Airmen continue nuclear deterrence mission, maintain decades

BURNS — In an underground facility northwest of Burns, dedicated 90th Missile Wing defenders conduct essential nuclear deterrence operations.

The Alpha-01 Missile Alert Facility (MAF) hosts one of the 15 Launch Control Capsules (LCCs) for which F.E. Warren Air Force Base is responsible. Each capsule oversees 10 launch facilities, ostensibly each armed with a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Though above ground the facilities appear to be no more than a few simple structures, sleeping quarters and a leisure space, complete with a pool table and television, below are young airmen constantly overseeing the land leg of the U.S. nuclear triad.

Airmen from 19 years old into their early 20s conduct missions essential to strategic deterrence, focusing on the Minuteman II