Fellow Missileers:

Cancer and the health of our missile force hit the news last week revealing an issue of former crew members diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) working at Malmstrom between 1997 and 2007. This has caused a lot of concern and a lot of comments on Facebook and other on-line forums. While there a many unknowns at this time, AAFM will strive to be a source of accurate information that could impact all missileers, past and present, regardless of specialty or rank.  Our role is not to present opinions but rather awareness. Two quotes from the last few days are worth sharing:Fellow Missileers:

Cancer and the health of our missile force hit the news last week revealing an issue of former crew members diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) working at Malmstrom between 1997 and 2007. This has caused a lot of concern and a lot of comments on Facebook and other on-line forums. While there are many unknowns at this time, AAFM will strive to be a source of accurate information that could impact all missileers, past and present, regardless of specialty or rank.  Our role is not to present opinions but rather awareness. Two quotes from the last few days are worth sharing:

“Missileers are very proud of what we’ve done to serve our nation … so let’s get it right and be able to do this mission safely going forward.” –quoted from the 24 January 2023 Task and Purpose online article.

Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and our Air Force takes the responsibility to protect Airman and Guardians incredibly seriously, and their safety and health is my top priority.  As soon as I was aware of the concerns in the Malmstrom Initiative Slide Deck, I as the Global Strike commander, in concert with the Air Force Surgeon General requested U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) conduct a formal assessment.”  General Thomas A Bussiere, Commander, AFGSC/CC

AAFM believes the current environment in the LCCs, LFs, base housing and associated local areas are safe for our current active-duty force as there is no data showing elevated risks or incidents among those currently stationed at any of our active Missile Wings.  AAFM believes a full investigation by the Air Force, monitored by an independent source is necessary so that those already identified and those to be identified get proper screenings and care. We stand by to assist USAFSAM as they conduct their assessment.

Several comments should be addressed to get all of us on the same page:

“Missileers are very proud of what we’ve done to serve our nation … so let’s get it right and be able to do this mission safely going forward.” –quoted from the 24 January 2023 Task and Purpose on line article.1.    Why is this just focused on officers, there are many maintainers dying of cancer?

Since AAFM was established in 1993, we have made it clear is that our definition of a missileer is those who earned the missile badge and in this case those who dispatched to the field whether as an operator, maintainer, defender or communicator. The media is covering it as an “officer” issue because the briefing that was moving up the chain of command concerning NHL was developed by an individual who was diagnosed with NHL and was relating information he had gathered from those he served with at Malmstrom.  A full investigation by the Air Force may reveal data that goes beyond operators.

2.   Is this issue just focused on Malmstrom?

As noted above, the problem has been linked to those who served at Malmstrom but a broader review of all ICBM bases and systems and all specialties is needed to provide and comprehensive data.

3.    Is it safe to pull alerts and dispatch to the field?

AAFM believes the partnership between AFGSC and AFNWC, through the ICBM System Program Office, works diligently to ensure safe and secure work environments including all Minuteman III LCCAAFM believes the partnership between AFGSC and AFNWC, through the ICBM System Program Office, works diligently to ensure safe and secure work environments including all Minuteman III LCCs and LFs.

Until formal data gathering begins, a registry has been established at  www.torchlightinitiative.org.  Click on the REGISTER button and complete the short web form. This will help to provide a baseline of cases and act as a starting point for contacts and resources when the formal study kicks off.  You can also email: registry@torchlightinitiative.org

5.Does raising these issues have a negative impact on our ICBM systems? No.  Our currently deployed systems are safe, secure, reliable and the highly trained, motivated and committed professionals continue to do their work to maintain the nuclear deterrent posture of our Nation.  There is no evidence supporting any current sources of contamination in the Minuteman III weapon system.  AFGSC and 20 AF have taken steps to maintain, modernize, sanitize and continually monitor for any and all sources of exposure through program like the ongoing LCC Deep Clean and alert facility renovations.  The past two years of COVID-19 precautions have also sparked an intense focus in personnel protection beyond our historical culture of safety in the ICBM fields5.  Does raising these issues have a negative impact on our ICBM systems? 

No.  Our currently deployed systems are safe, secure, reliable and the highly trained, motivated and committed professionals continue to do their work to maintain the nuclear deterrent posture of our Nation.  There is no evidence supporting any current sources of contamination in the Minuteman III weapon system.  AFGSC and 20 AF have taken steps to maintain, modernize, sanitize and continually monitor for any and all sources of exposure through program like the ongoing LCC Deep Clean and alert facility renovations.  The past two years of COVID-19 precautions have also sparked an intense focus in personnel protection beyond our historical culture of safety in the ICBM fields.

As directed by our charter, AAFM will take an active role in what happens ahead by advocating for all missileers in an independent third-party role.  In the next few days, we’ll add a link on our web site called “medical” that will contain pertinent and the most accurate information we can find.  We’ll be determining in the very near future whether we can be involved in supporting the collection of data that could be provided to the AF Surgeon General, Department of Defense Inspector General, Environment Protection Agency and other stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Jim 

James F. Warner

Executive Director