Guarding America's Missile Fields

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Play Conflict of Nations for FREE on PC, Android or iOS: 💥 con.onelink.me/kZW6/NuclearMissiles Receive an Amazing New Player Pack, only available for the next 30 days!

[@officialvickyp]

My name

[@calitaliarepublic6753]

Israel already has nuclear weapons. Everybody knows it's true. The Israeli government just refuses to publicly acknowledge it is true.

[@masternobody1896]

epic

[@nairozajamaldeen7697]

I tried to use the link but I didn't get the reward

[@spg3331]

Bullshit israel most definitely has nukes

[@JakeBroe]

I am a former USAF Missileer who served at Minot AFB and this was incredibly accurate. Bravo!

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Thanks Jake! So you guys actually did play Super Mario 😜

[@pritiagarwal5599]

does it get boring sitting all day watching a monitor nothing happening. i dont think they allow games in the control room

[@adenbuford7396]

Its Jake Broe! "welcome back my friends, (and Russian bots)".

[@alquesadilla9140]

@@WontSeeReplies "iSrEaL wOuLd nEvEr HiDe nUcLeAr cApABiLiTiEs!!! i'M gOiNg tO tAlK tO mY hUmAN rOiGhTS cOunSeLoRs abOuT tHiS" ~ Jews

[@therealstubot]

Why not Minot?

[@rancidcrabtree.]

Your credibility as a content creator just went up with me. I was a Missile Facilities Maintainer (aka "X3" or "Buttcrack") in the '90s and I would say you managed to very accurately describe the LGM-30 Minuteman system. Previous content I've seen about the Minuteman and it's operations were full of inaccuracies and speculation. Well done!

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Thanks, and glad to hear you enjoyed the video 👍🏼

[@Greg-yu4ij]

Thank you for doing your part. I’m glad we have all those guys down there. Anyone who saw the beginning of ‘wargames’ will realize how serious and important that job is. I’m also glad we have seal team 6 testing the security. Worth every penny.

[@rodaan5959]

Just got to my first assignment as a buttcrack glad to know the nickname has been around for a while 😂

[@rancidcrabtree.]

@@rodaan5959 Noice!

[@TwoTreesStudio]

was everyone cheating on the tests back in your days or is that a newer thing?

[@SquatchyLS]

Did minuteman 3 maintenance in the usaf for 5 years. It was quite repetitive but at the end of the day, it was a very fulfilling job knowing what we were doing in the bigger picture. Miss the job every now and again but don't miss the military. Very good video friend. Seems like you did good research

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Thanks a lot!

[@erickeuler9899]

Lol same, was a X3 at Warren

[@SquatchyLS]

@@erickeuler9899 no shit? X1 at warren

[@ChemEDan]

@@WontSeeReplies The rumor Israel... hehehe

[@drewtremble2838]

Malmstrom AFB?

[@jeffpkamp]

I lived in a tiny town in Wyoming with missile silos less than 2 mi on either side. I have friends who can testify to how quickly they respond if you get up close to the fences.

[@nicholascarr6251]

Do they just tell you to leave or are you arrested, interrogated, then let loose?

[@jeffpkamp]

@@nicholascarr6251 depends on what you're doing. If you're messing with the fence they will detain you. My friends just got close while out playing games in a wheat field and got probably within 20 feet and the response force showed up really quick and told them to get lost.

[@Paudelly]

@@jeffpkamp That google maps picture of the farmland almost right up against the fence makes me curious about a lot of stuff. Like who maintains the grass outside the fence? Surely a tractor getting close to the fence sets off sensors but I guess its to be expected.

[@jeffpkamp]

@@Paudelly they do. I was reading an article about windfarms in western Nebraska that aren't being built because they want more clearance between the silos and tall structures to protect the rapid response teams in low visibility. The article talks about the farmer setting off the motion sensors with the dust kicked up by his tractor. Keeps the rapid response teams on their toes.

[@matthewerwin4677]

@@jeffpkamp I worked at a wind farm near Sterling Colorado. Missile silos were scattered around us. Almost every day we would see Blackhawk helicopters flying low to the ground. I'm guessing they were doing maintenance and security checks. I can see why they wouldn't want wind turbines in close proximity.

[@Ghettofinger]

It's also a strategic way of having other countries deplete their nuclear warhead stocks by targeting missile silos away from economic centers and leaving them with less capability of doing damage to large cities like New York or LA. Even if the enemy destroys all of the land-leg missiles of the nuclear triad, 70% of the nuclear stockpile is of the Nuclear submarine "Trident" variety.

[@MillionFoul]

And of course, forcing the enemy to waste somewhere between 450 and 1,350 of their warheads (because after all, any single warhead is not guaranteed to destroy the silo, and if something's worth nuking, it's worth making sure it gets nuked) on hardened targets in the middle of nowhere severely depletes their stockpile. After all, the only viable way to strike them is in a first strike using your ICBMs and SLBMs (and SLBMs are not ideal for the purpose) and the most capable adversary, Russia, only has 1,185 warheads on ICBMs, and only 306 missiles. It very much makes the math... difficult.

[@kitkat47chrysalis95]

​@@MillionFoul Russia would never fire its missiles in a first strike situation. Russian nukes are designed for second strike retaliation and by that point they aren't pointing at silos. makes the math real easy.

[@MillionFoul]

@@kitkat47chrysalis95 Russian command and control wouldn't exist after a first strike, which would make aiming any remaining weapons pretty hard, and knowing what nuckear capabilities remain on the US aide harder. Wasting your now even more limited supplies after a first strike all but guarantees a complete loss of any remaining negotiating power or strategic capability. Strategic detterence doesn't dissapear in an exchange, it just has to compete with strategic and tactical value for the remainder of the conflict. If there's anything left after an exchange worth fighting for and with the capability to fight, it's going to be used to sustain that fight, not be wasted on strategically farcical gesture. ICBM silos can be reloaded in just days, disabling them is critical to ongoing war efforts if you want to deny the enemy as much ongoing strategic capability as possible. Reserve warheads are a thing for a reason.

[@DogsGoneGaming]

Yes!! And those subs are damn near impossible to find and definitely pack a scarily big punch

[@Aguy644]

@@kitkat47chrysalis95 You really believe that after what they have done in ukraine?

[@Hoppy1946]

Great video, lots of memories. I was an EMT (electronic maintenance technician) at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, 1969-1973. My daughter was born at Ellsworth base hospital.

[@kaithewise8449]

you gotta clarify that lol

[@threestrikesmarxman9095]

One of my Air Force ROTC instructors was a missile officer before he taught aerospace studies. He summarized his job as “kickstarting the world’s greatest and last fireworks show.”

[@livingtorture5745]

Sounds crazy but if we're done for , I'd just go look at it.

[@ReckerFidelWOLF]

​@@livingtorture5745Honestly im sure over half of us would. Who the hell would want to survive some shit like that might as well look at the display

[@haunter_1845]

My uncle was a missileer for around 20 years. When you take a test as missileer, you can't get one thing wrong. It's a high standard.

[@blurglide]

Atlas had a MUCH longer range than 500 miles. It was intercontinental, after all. Thor and Jupiter were medium range ballistic missiles, not ICBMs

[@DanielFrost79]

True, ICBM's have a minimum of 5000km or 3100 miles of range.

[@Acrophobia2]

I wonder if they had a typo in the script

[@DanielFrost79]

To be fair, he is right, but not in the way you think. 5000km = 500mil. (10km = 1mil). So in the metric system he is right. 🖖😌

[@DanielFrost79]

@E Van I know, this is not 'miles' i'm talking, this is 10km/1 mil im talking about. So, Yes, it is right. Because i'm not talking about miles, im talking about 10km.

[@DanielFrost79]

@E Van In my language (Swedish) 10 km is 1 mil. (Metric) 1 mile is approx 1.6km (imperial)

[@billkrause4585]

I worked at those 150 Launch Facilities and 15 Launch Control Facilities in both Dakotas (Ellsworth and Minot AFBs) from 1967 to 1975, they were the best years of my life servicing in the United States Air Force. I been there and done that, and proud to have served. Go Air Force!

[@TonyWeaving]

Thank you for service. Tony in Portsmouth England.

[@fjs1111]

Thank you for your service Bill - we truly appreciate it

[@C4CHopeless]

Good job on this one, brought me back to life the missile fields at Minot as a Security Forces officer. Just a few notes: 1. While we still have Security Police on our badges and sometimes use the title, the title Security Forces is the title we most use and exclusively use in the missile field. 2. The tactical response teams are called Tactical Response Force (TRF), or at least they were when I was in. 3. Security Forces at the MAFs are the primary responders for recapture/recovery operations, TRF is used as rapid response backup and for assault into an occupied silo. TRF also provides aerial overwatch for nuclear convoys. 4. I cannot confirm it what special operations team it was, but I can confirm that a special forces team gained control during an exercise. Security measures were updated afterwards and it hasn't happened again. 5. It is the most stressful boring job ever, as even the smallest mistakes can be punished. Plus, these mistakes often get reported to the White House. Fall asleep on post? That'll trigger a Dull Sword call that the President will see, and entire chains of command have been fired over things like that. 6. It's not just mental tests that qualify people to work around nukes, but the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP). PRP is not just about mental status, but also any drug dependencies, including prescription drugs, that can alter judgement, financial status, whether or not you support the existence of nukes, any foreign contacts, level of security clearance, and many more. Still, an overall great video. Just the way you pronounced MAF showed me you did a good amount of research, as that's how we said it.

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Thanks a lot for your detailed comment. Would love to have a chat with you sometime, just to hear more about your experience in that role. If you’re interested, feel free to send us an email (see “About” page of the channel).

[@C4CHopeless]

@@Solid_Snake99 None of this is a secret. Hard to keep it a secret anyway when the exercises are done where anyone can see it.

[@FlintIronstag23]

When they started letting women become missileers, did it lead to any problems of fraternization down in the bunkers?

[@C4CHopeless]

@@FlintIronstag23 Surprisingly rare, but it has happened. But then again, monitoring the silos doesn't leave a whole lot of free time. Plus they don't have a shower down there if I recall correctly, so any fraternization activities would be rather easy to find out, leading to a not so pleasant visit with a commander. Above all, being in the missile field can really suck so sex is usually the last thing on anyone's mind.

[@ItsDburch]

When I was in (Security Forces enlisted) we also heard about the team that took control of a warhead. It wasn't until some years later I happened to hear about a Navy guy who worked with my father at a government agency who had done a security assessment/exercise at my base "back in the day." I was told it was operation Red Cell, and this guys credentials were impeccable. Apparently the base commander at the time was not happy.

[@theoriginalop]

This is a fantastic video. My little brother was a cook at a site in Wyoming. The security clearance for that role is pretty high being as you are providing food to the missile operators with direct access to the secure area. I can't wait to show him this!

[@sangbeom6245]

I was at Malmstrom but he fed the MSFS dudes at the MAF so he fed me (Fire Teams)

[@titusflavius5668]

Cooks and cops only req a secret. Maintainers and operators have TS SCI and NC2. Did it for 20 years. half maint half ops

[@titusflavius5668]

@@sangbeom6245 fire teams still stink up the bedrooms?? I had troops that absolutely REFUSED to be in the same room with one of our FSCs. Called his room the spank shak😂

[@sangbeom6245]

@@titusflavius5668 I'm Korean. We don't smell and we bath well.

[@sangbeom6245]

@@titusflavius5668 Depends. Some have TS SCI SAP.

[@jimsvideos7201]

9:04 The first-generation ICBMs used liquid oxygen and kerosene which are not hypergolic. The later ones that use hydrazine and nitric acid were storeable as those compounds _are_ hypergolic, but they are also wickedly toxic and difficult to handle.

[@darrenhersey9794]

Nitrogen Tetroxide, not Nitric Acid. It broke down into Nitric acid when the day was not a good one though. Also, the with hypergolic fuels the fuel can be stored in the missile. They did not need to be fueled up to launch

[@ACME_Kinetics]

Exactly. To add for anyone reading, liquid oxygen isn't stored in the missile because it boils at -297°F (-183°C). The word NWYT was thinking of is cryogenic. Anyway, it has to be pumped in and this is what primarily caused the longer launch response time. The Titan II used UDMH/nitrogen tetroxide hypergolic propellants specifically because they were able to be stored in the missile.

[@kevinrusch3627]

I'm pretty sure the hypergolics were chosen because they were "shelf-stable" -- you could leave the rocket fueled for months at a time. It was terrible terrible stuff in any other situation, but it could stay in the tanks for a really long time. (Also, they make the plumbing of the rocket simpler, which is a benefit if you're mass-producing rockets and leaving them in the field.)

[@kco1270]

Yeah, the SLS burn, while appreciated, isn't relevant because their challenges with cryogenic hydrogen are in no way comparable to hypergolics. The reason for not using hypergolics is that leaks can and did kill everyone in the silo.

[@davidmohr4606]

@@kco1270 lets not forget the titan incident in Arkansas. Nasty stuff.

[@nicholaswessels4476]

I worked guarding and transporting these weapons for six years I have stayed countless nights on the MAF you showed in the beginning and I have had thousands of guard mounts in the room where you showed security forces doing an about face, nearly everything shown I’ve done or witnessed. I can even verify that the people who live on the MAF’s are very spoiled and the only people in the missile field who has a bathroom or warm food. The rest of us.. go where we go and eat what we bring to duty. At the time I was bitter for doing this job, but now days I love that I did this job. I was the 1% of the 1% who got to watch the sun set and rise from a silo plus I got to sleep countless nights atop one. You clearly did your homework and got a lot of facts right! You scratched the surface of the job and everything that happens out there and for our own national security its good that only a portion is available to the public. Good memories in the missile field.

[@DenemeDokio]

VIIDS troop myself, it was such a dredge making that trip out to the remote sites. Always had respect for the SF guys that had to stay at the MAF's, constantly rotating out.

[@chrisdraughn5941]

Sounds like you worked camper alert teams… The only thing I miss about that part of my life is how young I was. Try as I might, I can’t shine up those memories by thinking about being 1% of 1%… Sure, I saw incredibly beautiful sunrises and the northern lights a few times but man that job sucked… Most of the disciplinary problems I witnessed were the result of troops getting bored. I carried around a copy of the novel Catch-22. I read and re-read a copy of that book until it fell apart…

[@kmann100500]

@@chrisdraughn5941 why didn't you get another book?

[@sangbeom6245]

@@chrisdraughn5941 Camper was probably the most relaxed job especially if you got a newer camper with all the goodies inside.

[@chrisdraughn5941]

@@sangbeom6245 - Which era? 1984-85 at Malmstrom. Put in for world-wide remote to get out of SAC ASAP! Got sent to Diyarbakir, Turkey to a tiny radar site called The Duck... It was twice as remote, but it was a backwater USAFE assignment and super chill...

[@Solstice_AC]

Did he just say... "Exactly what you think" ? The universe is officially collapsing.

[@NotWhatYouThink]

😁

[@andrew1970able]

I was a Security Policeman stationed at Whiteman 89-90. I was assigned to Mohawk and Seminole Flight at 352MSS. I worked Topside and Campers. I did a lot of TDAs to ARTS/SRTS and convoys. We called MAFs LCFs. The food on the LCFs was great. The duty wasn't bad but the winters were a bit rough. We had a US Marshal that was the lead on convoys. I was on a camper one night when the wind chill was -40+. Couldn't plug into commercial power and my lp tanks froze. Ended up sleeping in the back of a six pack. Was out there for 3 days. All in all, I enjoyed my time there. Then went to RAF Lakenheath UK.

[@CSltz]

Do they still tell the story about the guys who picked up there girlfriends in the camper. Along with some beer. But wrecked on the way out there. About 75 .

[@andrew1970able]

@@CSltz hadn't heard that one, but I know of people picking up girls in Warrensburg on the way out.

[@elliottmoore4405]

That 30 min or less Dominos reference is hilarious. Lol

[@smokeymcpot851]

Lived in Cheyenne, Wy just outside of Warren AFB for two decades. When the air force is moving nuclear warheads through the middle of town, you notice. Had a buddy who's parents owned a ranch just outside of town, & they had one of these sites out there on the property. Even went out shooting at one of the now-decommissioned, partially destroyed & abandoned Atlas missile sites nearby as well. It had derelict cranes for moving the missiles left behind, giant flooded underground bunkers/silos, algae covered cooling pools & early-era server buildings littered with broken circuit boards. Crazy to see an entire nuclear missile facility from the 50s completely trashed & forgotten

[@masterimbecile]

Guard: “Halt! Who goes there?!” Rabbit: “iTS not WHAT YoU tHinK!!”

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Wascally wabbit.

[@dcm7777777]

people you left out were civil engineers who maintained the fences, cut the grass and did snow removal to allow them to get to the sites. Malmstrom AFB in the 80"s for myself.

[@larrycollie5330]

I think sometimes civil engineers are the forgotten part of the AIR Force people don't realize how important civil engineers were to the Air Force most just think fighters and bomber aircraft,spent 14 years as a civil engineer at SAC bases and GLCM in Europe were engineers played a very important role in the mission of the Base. Served 81-95 heavy equipment operator.

[@LBurou]

I was at Malmstrom AFB 1971-75 in the 341st Missile Support Division. Flew missile support in the UH-1 Huey. I've circled above those vehicles as they transported warheads for hundreds of hours with armed Airmen on board. Also transported missile crews when the weather made ground transport impossible.

[@Tana21120]

The hardest part of the job as a security forces member in the missile field was driving to the sites at night in the winter.. If it was snowing it was a terrible experience.. I was stationed in Minot, and if there was snow, there was wind. So there you were, driving in a snowstorm, knowing that no matter what, you had to get to the site.. I’m from Minnesota and was accustomed to winter driving, but the weather in North Dakota in the winter could be so brutal.. The summers were beautiful though…

[@nmelkhunter1]

Great video. The first time I took my step son antelope hunting in Wyoming we drove through Cheyenne on our way to Casper. I’ll never forget the look on his face as we left Cheyenne when I told him the mission of FE Warren AFB. I reminded him again the next year as passed through Cheyenne and he said “This really is a surreal place to be!”

[@archibaldtuttle8481]

Moved oil rigs in the Bakken. It was said that as a last resort, if you were stranded in the depths of winter there -- which can be a *No Foolin'* challenge to survive, ( one winter we had no temps above -29ºF for 4 months ) if you could find one of these places and pass out clutching the fence you would be found No Matter What in less than 20 minutes. It might be many weeks of no fun at all, before anyone saw you again but you would not freeze to death.

[@sjb1157]

As a former Minuteman Missile Launch Officer at Ellsworth AFB in SD, this was a great video and brought back some great memories!!! Thanks for this "Blast ( no pun intended!!) From The Past."

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

As a civilian and random guy on KZbin who probably knows nothing useful about this, I genuinely love hearing you guys talk about your experiences. I also can't help but wonder, is it a good idea to go on the public Internet and say what your job was? If an adversary wanted to know who to get leverage on to squeeze for intel, the Internet must be a gold mine. I'm probably just being paranoid, though. Thanks for the long hours of service you put in for the security we take for granted.

[@russvoight1167]

Assigned to the 28th FMS welding shop, Ellsworth AFB August 1976 to December 1979

[@GameTimeWithMatt]

Can you do a video on how they repair ships with significant damage? Love the videos keep it up!!

[@nahumhernandezg2188]

Ong

[@tristanb.3470]

Dry docks aren't that interesting

[@tim9680]

@@tristanb.3470 maybe not but I would still enjoy to see it

[@F0urSidedHexag0n]

Drachinifel's damage control video comparing IJN & USN damage control is very nice, I recommend that.

[@brianm.595]

If the ship doesn't sink, you tow or tug to a dock for ship repairs. Typically its just a big tub that the water can be drained from and the ship ends up on pylons or whatever, depending on the repair. The repair work is just like you would think, cut off the damage by removing the welds or rivets, bolts, beams, structures, removed the damaged parts, replace them with new parts. The guy who said its not that interesting is honestly correct.

[@1gavalanche1]

The problem with the pre-Titan missiles was that they used cryogenic fuel that couldn't be stored in the missiles, and hence the slow fueling step. The Titans used hypergolic fuel that was stable at normal temperatures and so could be stored in the missiles, but was corrosive and extremely toxic. You kind of mixed your facts all together here.

[@arround1]

Liquid propellant missile are simply unnecessary hassle for military applications, where the missile can be stored or be on alert for many decades, with minimal maintenance, and suddenly need to be launched in the next couple of tens of minutes. They are also extremely dangerous. The Titan II once exploded in a silo due to a mistake by the maintenance staff.

[@dannypipewrench533]

@@arround1 Yeah, the guy dropped a 5 pound (or something like that) socket wrench bit down the silo. That is not the fault of the Titan II. That is transfer of energy.

[@HughJassle]

@@arround1 did the nuclear middle explode or just the fuel inside the rocket?

[@hoghogwild]

@@HughJassle Just the fuel. I blew the warhead up out. Look it up, 1982 titan-II site explosion.

[@elitoro3193]

16:42 I don't know of any SEAL team exercise, but I do know that a security team was charged with dereliction of duty and kicked out of the Air Force for not following proper procedures. The AF takes guarding of these sites VERY seriously.

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Good to know!

[@polduran]

@@NotWhatYouThink I think you are refering to Red Cell, a unit build by Dick Marcinko (founder and first commander of ST6) in the 80s to test the security of high value facilities (Navy bases, icbm sites, ect).

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Everyone claims that squeal team 6 did everything under the sun, but in reality they're just reporter and camera fodder so the real soldiers can do their jobs without fanfare.

[@johnwick6995]

Every American Military Installation on US Soils, indeed likely worldwide, have had Tiger Teams Attack, & Attempt to Overtake their Most Strategic or Important Assets & Facilities. No Military Base, Facility, or Site, be it a Nuclear Bunker, Nuclear Storage, Secret Aircraft Site, Underground or Underwater, can be Trully Secure, without the Knowledge of... Can We Be Overrun & or Overcome Successfully. So YES, every Site has been Attacked by US Military Special Forces at One Time or Another. SEAL Team 6, Delta Force, Marine Recon, Rangers, etc... have likely all been involved, either Independently or Teams made from the Best of All Combined. Their Successes or Unsuccessfulness, is one of those Highly Guarded Secrets of Government. That information True or False, would be Highly Gaurded, Specially Compartmented Information available to Only a Few, Top Level Government Agents or Agencies, Generals, Admirals, and the Presidents during their terms.

[@cwgobble]

@@polduran This is correct

[@tomp8094]

I was a Minuteman II Missile Crew Member in the 341st Strategic Missile Wing stationed at Malmstrom AFB MT during the height of the Cold War in the 1980s. Proud member of the 10th Strategic Missile Squadron - The First Aces. I have very fond memories of my time On Crew. We had a completely different Launch Control Center configuration prior to the REACT upgrade. I actually worked in procurring that system while working at HQ SAC.

[@biosdude]

I was a security policeman at Warren AFB in the early '80s. No fancy cameras back then. Favorite trick for the inspectors was to climb the light pole at night. Security arrives and turns on the light and you can NOT see that inspector on the pole above the lights. We also didn't have night vision. Our armored vehicle was a crappy Peacekeeper. 2 tons of shit on a half ton truck frame. Armor plating everywhere but the floor. "Bullet-proof" wheels that would turn to jelly if you went 55MPH for more than 30 minutes. Just an FYI, if you are ever given both the "A" and "B" code in the clear, then shit just got real. Not a good time for my newbie on their first tour in the missile field.

[@sypeiterra7613]

What does the A and B mean

[@biosdude]

@@sypeiterra7613 "A" and "B" code refers to the combinations for the plugs. Generally, the "A" plug is controlled by the security police and the "B" plug is controlled by the missile mechanics. If you've ever been a security police stationed in the missile field, you can never be a missile mechanic. The reverse is true. That way there is no possibility you know the combinations of both plugs.

[@-Apollo-13]

@@biosdude The codes remain static? Surely they are periodically changed, or is that not the case? And when you say "receive A and B code in the clear" could you elaborate on that possibly? A bit confused what you mean, but its all very interesting to me. I understand if you cant go into further detail though. Loose lips and all that haha.

[@hunnerbunner2000]

@@-Apollo-13 The code is 1-2-3-4-5. It's the same as on my luggage.

[@Cortexian]

@@-Apollo-13 "In the clear" is a generic statement implying that the codes are transmitted or passed along without any sort of encryption. The implication here being that if you were outside, and someone from inside relayed both of the codes to you freely over the air, they probably knew that in about 30 minutes,there wouldn't be anything left outside to worry about protecting.

[@EricNTammy304]

I was one of those Security Police, in Montana (Malmstrom AFB), for 6 and a half years. Glad we had so many good days!

[@Minecraft-3699]

the 20 minute delay on the shaft opening is absolutely genius

[@Minecraft-3699]

@@Sweet-Rat-Milk he explains in the video, as soon as the opening is requested there is more than enough time for a team to respond to get rid of the threat

[@Misha-dr9rh]

that is not genius it is a standard security measure in banks

[@NotWhatYouThink]

The concept is genius, wherever it is being used.

[@toby5069]

Bank vaults use similar delays when opening :) Quite an interesting measure

[@markbrockman9859]

The actual time delay is the security response time.

[@tacbear]

I can tell you that in the 80's "Red Cell" (Seal Team 6) operators tried to enter the Alert Area (Nuclear Uploaded B-52 Bombers) at the SAC Base I was assigned to. The reason that I know this is? I was the on duty Entry Controller and I didn't let them in. I trapped them in the "Sally Port" and they were captured by our Fire Teams and SRT Teams. I was promoted the next day to E4 SrA.

[@bearsmith3655]

Great story! Job well done 😁

[@Alanthe918mobilemechanic]

My understanding is u trapped them while the other team breached but it was hushed up and ol demo dick got his tail chewed for that one

[@robertopiedimonte2078]

don't take it wrong, here is internet, but if it is all true, thank you for all time you dedicated to service

[@kevinnaber790]

Took a detour along the Wyoming/Colorado border when I-80 was shut down due to a early spring snow storm. Stopped briefly to get my bearings and try to figure out what the random circular structures surrounded by barbed wire I was passing by were- then I saw NORAD/USAF signs.

[@jeanettewest]

My BIL was a sergeant and Missile Maintenance Mechanic (hope I got that right), received permission from the CO on Grand Forks AFB to take me in to the training silo on base. We spent about two hours in there going over the systems, showing me how everything would work in worst case scenario. Told me how they get the package off the top to take it in for the techs to check the guidance and air-conditioning section and the top. You have to see the missile in real life to believe it; three large men could circle it with their arms, the nose-cone isn't all that big, but there is so much Hurt packed inside. Amazing technology.

[@akizeta]

On the technology thing: there's no internet links between the MAF and the outside world, for obvious reasons. When they want to update the software in the MAF, or put new target co-ordinates in, an SSD with the upgrade has be physically transported into the MAF and plugged in to the computers. But that hardware upgrade was only made 4-5 years ago. Up to then, the upgrades were done with 8" floppy disks. I'll say that again: they used eight-inch floppy disks until the 2010s. Talk about '70s technology.

[@jimbutke]

We used magnetic tapes, like cassettes, in the 80s

[@Spectacularhuman]

Lol. Now that is definitely old school tech. Some ppl today have never seen a floppy disk or a cassette drive. Probably never even heard of that kind of technology. I remember when that was a normal thing to use that old school tech. It was the only way. Man times sure have changed.

[@sangbeom6245]

It makes it harder because back in 05 a lot of the security stuff was also old too.

[@titusflavius5668]

@@jimbutke and the old chunka chunka chunka CCVs too 😂

[@Taykorjg]

Is there a good reason to not use floppies though? It’s not like you’d need your nuclear missile site to do much

[@floridaboz1]

This is coming from someone who use to do security at FE Warren AFB, This is one of the most well researched videos that i have ever seen, and the fact that you used the correct terms for almost everything is very impressive. Most videos on ICBMs are really bad, and they just fill in blanks with the wrong information. So good job on this, and when people want to learn about my old job, i will send them this video.. We also had another name for the missileers.....

[@Tunechi65]

Currently working on the replacement of the old ICBM you mentioned. Interesting job as an engineer

[@judelarkin2883]

I grew up surrounded by those sites. That all sounds right. I don’t think those command and control sites typically have a dozen people at them though. I couldn’t say for sure how many people are typically there but would only see a few coming and going. They don’t go outside much. They are generally pretty bad at driving on rural roads.

[@evanbeers1644]

10k away from 2 mil subs

[@dubious6718]

Wouldn't be a point having so many soldiers at the control centers if they have a rapid response team to nearest base, and that it takes 20 minutes to open a "door". But again, its a deterrence, by saying you have more people stationed, there is less chance of an attack.

[@judelarkin2883]

@@dubious6718 I agree. Those sites are so hardened that they don’t require much personnel securing them. They could literally drop a bomb on someone under the very unlikely event they were posing real threat to a site. There’s just no realistic scenario of someone actually getting into that very hardened and redundant system.

[@dawnwest3125]

They have the extra capacity to provide lodging to the maintenance personnel of the maf and their missile flight.

[@chrisaddison1742]

10 is the number you're looking for. Six security, two missileers, one cook and one facility manager. Also security can be called in from neighboring squadrons when needed.

[@SuperJeb98]

I got to visit one of the bunkers from the 50s. And it’s super similar to todays.

[@bryanmontgomery996]

The Titan II did not require fueling prior to launch. While it was liquid fueled, it was stored fueled and ready in it's silo. It took only a few minutes to launch.

[@oldguy7402]

Can confirm. McConnell AFB. Much bigger warhead than Minuteman to take out larger and more hardened targets.

[@flechette3782]

@@oldguy7402 9MT. The largest we ever fielded (at least to public's knowledge).

[@oldguy7402]

@@flechette3782 to my knowledge too, but I was only in 5 years and just Titan crew, so if there was bigger, I probably didn't need to know.

[@oldguy7402]

@@flechette3782 BTW, love the user name. Vietnam vet?

[@warkarma]

I believe that introverts will agree with me, this is the best job :D

[@AcuraLvR82]

Grew up with minuteman ii bases in Cedar County, MO back before they were deactivated under Start treaty. Dozens of them scattered all over the region some in pretty remote locations around where we use to hunt by the Osage River and going north to Whiteman air base. For a long time these bases were very mysterious everyone always wondered what they looked like inside. Then the internet came along and gave us the answers.

[@RCAVDH]

I think its pretty amazing you were able to find footage of the president not falling down the stairs

[@NotWhatYouThink]

lol

[@RCAVDH]

@@NotWhatYouThink great video, love your style!

[@NotWhatYouThink]

Thanks Ray! We thought of a joke or two for that scene, but trying to not get too “political”.

[@ateamfan42]

The early ICBMs that required loading of liquid fuels before launch were NOT hypergolic. Titan II introduced hypergolic fuels that allowed the missile to be stored in a fueled condition for long periods of time. It still had lots of challenges, such as fuel and oxidizer toxicity.

[@skunkjobb]

8:38 The claimed range of the Atlas is totally off. The true goal when the program started was 8000 km but the missile had longer range than that.

[@cwisted5308]

I think what your talking about at 16:38 with seal team 6 capturing a base is from a team called Red Cell which was led by Richard Marcinko the founder of seal team 6. Red cell was a unit that was designed to point out major security flaws within military bases during the cold war.

[@samschellhase8831]

I’m pretty sure missile sites have been known about for a while now, as part of the deterrence policy. The idea is that long before enemy missiles strike, you could get your own up in the air. And it shows off your strength by showing the number and type of sites you have

[@OlafoWaffle]

Open Skies Treaty prior Trumps redraw form it allowed other countries to fly over missile sites

[@scottrichardson8158]

WRONG!!!! Could we fire our missiles before the enemy missiles strike? Yes. Would we? NO. If that was the policy of the United States (pre-emptive strike) then why are the sites "hardened"? That is, why are they designed to survive a nearby nuclear blast? It is not just to protect the commander and his/her deputy. It is to protect the missile; to keep it ready for a retaliatory strike. Until an enemy missile actually hits we really do not know if the incoming radar signal is a missile or an error. So, we wait. If we did not wait then civilization would have ended in 1979-when an attack was broadcast in error at NORAD. Our ICBM ( in fact, our entire nuclear force) is a "second strike" force.

[@juriwuw]

@@OlafoWaffle Kindergarten for show and you fell for it. They are on Google maps in higher resolution than the OS treaty would allow 😂

[@Aharpoon24]

My wife did this job before retirement. It is cool to see that you did a video on this. We were part of the Malmstrom community and lived in Cascade.

[@GM8101PHX]

Please tell her Thank You from a vet that also served AF for 6 years Security Police!!!

[@Aharpoon24]

@@GM8101PHX Will Do! Did you ever re-enlist after your initial contract?

[@realslickfast]

Just for clarification. They aren't hostile to anyone that goes near a missile silo. I work on a farm that has land all the way around one. And it's not just field around it, some of our grain bins are right next to it. Although I suppose that they get used to who comes in regularly and and works on the farm but I've never been stopped. There is also restricted airspace around them too.

[@kevinrusch3627]

I agree. There's a handful of silos near a national grassland, and you can drive right up to the gate and lean against the fence to peer in. I wouldn't try climbing it, but otherwise it's not a big deal.

[@paaat001]

When I was doing missile maintenance in Tango flight, 564th SMS 341st SMW we would occasionally have landowners come up to the gate and ask how things were going. Sometimes they would bring food to share with us. Not a lot going on in that part of Montana. One guy was very possessive of "his missile" which was in his back yard almost literally. He would always want to know how "his missile " was doing .

[@masterman1502]

@@paaat001 to be fair, DoD budget comes from taxpayer money, so in part it actually is his missile :D

[@LeviAEthan512]

5:43 That man is playing Galaga. Thought we wouldn't notice, but we did

[@joed3613]

I was in SAC in the early 80's but I was a B-52 EWO and gunnery trainer maintenance tech at Barksdale AFB. I'm loving reading all the replies from ex missile personnel! I've always been fascinated by nuclear weapons and eat up any information I can find, like this; cool stories fellow Airman!

[@Neeboopsh]

the missile fields in montana and north dakota have those famous stories of ufos reportedly disabling individual missile silos. regardless of who is operating the craft, the fact that someone can just penetrate the airspace and disable missiles launch ability is absolutely insane ;)

[@therealstubot]

Um no. The minuteman II guidance and control "cans" were OLD. They were routinely replaced ( my job ) and renovated, but were minimum 20 years old. They failed randomly. The sites were hardened against EMP, isolated from ground tremors, thermostatically controlled, built to withstand a near direct nuke hit. But these were extraordinarily complex machines, and they were designed to fail safe, so any failure in any of the hundreds of systems would disable the site. So if ground water shorts out a random circuit breaker in the soft support building, the site goes offline. The Air Force would gather statistics about these failures, and look ways of preventing them, and we fixed this stuff.

[@jimbutke]

@@therealstubotfacts. I worked on MMIII in the 80s

[@therealstubot]

@@jimbutke ah a fellow 443. I was in the 341 SMW, Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, Mt.

[@NickFrom1228]

Its funny. When you look at the missile sites they don't look like they are very secure but you would be oh so very mistaken.

[@grantbrown7594]

This was well written man - your jokes made me lol a few times and super-well researched! Thanks for another great vid

[@NotWhatYouThink]

You got it, Grant!!

[@crazyburrito3924]

I was stationed at Minot AFB. I was a Chef at a MAF I would go to the capsule almost 3 times a day to give the officers there food. This is really accurate.

[@swampfoxIX]

I was Security Forces for 4 years, and my first duty station was Malmstrom (was only there for 1 year before I received orders to Germany), and my 2 highlights from my short time in the missile field were: a) riding aboard Hueys, and b) MAF food is delicious thanks to the chefs like you.

[@floridaboz1]

I was Security Forces at FE Warren, I was your favorite type of person... The FIRE TEAMS, i know you loved it when you heard you had to feed a extra 4 people. But the Chefs are some of my favorite people, I dont know what you guys did for training, but for 5 years i cant remember ever having one bad meal at a MAF

[@ET_Don]

Very good video, even tho I cannot speak intelligently about the Air Force side. I was US Navy, rode Trident Submarines as an FTB (US Navy equivalent of an Air Force Missileer). Obviously I cannot talk specifics about a weapons system that is still in use today. But I can tell you this, we test fired missiles, and they never missed.

[@darryljohnson4944]

My brother was minute 2 comander Rapid City Doyle Johnson he made family proud of his dedication to this Country and Air Force

[@fishlessfisherman1539]

I worked on many of the missile sites as a contractor. Had to go through back ground check through the Air Force. Worked on sites in 5 states. Just knowing the power under that huge concrete block was quite impressive. 🇺🇸

[@eragonunderhill5545]

My grandfather served on every Titan 2 base in the united states at some point and has some really amazing stories about his service, although from what I can gather most of the time they were doing practice drills, observing workers as they maintained the missiles, and calling the guards anytime there was any motion detected on base which was 99% of the time a rabbit that got under the fence, which would be dealt with by security. He did launch one test rocket with no warhead and has some photos of the launch (taken by someone else ofc).

[@adam19890911]

I am really currious: do rocket operators have unknown drills. I mean when they don't know if you just ended human civilization or just passed a not to get fired test.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Not a chance. The USAF does everything they can to keep their guys sane and healthy for their stations, doing something like this is a great way to ruin all of that.

[@danderby8261]

No! we were evaluated monthly (very stressful) and conducted a monthly training ride as well. We also took a monthly training and emergency war orders test. Additionally we had an annual IG evaluation and and annual nuc surety evaluation - spread out over the year. Basically you were almost always preparing for some sort of eval. Some tests required 100% scores and a miss question typically required you and your Lt Col squadron commander report to the Wing Commander to explain your lapse.

[@SeniorPirates13]

There’s also the risk of a potential enemy discovering if your nuclear forces don’t have the stones to launch their payload out of fear or morality

[@danmorris8594]

Watch the movie Wargames

[@Trey4x4]

I need you guys to keep doing these deep dives of military endeavors. I really enjoyed this video.

[@Britcarjunkie]

I drive a semi for a living, and actually passed 3 of Warren's silos in Colorado today, and was wondering (again)...seems many of them now have porta-potty's outside the perimeter fence along the driveway, and if the security folks would "jack me up" if I suddenly had to park my truck, run to it, and go!

[@FivePointsVids]

My dad served in Missile Duty in Little Rock Arkansas in the late 60s - Titan II. He said the recruiter made it sound much better than it was. Many of the "drills" were getting right up to launch and then of course it was aborted. Accidents were few and far between but they happened, as one Airman lost his finger due to a gas leak when he ran his hand over to check it. I can see my dad passing the mental portion easily. He has a high tolerance for boring shit.

[@hopefulenigma9074]

Holy crap it’s you!!

[@flechette3782]

I live in Wyoming. Yes, these sites have all sorts of security systems. Years ago I went with a friend on a short hike. We knew where the missile bases were but stayed on private land. Nevertheless, within minutes of our arrival a Blackhawk landed a few hundred yards away and just sat there until we left. What detected us I'll never know, but it was quick.

[@williamromine5715]

I grew up in Rawlins. You don't think those jack rabbits love Wyoming because it's such green grass lands, do you? Maybe they are a top secret surveillance force. You can't trust a small animal that doesn't get in a hole in the ground to get out of a Wyoming winter storm. 😆

[@flechette3782]

@@williamromine5715 I think the Jackalopes had cameras on their antlers.

[@williamromine5715]

@@flechette3782 I always thought they they acted suspicious. I think they were a secret NSA biological war fare project that went wrong. I mean, you never saw them with antlers in the wild, but saw a lot of them that had been stuffed. Very strange.

[@bower31]

I'm fairly sure they have unattended ground sensors, or probably a proprietary seismic sensor system that can detect and differentiate footsteps and cars.

[@ruthgar9753]

It might not even be any of the detection systems. A lot of the land owners around the sites look at those sites as 'their' sites and will call the local control site (or rather 'their' local control site) and let the security officer know about strangers out in the fields say '500 ft west of site x' as an example driving a dark red four door pickup truck. Oh yeah, when I was in and working out at the MAFs we often got info from the local farmers, ranchers, and town members depending on the site we were at about who was taking a look around particular sites.

[@johnjarpe9055]

Red Cell which sort of grew out of Seal Team Six is said to have done things like testing the security at sensitive locations such as missile facilities back around that general time. It was created and led by Seal Team Six founder Richard Marcinko.

[@DesertRockfall]

Good ole "Demo Dick" and his Red Cell pissed off a lot of Brass for making them look bad, and he wound up paying for it. RIP Richard Marcinko, a true hero.

[@sangbeom6245]

Yeah but that stuff is classified.

[@wizkeyone1182]

Red Cell was a joke. They failed our security because they were able to breach our fences, run up to a nuclear ammo structure and touch the lock. BIG WHOOP! Then what? Beam me up Scotty? Turn into the Incredible Hulk and carry one out under your arm? It would be the last thing you do. So many layers of security procedures in place. You might get in but you’re not gonna make it out…PERIOD!!!

[@cwgobble]

The team that purportedly took over a base was a part of a more grand operation called "Red Cell" that targeted military infrastructure to test security

[@noahway13]

I seriously doubt that was real. Surely there would have been casualties.

[@sangbeom6245]

@@noahway13 It was a training exercise.

[@noahway13]

@@sangbeom6245 Well, then, they can't claim it was taken over by special forces.

[@sangbeom6245]

@JustKeith It wasn't in reality. It was a test as the OP comment stated. They do these every year at all the nuke bases. And they don't target the bases. They test the security around the missiles. No idiot will target a base directly unless they want to die. Thousands of Security personnel with a lot of ammo and weapons that would love to shoot at something for once.

[@Freddy_v]

@@noahway13 ​​⁠ yes they can, and did. Don’t get lost in semantics. Air Force and Navy fighter pilots when preparing for deployment or any training mission are either blue team or red team. Red team pilots are responsible for: •Identifying and locating enemy targets •Launching attacks on enemy targets •Evaluating the effectiveness of attacks •Providing feedback to blue team pilots Blue team pilots are responsible for: •Defending against enemy attacks •Protecting friendly forces and assets •Analyzing enemy tactics and techniques •Developing countermeasures to enemy threats Red team pilots are more experienced and skilled than blue team pilots. They are also more aggressive and take more risks. This is because they are expected to be the ones who go out and find and destroy the enemy. Blue team pilots, on the other hand, are more defensive in nature. They are responsible for protecting their own forces and assets from enemy attack. They remove the live ammunition for this obviously, but all their weapons systems are locked just not loaded. If any of the blue team squadron slips up and the more skilled, red team pilots penetrate their airspace and they can’t evade or deter the red team safely. Red team pilots are literally firing their weapons, and all the blue team pilot will hear is their call sign and “you’re dead” Winning by losing in this manor is how they save their lives and their fellow soldiers in the end. So yes, the Navy Seals were indeed the red team “enemy” to the Air Force that day and on that day, The Air Force was out skilled, and lost control of their base and our nuclear weapons to special forces. Hence it was literally taken over, by special forces. Hopefully they learned a thing or two 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sovereign20]

This brings me back I was one of the people who's job it was to test the response force of the security by Breaking into or tricking military Security at military bases and Installations. I did 4 1/2 years And it was the best 4 1/2 years.

[@fuffoon]

The above ground buildings look like comfortable ranchers. A bit of landscaping and they would be absolutely charming.

[@ZeeMahg]

As a former 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron member who spent thousands of hours responding to alarms and exercises, this is a fairly accurate video. At least accurate from my perspective while stationed at Malmstrom. Long hours, a F### ton of driving responding to alarms at all hours of the night and constant concern of wondering where leadership/QC is at in the field. And pranking our fellow SF members

[@ZeeMahg]

And btw, TRF was not primary response. MSFS provided primary response to sites while TRF played with their helicopters back on base

[@CO84trucker]

I get a thrill of all the hilarious Google reviews on Minuteman locations!

[@konnerbaker3301]

I was on the TRF at FE Warren about 10 years ago, I know some of the security forces airmen in this video. Awesome video, thanks for sharing about what we do/did. As TRF, we are taught in training about how the SEALs allegedly broke into the missile sites. Back then, we didn't have TRF so there were just the usual patrols in the area to respond to alarms, and I think the average time to respond was anywhere from 10-30 minutes. The story goes that the SEALs drove a construction backhoe onto the site, just demolishing that little fence and began digging down around the concrete missile tube. They only needed to go down around 10-15 feet to get to the thinner walls, then blew it open with C4, cracked open the payload at the top of the missile, used the backhoe to tear it out and load it into a proper truck and skedaddle. The whole process only took about 5-10 minutes. Plenty of time to get in and out before the patrols could respond. After that demonstration, the Air Force knew they needed a rapid response force to retake warheads after the fact, since that scenario was most likely to occur. And the TRF "turf ninjas" were born. :)

[@ruthgar9753]

There are stories, things that happened, and then there are 'stories' rumors of things that happened that wind up getting blown out of proportion. Former X3 and FM here, you got told a 'story' one of many that's floating around the missile wings. Now I don't doubt that at one point, if not several points, in fact I know of one or two times, seals along with other special forces outfits have gone to the missile wings and observed the sites, the procedures, the general day to day operations of the wings. They then sat down and planned on how they would go about trying to break into one or more of the sites and then did excercises. From the plans and the excercises came changes to staff, procedures, and even the sites somewhat which may have caused one or two other incidents because of the changes that were made and that the system experts(the technicians that worked on the stuff everyday) advised against making. I can say that they never actually physically broke into a site nor took a warhead because 1. the military would not authorize them to cause a few hundred million dollars (cost to get everything repaired correctly and recertified) worth of damage to test security procedures(plus that money would have come out of the seal's budget) and 2. the military would also not authorize them to potentially risk detonating the missile downstage, which the fuel alone would cause a 40 kiloton explosion, nor potentially causing the warhead to detonate by them just ripping it off the top (very slim chance, but again not something the military would authorize just for a security test). Unless you read the report, see the pictures, or hear it from someone that was actually there, you might just be hearing a 'story'.

[@markbrockman9859]

Would like to know what they did with the eighty ton blast door. Must have been one hell of a backhoe to dig 15 ft down and then be able to tear the warhead off to n 15 mins. I believe this story is bullshit.

[@GM8101PHX]

Your story does not add up, I have personally toured the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley Arizona. The massive blast door would withstand most earth moving equipment, especially a backhoe. I served with the 92d Security Police Squadron securing B-52's on 15 minute ground alert. No one ever got anywhere near those birds sitting on alert. No one to my knowledge ever tried to climb the fence of the bomber alert area or the massive weapons storage area. They would have been shot on top of the fence, Use Of Deadly Force IS Authorized!!!!!

[@Britcarjunkie]

Well, there is the incident in which Marcinko and team members broke into the Seal Beach Weapons Center in the middle of the night, and kidnapped the XO, and, I think his wife, too, just to prove their security was lacking. I think that was the one that got him fired.

[@jimbutke]

I’m highly skeptical of the SEAL story. These sites are nuclear hardened, built to withstand a near direct nuke hit. There’s outside (radar-based) and inside security zones, with vibration detectors and other things that set off an alarm. I worked on those systems. Not that it’s totally impossible, just unlikely

[@rob8820]

They were called Launch control facility when I was in at FE Warren in the 80s. Had MX and minuteman missiles. No video at silos just the facility at time. And the alarms by animals was a major fact. Rabbits, rattlesnakes sunning on the concrete and my favorite snow piled up blocking the sensors. Even had a cow one time that walked OVER the fence/barb wire due to snow drifting so bad. Brought back alot of memories with this video.

[@aaronvigil6067]

Rob I was there 86-89. I do remember the alarms from those pesky rabbits and don't forget the skunks. We almost lost C-8 once because I was attacked by one of those Russian Skunks. I eventually had to burn my uniform. Those were the days. Oh don't forget the pesky QC alarms. Yeah to make sure you followed the checklist. I was in the 90th MSS Charlie flight area.

[@rob8820]

@@aaronvigil6067 90th MSS also, Papa most of time I did sub in at Charlie for vacation rotations for the other team. Lot of ghost stories for Charlie.

[@aaronvigil6067]

@@rob8820 yes Charlie 3

[@KlorofinMaster]

3:27 That's not where North Korea is located

[@stephengnb]

Right? I mean, the Korean peninsula is right there! ㅋㅋ

[@ignaciomenendez8672]

I was a tech at the telemetry station in Vandenberg AFB, got to view many launches (when not on duty), of Minuteman I and II. Minuteman III was just going to start live launches when I got out in late 1965. I also enjoyed seeing the launches of most of the previous liquid propellant ICBMs, before these became obsolete.

[@gwho]

1:23 Saying "it's exactly what you think" was not what i thought he'd say.

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Because when he said that, it actually wasn't what you thought.

[@logan9920]

Amazing work!

[@davidmohr4606]

I remember the 'dead mouse' smell in the launchers and soft support buildings from long ago...and responding to outer zone alarms, way back before video surveillance on the sites. In my case, Malmstrom AFB, MT. '74-'75/ '77-'81. Security Police. Many changes since then. 564th Sq. gone, LCF now MAF, Ellsworth MM wing gone. SP/ SAT/SET now superseded. SAC gone. Feeling a bit old tonight.

[@GM8101PHX]

Served 1977 to 1982 92d Security Police Squadron, B-52G's on 15 minute ground alert, The alert shack as we called it, building 2080 is really modified, the tower I worked in is gone!!!

[@glhx2112]

I hated the old IZ/OZ alarm systems, and was very happy when they were replaced by IMPSS - the Improved Minuteman Physical Security System. Much more accurate and a shit-ton less nuisance alarms. Of course we got those systems at Ellsworth not long before they shut down the missile field there. Typical. 😆

[@dougball328]

Need a detail of security cats!

[@user-gk6lj3cf2h]

I did it for 7 years it is quite nerve-racking although the president would be the one to order a launch. I was the individual literally flipping the switch that would bring on World War III simultaneously bringing on Armageddon I had an uncle who Recently passed, but he was on a nuclear sub during the Cuban missile crisis My father said he was Never the same once he returned.

[@floridaboz1]

I would have many questions for you. I did security for 5 years at FE Warren, but of course, us enlisted never really got to many chances to to talk to the officers. I never really got to many chance to ask any questions. But just remember, your job was very important, but when you sent the alert upstairs for us to go check on a silo and found out it was just a jackrabbit. I wonder if you guys thought that was funny or everything was just to serous in the capsule. But you did your job and we did ours and a jackrabbit has never stolen a nuke

[@nathan-ls8yw]

fun fact: just like area 21, if you try to approach these bunkers you’ll be intercepted even before you reach the gates due to ground sensor’s picking you up. also this is one of the best postings to get 😂

[@iasonsideris4442]

@2:15 180 years of neutrality end with a big bang 😂

[@dtaylor10chuckufarle]

There is a site somewhere in eastern Colorado close to a road. A chap on a motorcycle wanted to see and photograph the outside of the site, despite signs saying "no photography" - he was QUICKLY greeted by two Airman with M-4s.

[@mcrvids6860]

Not legal. Until he's on the site itself, and by then pictures are the least of the concerns, the military can't do much. There's plenty of first amendment auditors that have done pictures outside of military bases.

[@fishbarbeque8540]

Great video as ALWAYS!!!

[@Torrath7411]

4:37 Kinda renders the barbed wire unnecessary. A-8 In the old GFAFB missile field was notorious for this. What they said about boredom is so true. You know you're bored when you're hoping that the car you can see on the road 2 or 3 miles away will swing on in your direction and take a shot or two at you just so you would have something to do. I guess 4 years in SET/CAT really made me appreciate the excitement of watching grass grow.

[@Eltiburonmma]

You said they have a gym and I knew instantly this job was for me. All I do is stay home (home job) and go train, this sounds perfect for any gym head

[@floridaboz1]

They have a gym, but not a complex gym. Most of the time it just sits in the side of the gym, however they have very decent gyms one you get on base

[@ChrisG1392]

they're not really. you can find plenty of places which have been digitally altered on google maps. ICBM sites and military hardware storage sites are both scrubbed in many cases. The lot that is chock full of MRAPs near me is empty on Google maps but some of the parts of the vehicles didnt get erased so there are phantom wheels or hoods just floating randomly

[@kevinrusch3627]

it's also easy enough to drive up to them, or see them as you fly over in a plane. All the silos are reachable from public roads.

[@juicewrld5884]

My I ask where this place is I would love to look it up and see for myself

[@Soph27199]

I used to drive truck from Regina SK to various places in the states...iv driven through the missile fields weekly (hwy 52 through Minot) was always neat to see a missile convoy/see one of the sites

[@firstcynic92]

3:23. Israel "aspires to [possess nuclear weapons]". Lol. They've got at least 200. Some on IRBMs in silos, most are air dropped tactical weapons. 9:00. Only some of the early, liquid fueled, ICBMs were hypergolic. Hypergolic means the fuel and oxidizer will react spontaneously when mixed. Atlas was not. Titan 2 was hypergolic.

[@pritiagarwal5599]

Not 200 but 20 at most

[@amorosogombe9650]

This is so insane. Basically this reflects the extent we need to go to defend against the darkness in the minds of fellow humans. Mankind is truly evil.

[@BoundlessEnnui]

You're not wrong, but I'm surprised it took *NUKES ON MASS SCALE* to solidify that thought.

[@featgorgon3985]

One of the few AFSC’s where going security forces isn’t terrible, it’s repetitive but I’d rather drive around to investigate perimeter alarms that turn out to be nothing than sit at a console all day

[@GM8101PHX]

I did both running around the restricted area in our trucks or sitting at the alarm console in the tower. The tower had the alarms for that restricted area with CCTV, you were detected even before reaching the chain link fence.

[@Sm1ret]

This was very good and very informative. A friend and I was talking about this and Nuclear Winter and I related a visit I made many years ago to the Atom Bomb Museum in Nagasaki, Japan and the effect it have seeing the artifacts and actually standing at ground zero. That was a very sobering indeed. Thank you again for producing this video.

[@BsUJeTs]

Excellent video and very accurate. I thought that were going to mention the 1980 Damascus Titan missile explosion, but you didn’t. Those missile silo museums are excellent as well. I recommend the one in Tucson Arizona. It holds an Atlas Rocket.

[@therealstubot]

In the 341st strategic missile wing, we called them LCF ( Launch Control Facility ) not MAF. I was a 443, missile tech for Minuteman 2 in the early 80's ( Reagan administration ) at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT. Yes, the military is very keen on security surrounding the nukes. I'm surprised you didn't mention the "Cat 1 Convoy" though, which is the transport of a warhead from the weapon storage area to the silo. It should also be noted that any mistake or error in authenticating for access to a silo will result in a quick response team heading out to your location and getting all up in your face till you're verified as kosher. This is known as being "Jacked up" and you're face down in the snow with a gun barrel tightly pressed into your spine till everyone is convinced you're not a poser. Those guys are very bored, and when they respond, they get their money's worth. I don't envy their job, but I would have appreciated even a slight amount of compassion. When it's 15 below zero, and the wind is whipping, lets sit in the truck while you run my ID. I'm the same guy you jacked up 2 months ago.

[@bearsmith3655]

😂😂😂

[@abcarson]

They changed the LCF to MAF and LF to MF when I was there in 90's. "Launch" was to scary we were told.

[@jasongibbs8175]

Security Forces here. 790MSFS at FE Warren. Accurate video.

[@doctormudbone4432]

Haha dude I’m flight 3

[@jasongibbs8175]

@@doctormudbone4432 So was I ... RF3

[@fmachine86]

I bought a decommissioned missile site down the street from my house in North Dakota a few years back. Makes an awesome shop and office. Gets some wild comments on Facebook, too.

[@simonm1447]

Lol is the shop underground in the bunker? Is it an old Titan II site?

[@captainbroady]

The US urgently needs to build more ICBMs and replace its Minuteman 3s because they're getting too old, and their numbers have been dwindling (given the live-fire tests). China and Russia are both building up their ICBM inventories so it is a concern

[@kevinrusch3627]

I question whether we need a triad in the first place. It seems to me that the subs provide plenty of deterrence, as they are virtually invisible and still carry over 100 warheads each. I think the overkill notion of needing the thousands of nukes to equal Russia or China's warhead count is nonsense.

[@captainbroady]

​@@kevinrusch3627 yes the subs do, but they are limited - there's only 10+ Ohio class submarines equipped with Trident missiles, and only half of them (at least) would be operational at any given time. The US navy is also not buying more subs in future. Having a nuclear triad maximises the chance of being able to launch a retaliatory strike and also gives the President more tools to do stuff. Also, what I meant is, the Minuteman 3 missiles are pretty old, and are dwindling in numbers so the US has to replenish them with new ones. And we cannot bet that China or Russia have "inaccurate missiles" or their missiles "are less capable" than the US, because if we underestimate them, there's a high chance we will be wrong.

[@dtibor5903]

Yes, let's destroy the planet, great ideea. I pretty sure that one time one leader will go crazy and launch a nuclear attack and others will respond. Don't forget who used nuclear bombs against civilians.

[@TysoniusRex]

When I was in grade school (about 1974...), my father was stationed at FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne. Once, my class went on a tour of the MAF just to the east of Cheyenne. We were able to see the above ground facilities, and were also taken down to the command module with the two "missileers." There is a large door outside the area with the missileers and their supplies, and there is a second smaller door which seals off just the command module with the two officers. While taking a MAF is possible, it's highly unlikely that anyone could get to the two missileers before they could close and lock the internal code. As for the actual silo, it seems unlikely, but I don't know. Anyway, interesting video and brought back some old memories!

[@ProfessorJayTee]

Back when I was a Federal officer, I read a US government report which claimed Japan could build their first nuclear weapons within less than a month, if they ever acquired the political will to build them. Everything required to design and construct such weapons, as well as people with all the specialized technical knowledge required, already exist within the country.

[@arround1]

It's just my opinion but I think they have the human, scientific and manufacturing capabilities etc to make nuclear warheads and ICBMs for them even today

[@Shaker626]

The Japanese thought of it to be theoretically possible, but economically impossible to get enough fissile material, so much that when Hiroshima was first bombed, the Japanese thought the USA had used up all their bombs.

[@Ammo08]

Excellent video. I built the Minuteman III warheads in the early 1970s at FE Warren AFB. In those days we did not talk about our jobs, to anyone. To be honest, we felt for the troops out on the silos...cops, cooks, and capsule officers had a pretty boring job. Also we had very little contact with the capsule officers. I think some of that has changed over the years. I was on four test launches for the MMIII. Vandenberg was really impressive. The best thing I saw was a Titan II launch. what a massive piece of ordnance. That was my job at about 11:02 in the film, although those appear to be a later modification to the reentry vehicle I worked on.

[@b6yg]

Wouldn't working as a Cook be the least boring job? and least stressful. It's not like their making food 24/7 so they will have time to relax.

[@Ammo08]

@@b6yg Air force bases run 24/7. There are cooks on duty either serving, cooking, or getting things ready for the next meal. Out on the silos there were only a small number of cooks to take care of capsule officers, security police, and maintenance personnel...When they weren't working, their downtime was mostly reading and catching up on sleep. There was no internet in my day and TV was hit or miss. It was also quite cold for a lot of the year in Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Montana.

[@citizenVader]

I still remember the cold war very well. I was a NCO during the last winter of the Soviet union. Boy the air was tense back then.