In the heart of Wyoming, at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, lies a secured room where the fate of nuclear missiles rests in the hands of U.S. Air Force missileers. A journalist and photographer from The Monitor find themselves on the brink of launching a nuclear missile during a training drill. The tension is palpable as the duo navigates the complex console, struggling to synchronize their actions amidst a deluge of acronyms and codes.
As the journalist grapples with a mix of panic and self-consciousness, she finds herself smiling uncontrollably, a common response in moments of heightened stress under scrutiny. The photographer, reflecting on the precision required in the task, notes the lack of room for contemplation of the stakes involved. Despite repeated attempts, the pair finally achieves synchronization, triggering the simulated launch of a 110-ton missile into the unknown.
The gravity of the missileer’s role as the last line of defense before a nuclear missile is unleashed is underscored by Mackenzie Knight, a senior research associate at the Federation of American Scientists. While most Americans may perceive missileers as relics of the Cold War era, the reality is that up to 400 nuclear-capable missiles are currently on alert across the American heartland, overseen by the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren.
The day-to-day existence of missileers, cloaked in secrecy and seclusion, is a stark contrast to the mundanity of the tasks they perform. From routine checks to ensure mental fitness to the perpetual readiness for the unthinkable, missileers live in a world where the specter of nuclear war looms large. Their unenviable responsibility stems from a legacy rooted in the Cold War era, where the power to unleash mass destruction lay in the hands of a select few.
Venturing beneath the surface of the Nebraska countryside, the journalist and her chaperones descend into Missile Alert Facility Echo-01, an underground capsule where missileers like 1st Lt. Trevor Straub and 2nd Lt. Jacob Baughman undertake 24-hour shifts on the precipice of history. The cramped confines of the capsule, adorned with relics of a bygone era, serve as a stark reminder of the weight of their duties.
The elusive nature of the missileer’s mission, shrouded in secrecy and punctuated by moments of tension, is accentuated by Lieutenant Straub’s discreet interactions with the journalist. The distinction between the American Minuteman and the Russian Sarmat, personified in the nomenclature of their respective ICBMs, underscores the human element behind the machinery of war.
The duality of a missileer’s existence, straddling the realms of faith and duty, is exemplified by the journey of David Feddern, a former missileer turned pastor. Wrestling with the ethical implications of his role as a missileer in the context of his Christian faith, Feddern’s narrative weaves a poignant tapestry of internal conflict and external duty.
The evolving landscape of nuclear deterrence in the 21st century, marked by geopolitical tensions and technological advancements, underscores the enduring relevance of missileers in safeguarding global stability. The delicate balance between readiness and restraint, encapsulated in the concept of mutual assured destruction, forms the bedrock of deterrence in a world teetering on the brink of catastrophe.
As the hands of the Doomsday Clock inch closer to midnight, the importance of missileers in upholding deterrence and averting nuclear conflict cannot be overstated. Major General Stacy Jo Huser, the first woman to command the nation’s ICBMs, embodies a new era of leadership in the realm of nuclear security, emphasizing the human side of the missileer’s mission.
In the face of escalating nuclear threats and geopolitical uncertainties, the role of missileers as guardians of America’s nuclear arsenal takes on renewed significance. The delicate dance between readiness and restraint, faith and duty, underscores the complex tapestry of motivations that drive these unsung heroes of the nuclear age. As the world stands on the precipice of uncertainty, it is the unwavering resolve of missileers that serves as a bulwark against the specter of nuclear war.
