Fellow Missileers:

The Association of Air Force Missileers is a non-profit dedicated to educating the public on the role of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBMs) in our nation’s defense. A recent article in the Guardian by former missileer Cole Smith was a cause for alarm, not for what he said but rather for the non-factual data and misguiding information being published to the general public about our nation’s ICBM fleet and the men and women who operate, maintain, and secure those assets. Mr. Smith’s article, “I was a missile operator- there have been more near misses than the world knows” not only misinformed readers about the safety and security surrounding this critical nuclear mission but challenged the integrity of those who serve as members of our ICBM mission today.

The author, a previous Minuteman (MM) III Missileer, writes about the “dangers of nuclear weapons”. His journalistic effort cites events that happened to a Titan II system deactivated in 1987 and tries to make them applicable to the current MM III ICBM force. The Damascus event at the Titan II site in 1980 has been highly studied by current ICBM operators and maintainers, and we have learned from the mistakes of the past to prevent any issues in the present and future. In fact, the volatility of the liquid fuel system led to its retirement in favor of the much safer solid fuel MM system. Deactivation of the Titan II ICBM due to age and to allow for ICBM modernization was directed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci in October 1981. It finally began in July 1982, and the last Titan II missile, located at Silo 373-8 near Judsonia, Arkansas, was deactivated on 5 May 1987. Anyone looking for more information on the Titan II system should check out the book Titan II: A History of the Cold War Missile Program by David Stumpf.

Not mentioned in Mr. Smith’s article is that all United States (US) nuclear weapons are designed to be “one point safe”. This safety design concept means that a nuclear weapon must have a probability of less than one in one million of producing a nuclear detonation if a detonation of the high explosives originates from a single point (as would likely happen in a crash or fire). For the Damascus incident, the one-point safe concept is why the warhead did not detonate, although Mr. Smith drastically describes it as “the warhead was thrown into the woods, disappearing into the night.” For more information on the Damascus incident, we invite readers to peruse Eric Schlosser’s book, Command and Control. This book contains a better understanding and data that Mr. Smith fails to reference.

AAFM questions why the author or his editor would use the term “near misses” in the article’s title?

The wording in the title intentionally misleads the reader into thinking that the ICBM force has most recently launched a missile and a near miss occurred...which, as MASH’s Colonel Potter would say is “horse pucky”.

Both the US Air Force and US Navy launches test missiles each year as part of our nation’s nuclear missile test program “to validate and verify the safety, security, effectiveness, and readiness of the weapon system-no‘near misses’ there. In fact, the test program is also used to demonstrate to friend and foe alike that these missiles, pulled from our active force and launched with dummy warheads, are reliable and viable. The Secretary of Defense announced the cancellation of its most recent test launch at Vandenberg, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby made the following announcement during a press conference 2 Mar 2022: "…in an effort to demonstrate that we have no intention of engaging in any actions that can be misunderstood or misconstrued, the Secretary of Defense has directed that our Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch scheduled for this week to be postponed," Kirby said. "We did not take this decision lightly, but instead to demonstrate that we are a responsible nuclear power."

Mr. Smith’s article asks the question “But what man or woman of integrity could possibly launch a nuclear weapon?” Maybe Mr. Smith is referencing the classic War Games movie scenario where military members are forced to turn keys. Prior to receiving their missile badge and being certified to perform their nuclear alert duties, every ICBM operator is required to learn about nuclear history and pass an exam on nuclear effects. Nuclear operators are trained in the employment of nuclear weapons, blast effects, height of burst, and yield. The awareness and implications of launching a nuclear weapon are taught to operators from day one. Additionally, ICBM operators are also screened as part of the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) to insure they are aware of the implications of launching nuclear weapons, and that they are capable of doing their duties.

Missileers understand, more than most, the gravity of using nuclear weapons, but they are also taught that the weapons are not going to go off at random, nor are they going to be launched without proper consideration of the strategic situation by the President and the National Command Authorities. Additionally, there are safeguards and inspections built into the procedures and processes of the weapon system so that incidents do not happen. A nuclear weapon is significantly safer than the numbers that Mr. Smith references and has maintained strategic stability for over 70 Years.

Mr. Smith served 2012-2017 as a missile operator, meaning he signed on to the use of nuclear weapons and accepted the fact that he would launch given a valid Presidential order. Yet, he is suddenly writing about the dangers of nuclear weapons. His question of integrity is an interesting one. Is he questioning his own integrity when he was a Missileer? Or is he questioning the integrity of the entire ICBM crew force? Out of all of Mr. Smith’s misstatements, this one bother missileers the most. Like all of those who have served or are currently serving our country, Missileers took an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States of America. Missileers are first and foremost AF members, where “Integrity First” is and will always be, a core value.

Respectively,

Jim Warner

Executive Director

Association of Air force Missileers