergeants in May 2026. Senior airman EPBs closing out in in March 2026 will not include PFA scores. Let’s hope that our MAF's and on-base athletic facilities are updated to support the new requirements.

Want to know more? See:  New PFA

Finally, if you are having trouble voting in the Board of Directors poll, you can always fill out the attached ballot and return it to me at Director@AFMissileers.org  Ballot

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director