I love the last words from the Commander " That's it, that's all she wrote" truer words have never been spoken.Thank God they never had to actually turn those keys (yet)
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This is an exercise and their supervisors are watching every move...it's not a timed event but if you miss a step in the checklist, ANY STEP IN THE CHECKLIST, you flunk. Speed is not a concern ..if they get the launch order they have as much as 30 minutes to turn those keys. If you watch the entire film (this is just a clip) it covers the entire training program including the ethics of nuclear war, the physical security training, the tampering protocols, and the physical hardware safeguards to prevent an unauthorized launch. It also frankly discusses the people who have flunked out of the program for NOT following the procedures (like not verifying the order is valid) . These two people are actually already qualified on the Titan II system, which was retired from service, and are learning the new system and they're doing it BY THE BOOK
I did this in 1980. 44SMW 68SMS. By the time you graduate, you are better than this, but the missile wing will make sure you are much, much better before you are certified to pull your first alert as a Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander. Believe me, this is not a low stress fun job. The system was built in the 60s. Things break. Goofy unpredictable things happen with people, weather and the remote isolated area, and you alone are responsible for it all. That was a simulator those ladies were in. We spent four to six hours at least once a month in that simulator and were tested monthly on launch procedures, code handling and the weapon system. Passing was 90%. Three 90%s in a row earned you a diminished effectiveness report, promotion chances a threatened career and remedial training. Honestly, the job sucked, but it is the job I’m proudest of having done
I am curious about the P7 sequence set on the authenticator. In your opinion did it mean Practice session number 7? Also thank you for your service to the nation.
Thank you for your service. Out of curiosity, did you wear regular air force blues or fatigues, or was there a special uniform/flight suit?it just seems odd that the training film showed these ladies in regulation skirts, pumps, and pantyhose while training to launch a nuclear missile...
I was on a MMT RON'ing at a LCF in SAC in the 1970's . We were downstairs when a EAM came over the box. I saw the locks opened and authentication. This is not funny, this is not a drill . this is real .
Having served four years as a Missile Combat Crewmember in the early 1970's, I recognize this video as having taken place at Vandenberg AFB, CA in the Missile Procedures Trainer (MPT). The crew were obviously not experienced in the Minuteman System, and I suspect this was their first familiarization session in the MPT (note that they were not wearing the uniforms issued to Missile Combat Crewmembers and the Instructor is observing their actions). They were also following the unclassified Missile Launch Procedure as published in their Tech Orders. As a side note: the MPT as shown was an excellent representation of the actual Minuteman 2 and 3 Launch Control Centers before the major modifications made after my years of service. In the current Minuteman 3 System the Commander and Deputy sit next to each other; there are fewer switches and indicator lights being replaced by flat plane displays and keyboard entry of coding.
@@lukeskywalker1702 If they're launching missiles, then others (adversaries) likely are, too. If a missile hits near them, it's going to cause a shockwave that could knock them out of their seats or knock them unconscious if they hit something. They strap in so that even if a missile impacts the ground near them, they can likely still finish doing their jobs.
@@stolasburrito74656 Especially since turning the keys primes the onboard batteries and at which point the missiles no longer relies on the silo for anything. No stopping it. At all.
I was told that authenticators IN LIVE SERVICE included such things as PISOF, UPURS, YEEHA, OOOPS, BOOOM, HOWDY, TJKONG and FUMBL . . .evidently there weren't much in the way of limits on character sets . . .
At this phase in their training (this was at the MM2 schoolhouse at Vandenberg), the important part is doing it right first time, every time, no missed steps, no procedural errors (such as breaking the launch message out incorrectly). The speed comes with repetition.
Ya, that was painful watching them with the keys and seatbelts. Like fuck....your first time honey? I think you need a fuck of a lot more training or those missiles are going to get hit in the silos. Otherwise an interesting video that I've never seen before.
As a retired Optician of over 40 years I always get a kick out of remembering back based on Frame-Fads ! These gals are sporting the latest styles....and had the crew been males they would no doubt had been wearing Rayban pilots(POS) or the A/O FG-58 Skymaster with paddle temples! What comes around goes around!
Ah, you have a good eye. 😄 Yes, i recall that era, well. Those glasses were optically excellent for every situation, being milled from fine glass. But they were heavy! ..no slim frames to limit vision at all, though. & none of the wide temples to inhibit peripheral visiion..idk how ppl can drive with those on..at least not safely, jeepers. The old Bausch & Lomb Ray-Bans were amazing eye glasses! I had 2 pair of Baloramas & miss them dearly. I have a mint pair of B&L Wayfarere 2's though, tortoise shell frames, ofc! 😎🤓
Very interesting, I always draw the zero character with a slash crossing diagonally to differentiate it from the letter O; the girl draws a $ sign for an S to differentiate it from the number 5 !!
I've used the $ for the S for a long time now. Thought I was the only one. Also have put a horizonal line (-) through the 7 so not to be confused w/ the # 1
Jaun the instructors at Vandenberg specifically trained us to draw characters a particular way. Zeros get crossed, 'S' becomes a dollar sign, the 'U' always gets a downstroke on the backside (so it is not confused with a 'V'). Those habits have largely stayed with me over the years (except for the S->$). Speed and accuracy are important when seconds count.
Was on crew at Malmstrom AFB from 87' to 91' This is a small part of a longer film about MM School House at Vandenberg AFB. As some others on here have stated..there were times that the job and the pressure were horrible. But there were also moments that were sparkling "once in a lifetime events". The men and women who I worked with in Minuteman II were 100% professionals and very serious business when the time called for that. It is the job and gave me the most stress, responsibility, humbleness, and pride of any job I have ever had and ever will. God bless you all my Brothers and Sisters. "Lest We Forget"....... D.W.
hamad5885 Only we are as good as are being the enemys at who are started to shooted at us! Ifed do they wished to ceased to exist and shoot to at us withed a atomic of bomb thened we do shooted one right to backed at them. IT IS CALLED AS MUTUALS ASSURED OF DESTRUCTIONS AND IT DOES WORKED! IT HAVES KEEPT REAL OFED WAR AWAY EVER FOR SINCED WORLD WARS 2 !!!! And unless do we leted milquetoaster pantys waist losers as Obama or losers withed thinkings as Canadas Trudeau to weakened it so thened the threating of it no longer is valid!!
Our old Minuteman & Peacekeeper business cards say ‘No country too big, no target too small. We specialize in parking lots, pyrotechnic displays, and for those who deal in volume, 10 for 1 specials in certain locations.’ (10 for 1 references the 10 reentry vehicles Peacekeeper carried). I’d post a photo of my card here if it was possible.
Minuteman III? God, when I heard the warble tone go off, I was looking for my pen to write down the message...Old habits are hard to break. MCCC on Titan II with the 381SMW/532SMS from 1979 to 1983. These two were going through Initial Qualification Training at Vandenburg AFB
@@finmueller7827I worked Minuteman III from 1972 - 1976 down in the Launch Control Centers as well as in the Launch Facility silos for 4 years at Minot AFB, ND. They definitely had to physically turn the keys. BTW, there was a lot of classified procedures left out of this video for obvious reasons.
I should maybe mention that this was painted on the entrance door of at least one Minuteman launch facility. There are pictures of this. Just in case anyone did not know this. EDIT: Found a video on TH-cam showing that. Your search term is "Minuteman Missile Tour in South Dakota FULL", and the door in question can be seen around the 24 minute mark.
The thing that really brings the situation home for me is that the watch have to wear the restraint belts...in an underground hardened silo complex. God forbid it ever comes to a real nuclear exchange.
MMII/CDB ICBM Missile Combat Crew Commander Instructor, 321st SMW/DOTI, GFAFB, ND. 4 years on crew when SAC was running the show. 5 HQs, 15th AF Crewmember Excellence, Olympic Arena Primary Competitor. Completed IQT at what was then the 4315th CCTS, Vandenberg AFB, CA. Damn proud to have done it but damn glad when it was over and I was on my way to a new USAF assignment South of ND.
P7 was the training enable code that was inserted with the thumbwheels during the enable portion of the launch sequence. If anyone is going through South Dakota, there is a museum at Ellsworth AFB outside Rapid City on I 90. The 44SMW MPT (Missile Procedures Trainer) is in this museum. Continuing eastward towards Wall, SD Delta LCC (Launch Control Center) is open for tours given by, I believe, the National Park Service. As I recall the tours are free, but due to space limitations, reservations are recommended. Tours of the LF (Launch Facility) trainer on base and a Delta Flight LF near Wall are also available. Thank you all for your interest. It means a lot.
William, I'm the guy who was responsible for creating the site as you know it. I worked hand in hand with the park service to make the facilities accessible to the general public. I got the job by virtue of being the only person in civil engineering that knew the procedure for accessing both the launcher and alert facility. It came at the end of my 20 year career on active duty. I loved preserving this part of our cold war history. Thanks for your service in the capsule!
The Delta LCC was the squadron command post. Had additional comm systems over non-command post LCCs. Spent almost three years at Delta as the Senior Crew Member for the 66ths. It got real dicey at Easter when the "Sword to Plowshare" protesters would climb the perimeter fence at one of Delta's LFs to protest. We always had two mobile fire teams and a helicopter at LCF for this day.
As a veteran of the 321 SMW / 446 SMS, this brings back a flood of memories from training at Vandenberg. Early in training, the students are put through a keyturn exercise to determine whether they could do it, if asked. In my 16 weeks at VAFB, we had one guy who, after going thru the exercise, determined he couldn't do it for real. No idea what happened to him,
I always laugh at the people who use to quote the line from WARGAME where they said a lot of people might not turn the key, because the Air Force (and now Space Force) would never have risked that. As Jeffrey said, anyone they had any doubt of would be on a DEW monitoring post watching ice grow, not in missile command.
the MOST chilling part for me was watching one of the crew running a wax pen down the status and saying '6's gone...11's gone........3's gone.. they're all gone' C H I L L I N G to have heard those words and what they would have meant. As for their issues with the keys etc..That's what training is for...and consider WHAT they're training for. Would you be freaked out?
That was interesting to see/watch. Erie. As far as actually doing it, I imagine that's what the training is for, doing it enough times that it becomes automatic. Like firing your weapon at the enemy. Not everyone has it in them to end the life of another human being as soon as they join the military, but that's what the training is for, create muscle memory so by the time they're in that situation they don't have to think about the ethics and morals of snuffing out another living soul. I don't know, maybe afterwards they might actually start processing it, but I think when the the time comes their training has already conditioned them to complete their duty. Crazy.
@@dsandoval9396 By the time you make it to Missileer school they know you'll turn the key when asked. You've been poked and prodded by psychologists and you've spent months learning about the whys and hows of US nuclear policy so that you know turning that key may save millions of lives. It might take millions of lives. What's important is that you understand that that decision was made by rational people who above you who have a very good reason to believe it's a good idea.
@@misterguts First off, Trump is not the president, and secondly, POTUS cannot generate launch orders, only select and authorize them. Those are the military's weapons, and while they are subject to civilian authorization for use, the president no more directs their use than he can tell the Air Force which houses of reporters he doesn't like to bomb.
@@MillionFoul President: "General, I want you to nuclear-bomb China" General: "That doesn't sound like a good idea, sir" President: "I'm giving you an order. Use a nuclear bomb on China" General: "Nah, I'm good"
Of course this the unclassified checklist from the T.O. which is a little shorter. I have taken and given hundred or so missile procedures training rides and can assure you many have the case of the nerves when doing the emergency war order portion for missile launch. You have to understand even a bad evaluation in training ride can limit or even eliminate your career especially under the Strategic Air Command. I have witnessed deputies turning the key so hard they have broken the key and cut their fingers. I also have seen shoulders dislocated when they have dropped something while strapped in with the belts. The scariest alarm for the missiler is called alarm #2 you heard when the enable was initiated. If I remember correctly you get the same alarm when an intruder breaks the inner security alarm at a launch facility. To say in a go to war scenario your nervous is a real understatement even in training, but that is precisely why constant training is required so your reactions are precise, correct and automatic.
Spot on Jerry ... that Alarm #2 could always get the adrenaline flowing as you tried to figure out why it was sounding. (MCCC/FC 510SMS 351SMW INDIA Flight)
@@tombohon6280 - I am a 510th man myself, started in November flight then Oscar. There from 1982 -1986 before moving to GLCM, I think we may had some overlap.
@@justdad53 Thanks so much for the information, Jerry! Do you mind explaining what the purpose of the seatbelts is? Is it in case there's an enemy strike while the procedure is occurring so the crew doesn't get knocked unconscious? That was my guess.
@@justdad53 Hey there from a fellow Missileer 508th 88-92, although I pulled a few alerts in the 510th when I was an instructor, nothing like an Oscar alert home right after changeover but the constant tours were a pain...nobody was going to Hotel for a tour...lol
There was an old Titan II missile silo 20 miles from where I am right now. It was decommissioned and there for a time you could go down and check it out. Most of the equipment had been removed and the door leading to the missile silo had been welded shut. The Command room was round and the floor was supported by huge coil springs. My guess is that in the event of an nuclear attack, the people in the chairs would have been bouncing around, thus the need for seatbelts. The whole thing was filling with water and there was about 2 feet at the bottom already.
Very interesting! Curious as to what site this was? Very cool that they let people see what was hidden beneath the surface before demolished occurred. What state are you in?
NORAD was similar back in the 80s - all these trailer buildings sitting on big springs. I presume that is true today as well. I think they moved a bunch of personnel outside the tunnel, to make room for more electronics.
@@silopedia You can still visit a Titan II silo complex. 571-7 in Tucson is dedicated as a museum and they offer guided tours of the complex, which is in more or less the same condition it was in during its operation.
Been there twice…very amazing place….the gift shop is a Cold War collectors paradise! My dad worked at all 18 missile silos installing the electrical systems…we lived with the knowledge of being a primary attack target in the event of a conflict w the Russians…the nuns at our school made us pray every noon to request that “Mary” ask “Jesus” to spare us from nuclear conflict….I guess our prayers were answered back then ❤.
That's deterrence. All those nobodies with nukes can watch it as part of their own TH-cam benders and see how credibly the US can destroy their entire civilization in about 4 minutes; presumably it makes the idea of attacking the US less of a good idea than it might otherwise be. But this was also very clearly a 1980s production given the style of glasses and hair, so the Air Force didn't exactly put it up on TH-cam themselves.
Actually, the targets are already loaded in the guidance sets on the missiles. The launch codes are already in the computer and sent when the keys are turned. What is required and received in the message are the enable codes. These are what “unlocks” the missiles and allow them to accept the launch codes. Also, this is not the actual launch checklist and procedure...this is the unclassified version.
as someone who's been a contractor at the Armée, clearly, we don't have this transparency. Neither britains, russians, germans or china. Hell even if this missile system is old, you don't unveil the plans of anything and the procedure there, just, is not like this.
4:28 Its comforting to know that in at least 1 universe, Barb wasnt killed by the Demogorgon and went on to become a launch specialist for the US's nuclear arsenal.
That red box they were opening; I welded several dozen of them together when I was assigned to the 28th FMS welding shop, Ellsworth AFB, SD. From August 1976 to December 1979
@@jbond119 They're already watching every thread. Most of the comments on any video I watch. Already read as some kind of multiple choice quiz that I'm supposed to react too.
@@JamieVegas, far more involved (and classified). Why train for a fake one? Like anything else, training makes you better, and it has to be “fake,” otherwise it would be war. We don’t want that, right? ;-)
Being in the US Navy, there is one secret to this (practice, practice, practice) And then when you got it right MORE PRACTICE to keep it that way. Being a radioman, I also had to learn those similar type of procedure for voice radio.
And then there was no point into doing anything else. With that, the war is over. The surface is no longer habitable. Likely the entire planet would be that way in a matter of days. I think the only thing to do would be to pull your sidearm and check out since you just helped make all of Human history irrelevant and doomed the only planet we know with life on it to extinction.
The old SAC form 1800! Papa 7's for enable code (only in the simulator)! Shoot the works for the launch sequence! Good job! It was also nice to see the old EWO building at Vandenberg!
Working for FAA NAS/ATC facility sys ops, I think some of those analog electronics are still in service today. DIP switches and Toggle sequence programming. Standby tape decks for flight/ATC recording. If it’s reliable, it’s good even if it costs 100x alternative solutions. It all still works, mostly. Although FAA ATC ops is high stress, we don’t change the Earth for a 1000 years when called to do our duty. Much respect to everyone who supported these systems…on both sides of the planet. ✊
When I was at Minot, a PBS team came onto the base to do a documentary called "Nuclear Outpost". I happened to be in the MPT for a trainer ride while people from that team were observing. The instructors actually let them on the floor with the crew. One of the reporters asked me if I had nightmares about nuclear war. I told her "No. I have nightmares about Two Officer Policy violations". And I did, too. I was dead serious. She just stared at me like I was crazy.
These officers make me feel secure about our LCC procedures and proficiency. Our enemies will watch this and see our level of readiness with TRAINEES .God willing they are the deterrence that keeps the peace forever. The missileers are the unsung heroes of the peace we have kept; their heroism is of an unsung type. Their stunning display of commitment and resolve during these test launched here and other videos lends hope against ever having to take launch action.
When I was on crew in the 1980s, we were issued “Crew Blues”. Essentially, they were the same uniform as worn by the Thunderbird ground crews. A dark blue fatigue shirt and pants with a neck scarf or ascot that was colored according to the assigned squadron. At the 44SMW 66 SMS blue, 67 SMS yellow, 68 SMS red, Instructors white, Standardization Evaluation black, Flight Commanders and Flight Commander’s Deputy gray. I understand that sometime in the 90s, perhaps, the Crew Blues were phased out for flight suits. When Minuteman first went on line, the crew uniform was white coveralls and a construction type hard hat.
@@williampeterson5554 Call me dumbo but why the seat belts, is there a movement underground or is it for when the missile takes off and the resultant vibration. Also what are you trained to do after the missile is launched?
The area the ladies are sitting in was called an Acoustic Enclosure. This was hung from the ceiling of the reinforced concrete capsule by huge chains and four shock isolators. In the event of a near miss, it was expected that the Acoustic Enclosure would be violently shaken, hence the need to strap in before launch. If we survived the attack, we were told we had done our job and were on our own. I planned to try to find my family or what their fate was, if possible. However, I didn’t think it was too healthy to dwell on these matters while on alert
My old junior high school had an underground wrestling room, which was a decommissioned Nike missile site. The huge metal doors on the ceiling were still there and the control room didn't have equipment in it anymore, but it was both cool and terrifying. Wish I could see it again.
@r0ckt3hc4sb4h well it was O'block Junior High in the Plum Boro School District, but they tore the building down years ago. Not sure if the underground silo is still there or not!
I was a USAF Meteorologist for 20+ years. I worked elbow to elbow with a former Launch Control Officer (LCO) for a couple of years. He was the most rock-solid, stable individual I had ever met. NOTHING could move this guy's emotional needle. He made Captain below the zone...quite fast. One night, after a quiet shift, he went home and blew his brains out. This was in 1977.
My youngest daughter was in the class behind these two. I asked her if she knew either of them? She said she sits alert with the one fumbling with the keys.
If you were a Missilier, you deserve respect. This was a high stress job and not a lot of fun but we were very proud of ourselves. We did well. Where ever you are Dom, I hope you are well and your family is well also. Check air, one last time.
The clock in the thumbnail (3:51) is what got my attention, my dad bought a clock that looked EXACTLY like that one at a garage sale some years back, we thought it was really cool and he had it in his office for many years, had no idea they were using those exactly clocks at Minuteman bases, blows my mind.
Always amazing when you think about who designed all this stuff. Like sat down and said, "Okay, so we have to design the sequence for how these missiles will be launched."
Actually, the process is intentionally complicated because the aims are different. It's not :how do we design the launch sequence", it's "what sequence do we use to launch the missiles only when we want them to".
It's just a checklist, same as you hear in an airline cockpit. They are doing specific things in a specific order, which, if done wrong, will screw it all up.
Yes and it was a major stress and bullshit. No wonder all our generation are ruined either physically or mentally. Too much stress for a young kid to worry about.
In this Training Exercise at 02:54 when the Crew Commander says the six elements of the launch code, she says p-7-7-p-7-p. The Crew Commander then requests Read Back and the Deputy says p-7 p-7 p-7 p-7 p-7 p-7. This does NOT match what the Crew Commander gave to the Deputy. But the Crew Commander says "I agree" when at 03:32 when the Deputy asks "Do you agree?". Read back was incorrect, but the Launch proceeds as they got the code correct. Training is designed to catch mistakes and learn from them, so our war fighters can carry out their duties under the stress of real combat operations. Thank you Charles for sharing this clip with us.
Both persons tried inserting their keys backwards, because the long "lever" of the key is pointing opposite the way it normally extends on keys used to open doors and start cars. Poor design.
That's actually probably good design as it forces you to pay attention to the key that launches a freaking nuclear missile. Also the long part of the key points to the direction the key is selected to. Which helps also. Removes ambiguity. And since this was a training on the new launch system, it makes sense they hadn't yet committed that to rote memory.
@@theotherwalt I don't know, seems like every year the US government SAYS they're going to update stuff, but they never end up saying what they've done or not. At least up until a few years ago, they were the same systems though.
@@kvh1962 Retaliate against the guilty, most definitely. Even if that meant killing innocent people, because that's what I had to do. But I definitely wouldn't feel good about killing people who had no hand in the slaughter. And there is the other matter of the significance of having to launch- it means my own family is dead, everyone I knew may be dead, and it may well be that the entire world will be dead depending on how accurate the nuclear winter models are.
They are trained to not think about the long term ramifications of killing millions of people. No one could do it, not even the knuckleheads posting below. Big picture you are throwing humanity either 1. back a couple of hundred years or 2 extinction. Either way the world is changed completely. There is no plan of action for what comes after..all the meticulous detail simply goes into the launch prodedures come to a halt after the bombs hit...humanity or what is left of it will live short probably painful lives.
Honeywell manufactures a lot of that panel hardware along with Allen Bradley for the pilot lights, indicators and switches. Remember that the next time you change your thermostat. Or should I say thermonuclear-stat.
It is--it's a training session at Vandenberg Air Force Base--where all missile officers are trained prior to being reassigned to an operational missile base. Those uniforms (duty uniforms) have been around since the 70s and are still used today.
Then await further orders. The orders that wouldn't come because most of the command structure is either a pile of ashes or dying of radiation sickness on some bunker somewhere.
Imagine what would be going through your mind if it was you that just launched those missiles knowing the world as we know it was soon to end. And most likely the fact you were never going to leave the underground firing module alive!
I get the feeling that half of the steps and timed urgency in the procedure is to keep personal busy from having such thoughts. All they really need to do is confirm order authenticity, input required target, input required yield and fire.
That thought crossed my mind. I can't imagine doing a job that you pray that is never necessary but, once done they had to know that no one would be coming to get them out of there. They were to await further instructions but face it, even if there were survivors, they probably can't rescue them. In a way, it was almost cruel that they would survive only to eventually starve to death or suffer radioactive fallout trying to go somewhere else.
LOL Though in fairness, unless there was a catastrophic security leak, no one was gonna try and drop a nuke right on top of you in the middle of a launch evolution.
That's exactly why it's done that way. No one person or single action could launch those missiles. Another team in a separate launch facility has to complete the exact same process for the missiles to launch. It's an extremely complicated system and there is NO button. It's called Permissive Action Link. However, this is an old out dated LCC. I suspect all of this is mostly done at a computer console now with screens. The Old system is still very cool.
@@SocialistDistancing It is possible for a single LCC to fire all 50 missiles of a MinuteMan 3 squadron. If a single LCC turns their keys and sends a Launch Command to all 50 missiles, a timer begins to countdown, it non of the other 4 LCC do not issue Launch Inhibit commands before that timer reaches zero, all 50 missiles will launch and strike targets. This ensures that a Russian MM3 decapitation strike destroys 4 of the 5 MM3 LCC AND the Airborne Launch Control System aircraft is destroyed as well, that the 50 missiles of that MinuteMan 3 squadron will still be launched.
@@hoghogwild yes I know that. But the point was, no one person could launch without a second person. Further, that would have to be confirmed by a second LCC. Meaning, you could not carry out a terrorist act. The fact that the missiles would launch after X-amount of time is a safe guard to ensure the missiles launch even if 4/5 LCCs were destroyed. At that point it would not matter if there was a confirming LCC . The war has already started. Furthermore, you still wouldn't be able to launch anything without proper codes. It would be impossible to start a nuke strike on your own. Its redundant security and would probably earn you a bullet in your head for trying.
@@SocialistDistancing You stated "Another team in a separate launch facility has to complete the exact same process for the missiles to launch." I'm simply illuminating the fact that there is a method in which missiles can be launched without another LCC turning its keys, though the probability of that happening in miniscule.
Exactly! You can't just "TURN THE KEYS" and launch the missiles. You simplified it. There's numerous codes and steps that need to take place first. For instance, Target selection. The method you describe is when an all out war has already started. Nobody can simply decide to turn the keys and start a launch. Numerous steps must take place simultaneously. There's a very good reason why a second LCC must verify. If it was a simple as turning the keys, than all the other steps are moot. wouldn't you think? Every step has a reason and a purpose. It's why the training is as stringent as it is. There must be the highest proficiency rate or you are cut from the program.
Growing up in the 70's and 80's, my friends and I thought nuclear war with the Soviets was inevitable. Appreciate everyone who served and is serving in launch control centers...I can't imagine the amount of pressure they feel training for a job they hope they will never ever need to do.
"Hello this is the lockpickinglawyer and today we will be launching some ICBMs". Seriously... those keys, did nobody think about something more secure?
Keys are just a glorified switch. The idea is that both crew members must authenticate an Emergency War Order to get the keys out of the safe, they must enter valid codes and so forth to get the system to actually register a key turn, and if there isn't a valid message then it will be clear that the crews attempted to tamper with the system. It's not like starting your car. There are layers upon layers of contingencies at play.
I'm hoping the issue with the keys at the beginning was just being nervous in front of the cameras, and NOT a reflection of their drill history and preparedness 😑
Maybe they were never instructed that the keys go in with the "bubble" on top. Or considering that they're doing so many things, they're thinking 5 moves beyond the "key insert" before they ever retrieve the keys at all.
That was bugging me too. Now that I rewatched it, it is a seperate shot, close up of the hand and key. Probably this film is for training purposes. Showing missileer trainees that if they can't do it blindfolded, they are going to lose precious seconds, minutes... Seriously, a fully trained missileer would be able to do all of those actions blindfolded. Only the writing and reading parts would be a bit harder. Suppose the lights failed, they would probably go through the routine with penlights for reading and writing.
Typically while in a MPT ride when all the missiles are launched the training session will be over. They executed what we affectionately called the "Parking lot option."
I think they may be to help the operators stay at the comsoles in the event of a missile attack on their base so they are still able to launch their missiles.
i noticed they are adding a verticle line through the S that makes them look like dollar signs. do they do that to distinguish between 5's and S's if the writing is sloppy?
Standard NATO 'Service Writing' protocols: S slashed thru' (vs 5), O slashed thru' (vs 0), 1 underscored (vs l), 7 crossed in deference to continental Europe (not just France) written script of 1 that can be mistaken for Anglo-Saxon 7 without the cross-thru.
Learning which way the keys go in is a critical part of this training.
Damn nuka keys are getting inserted like classic USB! Arghhh!
Fails? Flip - Repeat. Fails again? Flip 2nd time, keep trying!
The war will be over before they get their keys in straight.
As critical as learning how your service weapon goes back in your holster?
Yeahh, I would insist on a MUCH cleaner launch process that this... too much fumbling like amateurs.. Or was this a older DEI video?
@@txmarko Looked like around 1980s to 1990 based on hair styles.
"Greetings Professor Falken. Would you like to play a game of chess?"
exactly what I thought too.
Later right now let's play Global thermal nuclear War
..!
@@digafox Fine.
Which side do you want?
1. United States
2. Soviet Union
Please Choose One:
@@Anarchist86edi l' take soviet union, so that you, AI, can just use the united states arsenal for real in this game.
this will be fun
@@jefaisquepasser
AWATIING FIRST STRIKE COMMAND
____________________________________
PLEASE LIST PRIMARY TARGETS BY CITY AND/OR COUNTY NAME:
I love the last words from the Commander " That's it, that's all she wrote" truer words have never been spoken.Thank God they never had to actually turn those keys (yet)
VERY TRUE! Truer words were never spoken!
Bla, bla, bla. You & your obvious clichés.
My old Wyoming home and Back Yard fishing 🎣 wHoooo Weeeeee Red Alert 🚨 Spin uP Cowboy 🤠 Joe and on my Mark home Eeeeeee EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 launch 🚀 EVRAZ Pueblo Colorado USA 🇺🇸 and Facts EVRAZ Claymont Steeel DeLaWaRe USA 🇺🇸 is a wHooooo Weeeee
@@jamesevans22 Let’s go Fishing 🎣 And catch a wHoppeR EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 sLaB SteeLheaDs EVRAZ Portland Oregon USA 🇺🇸 sLip Bob or ? EVRAZ Pueblo Colorado USA 🇺🇸 trout fishing 🎣 fly Fishing 🎣 and Facts EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 claims con In sult Lady Liberty 🗽 insults to mankind EVRAZ Russia 🇷🇺 and Facts EVRAZ Plc London United Kingdom 🇬🇧 anti eye 👁 eye 👁 CCTV EVRAZ Israel 🇮🇱 anti ant 🐜 anti ant 🐜 Stop 🛑 Human Trafficking anti coRe RupT PoliticiaL Science 🧬
End of civilization…. Just like that…. It’s over
Logging into google on a new device be like:
Wish I could use launch keys instead of finger print for banking 😜
m.th-cam.com/video/1E3sFfnAUQs/w-d-xo.html
Lmao! Str8 facts
Launch process inserted
😂😂😂
This is an exercise and their supervisors are watching every move...it's not a timed event but if you miss a step in the checklist, ANY STEP IN THE CHECKLIST, you flunk. Speed is not a concern ..if they get the launch order they have as much as 30 minutes to turn those keys. If you watch the entire film (this is just a clip) it covers the entire training program including the ethics of nuclear war, the physical security training, the tampering protocols, and the physical hardware safeguards to prevent an unauthorized launch. It also frankly discusses the people who have flunked out of the program for NOT following the procedures (like not verifying the order is valid) . These two people are actually already qualified on the Titan II system, which was retired from service, and are learning the new system and they're doing it BY THE BOOK
Exactly! They are traines on the new systems they are being tested to learn from their mistakes if there are any.
Charles Forbin Train as you play! 839TH MSS 1991-1993.
Does not knowing up from down graded? Kept, both officers, attempting to insert key upside down!!! Cute, 1st lieutenants. Lol....here is a cookie
@setthealarm yes. Let's excuse them. Thier rank as junior officers I give them some excuse. Lol...too many moving parts for two 1st Lieutenants.
@setthealarm Hahahaha! Never thought of this. Funny!!!
"They're all gone, Deputy" - such a fitting phrase to say at the start of the Nuclear Armageddon.
“That’s it,” she says. “That’s all she wrote.”
"Your world ends. Mine begins"
~Everyone who hasn't been asleep the last 10 years.
Officer: "They're all gone, deputy."
Deputy: "The missiles or the targets?"
Officer: "Yes."
serüm 114 xD
@@adamschaeffer4057 What world ? There will be nothing left but envying the deads.
I did this in 1980. 44SMW 68SMS. By the time you graduate, you are better than this, but the missile wing will make sure you are much, much better before you are certified to pull your first alert as a Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander. Believe me, this is not a low stress fun job. The system was built in the 60s. Things break. Goofy unpredictable things happen with people, weather and the remote isolated area, and you alone are responsible for it all. That was a simulator those ladies were in. We spent four to six hours at least once a month in that simulator and were tested monthly on launch procedures, code handling and the weapon system. Passing was 90%. Three 90%s in a row earned you a diminished effectiveness report, promotion chances a threatened career and remedial training. Honestly, the job sucked, but it is the job I’m proudest of having done
Very nice. Thank you for your service sir.
Pete, USMCR
I am curious about the P7 sequence set on the authenticator. In your opinion did it mean Practice session number 7?
Also thank you for your service to the nation.
Thank you sir!
Thank you for your service. Out of curiosity, did you wear regular air force blues or fatigues, or was there a special uniform/flight suit?it just seems odd that the training film showed these ladies in regulation skirts, pumps, and pantyhose while training to launch a nuclear missile...
I was on a MMT RON'ing at a LCF in SAC in the 1970's . We were downstairs when a EAM came over the box. I saw the locks opened and authentication. This is not funny, this is not a drill . this is real .
Seeing her fumble with the key was PRICELESS
Makes it look real ...
you should see her drive
Lol "Come on Susan fasten your damn seatbelt we've got Ruskies to fry!"
@Jaime D clearly
Eff me. I sure hope this was the first time they ran that drill. 😳
My friends sister was a Missilier, she always said "we will fire the last shots in American history"
But you sir, looks able to walk again :D
If the call comes, that's correct
no, those will be done by the Boomers at sea
no that's the submarines
Someone needs brain surgery.@@Mike-x9h5f
Having served four years as a Missile Combat Crewmember in the early 1970's, I recognize this video as having taken place at Vandenberg AFB, CA in the Missile Procedures Trainer (MPT). The crew were obviously not experienced in the Minuteman System, and I suspect this was their first familiarization session in the MPT (note that they were not wearing the uniforms issued to Missile Combat Crewmembers and the Instructor is observing their actions). They were also following the unclassified Missile Launch Procedure as published in their Tech Orders. As a side note: the MPT as shown was an excellent representation of the actual Minuteman 2 and 3 Launch Control Centers before the major modifications made after my years of service. In the current Minuteman 3 System the Commander and Deputy sit next to each other; there are fewer switches and indicator lights being replaced by flat plane displays and keyboard entry of coding.
I was EMT from 69 to 73 Force Mod at Malmstrom and then CDB from 73 to 75 at Warren.
@@Bradgilliswhammyman Do man up and stop acting like a BLM pussy
@@Bradgilliswhammyman - don't sweat Dis Real Now. He's only here to provoke us imperialist Westerners
Why do they strap themselves in to the seats?
@@lukeskywalker1702 If they're launching missiles, then others (adversaries) likely are, too. If a missile hits near them, it's going to cause a shockwave that could knock them out of their seats or knock them unconscious if they hit something. They strap in so that even if a missile impacts the ground near them, they can likely still finish doing their jobs.
This is literally the checklist to end life as we know it
That's exactly what I was thinking. Armageddon in twenty minutes.
There’s a bit more to the checklist but yeah, the second those keys are turned: “Welcome to World War Three”
@@stolasburrito74656 Especially since turning the keys primes the onboard batteries and at which point the missiles no longer relies on the silo for anything. No stopping it. At all.
@@Rokmononov That's probably why they didn't put one on there. If we can auto destruct it, so can they.
Oh boo hoo
On a more humerous note, the simulator for the Titan II at McConnell AFB back in the 80s had one code word as "SACSUX".
I was told that authenticators IN LIVE SERVICE included such things as PISOF, UPURS, YEEHA, OOOPS, BOOOM, HOWDY, TJKONG and FUMBL . . .evidently there weren't much in the way of limits on character sets . . .
@@SoloPilot6 that's funny. I never saw any love codes as they were sealed, and the world didn't want us to ever have to unseal those.
At this phase in their training (this was at the MM2 schoolhouse at Vandenberg), the important part is doing it right first time, every time, no missed steps, no procedural errors (such as breaking the launch message out incorrectly). The speed comes with repetition.
I take it you were a missileer?
@@markrobertson6664 No, but I was in the military. Military training always follows EDIE: Explain, Demonstrate, Imitate, Evaluate. Repeat as needed.
@@TheKenPrescott ahh! Yes that makes sense!
In the Finnish military there is a saying the translates to "slow makes smooth, smooth makes fast". Similar principle.
@@Tunkkis i believe the US marines also use "slow is smooth and smooth is fast"
Do you have the key in yet?
Hang on....
Is your seatbelt on yet?
HANG ON...!
They both seemed to have a problem inserting things.
-Are you gonna launch it today or next year ?
- HANG ON .!!
Ya, that was painful watching them with the keys and seatbelts. Like fuck....your first time honey? I think you need a fuck of a lot more training or those missiles are going to get hit in the silos. Otherwise an interesting video that I've never seen before.
Yeah looks like there is time that needs to be shaved from the key insertion and the seat belts fastened. Hope there is a more streamlined plan
@@rockets4kids LMAO! Women don't belong in combat rolls! USMC vet here.
As a retired Optician of over 40 years I always get a kick out of remembering back based on Frame-Fads ! These gals are sporting the latest styles....and had the crew been males they would no doubt had been wearing Rayban pilots(POS) or the A/O FG-58 Skymaster with paddle temples! What comes around goes around!
Deirdre Barlow would've been proud of these gals.
Thank fuck that era is over. I hated glasses from the 80's and 90's
Ah, you have a good eye. 😄 Yes, i recall that era, well. Those glasses were optically excellent for every situation, being milled from fine glass. But they were heavy! ..no slim frames to limit vision at all, though. & none of the wide temples to inhibit peripheral visiion..idk how ppl can drive with those on..at least not safely, jeepers. The old Bausch & Lomb Ray-Bans were amazing eye glasses! I had 2 pair of Baloramas & miss them dearly. I have a mint pair of
B&L Wayfarere 2's though, tortoise shell frames, ofc! 😎🤓
Nah I don't think the guys would have worn those. They'd get flack from pilots for trying to look like pilots.
Very interesting, I always draw the zero character with a slash crossing diagonally to differentiate it from the letter O; the girl draws a $ sign for an S to differentiate it from the number 5 !!
I've used the $ for the S for a long time now. Thought I was the only one. Also have put a horizonal line (-) through the 7 so not to be confused w/ the # 1
Jaun the instructors at Vandenberg specifically trained us to draw characters a particular way. Zeros get crossed, 'S' becomes a dollar sign, the 'U' always gets a downstroke on the backside (so it is not confused with a 'V'). Those habits have largely stayed with me over the years (except for the S->$). Speed and accuracy are important when seconds count.
@@matthewfarr1107 seconds count? They'd better change the design of the belts then.
@@suvorovoleg9325 😂👍🏻
Hmmmm, I usually draw a slash through my letter O to distinguish it from zeros...Kidding.
It decodes as “Wing Attack Plan R.”
I get it. I wonder if anybody else will. Excellent!
1802 Cosmac only people who saw or heard about dr. Strangelove.
@@winternow2242 Yup.
I m from Russia, but l'do 😂😂😂
"Nucular combat, toe to toe with the russkies."
Was on crew at Malmstrom AFB from 87' to 91' This is a small part of a longer film about MM School House at Vandenberg AFB. As some others on here have stated..there were times that the job and the pressure were horrible. But there were also moments that were sparkling "once in a lifetime events". The men and women who I worked with in Minuteman II were 100% professionals and very serious business when the time called for that. It is the job and gave me the most stress, responsibility, humbleness, and pride of any job I have ever had and ever will. God bless you all my Brothers and Sisters. "Lest We Forget"....... D.W.
I was stationed there 79 to 82. Everything by the book and checklist, get your keys and codes.
Do you know the title or do you have a link?
Legend has it they're still preparing for launch
eye roll
Vlad M, we should call it the delayed launch sequence. Lol
That’s what happens when you send a Woman to do a man’s job 😅
Hahahaha and mind you that’s after high command decides for god knows how long ⏰
@MultiBrucelee1234 Yes
Minuteman Landscaping "We specialize in large quantity earth movement and urban landscaping"
Satan landscaping, we are better than minuteman.
hamad5885
Only we are as good as are being the enemys at who are started to shooted at us! Ifed do they wished to ceased to exist and shoot to at us withed a atomic of bomb thened we do shooted one right to backed at them. IT IS CALLED AS MUTUALS ASSURED OF DESTRUCTIONS AND IT DOES WORKED! IT HAVES KEEPT REAL OFED WAR AWAY EVER FOR SINCED WORLD WARS 2 !!!! And unless do we leted milquetoaster pantys waist losers as Obama or losers withed thinkings as Canadas Trudeau to weakened it so thened the threating of it no longer is valid!!
That's hilarious! Urban renewal on an epic scale. We don't do "neighborhoods, we do cities. Entire cities...
Our old Minuteman & Peacekeeper business cards say ‘No country too big, no target too small. We specialize in parking lots, pyrotechnic displays, and for those who deal in volume, 10 for 1 specials in certain locations.’ (10 for 1 references the 10 reentry vehicles Peacekeeper carried). I’d post a photo of my card here if it was possible.
@@the_black_arts I miss those days.
Minuteman III?
God, when I heard the warble tone go off, I was looking for my pen to write down the message...Old habits are hard to break.
MCCC on Titan II with the 381SMW/532SMS from 1979 to 1983. These two were going through Initial Qualification Training at Vandenburg AFB
What was it like working in the silos? I'm thinking of maybe doing it, seems interesting
Always looking for where I put the grease pencil, 308Smw
@@finmueller7827 A LOT of work
@@metrovalleyeats is it true they don't have to turn the key or is that a sub thing only?
@@finmueller7827I worked Minuteman III from 1972 - 1976 down in the Launch Control Centers as well as in the Launch Facility silos for 4 years at Minot AFB, ND. They definitely had to physically turn the keys. BTW, there was a lot of classified procedures left out of this video for obvious reasons.
3:23 "Okay, read them back." INSTRUCTOR: "P7, P7, P7, P7, P7, P7. Do you agree?" Trainee: "Okay I agree." FAILED Input was P, 7, 7, P, 7, P
THIS
It probably skipped some
Yep, wrong input, we just lost Walmart!
birdwing98 plus the radio message in the beginning. Lima Oscar ... notes L A ...
They just Nuked an Amish colony in Minnesota.
World wide delivery in 30 minutes or less - or your next one is free. 😳
Plot twist: There are no more.
Bla, bla, bla, you're so original--NOT.
I should maybe mention that this was painted on the entrance door of at least one Minuteman launch facility. There are pictures of this.
Just in case anyone did not know this.
EDIT: Found a video on TH-cam showing that. Your search term is "Minuteman Missile Tour in South Dakota FULL", and the door in question can be seen around the 24 minute mark.
Should have called them the halfanhourman.
With extra mushrooms and hot!
The thing that really brings the situation home for me is that the watch have to wear the restraint belts...in an underground hardened silo complex. God forbid it ever comes to a real nuclear exchange.
The launch facility was on springs, so in the event of a nearby missile strike it would bounce around on those springs.
"Turn you key sir"!
"I'm sorry"
russ117044 yeh, hang on!
I want to get on the phone before I kill 20 million people!
Nope.
«IT'S MA'AM!»
"All missiles away? ".. "confirmed".. "OK, let's have a Coke"...
All you can do, mon. That's Jamaican for all you can do
I thought Pepsi was the choice of the last generation.
Shabushka
In Russia they had vodka
The bottle opener won't work. Wait, I had it upside down.
MMII/CDB ICBM Missile Combat Crew Commander Instructor, 321st SMW/DOTI, GFAFB, ND. 4 years on crew when SAC was running the show. 5 HQs, 15th AF Crewmember Excellence, Olympic Arena Primary Competitor. Completed IQT at what was then the 4315th CCTS, Vandenberg AFB, CA. Damn proud to have done it but damn glad when it was over and I was on my way to a new USAF assignment South of ND.
Driving to alert in the Dakotas during a blizzard was a pain lol Got stuck out more then once.
P7 was the training enable code that was inserted with the thumbwheels during the enable portion of the launch sequence. If anyone is going through South Dakota, there is a museum at Ellsworth AFB outside Rapid City on I 90. The 44SMW MPT (Missile Procedures Trainer) is in this museum. Continuing eastward towards Wall, SD Delta LCC (Launch Control Center) is open for tours given by, I believe, the National Park Service. As I recall the tours are free, but due to space limitations, reservations are recommended. Tours of the LF (Launch Facility) trainer on base and a Delta Flight LF near Wall are also available. Thank you all for your interest. It means a lot.
Thank you for sharing the great info with us all! Peace.
William, I'm the guy who was responsible for creating the site as you know it. I worked hand in hand with the park service to make the facilities accessible to the general public. I got the job by virtue of being the only person in civil engineering that knew the procedure for accessing both the launcher and alert facility. It came at the end of my 20 year career on active duty. I loved preserving this part of our cold war history. Thanks for your service in the capsule!
Hey, we probably served together. Thanks for keeping this part of our history intact and for helping keep my butt out of trouble while on alert.
William Peterson thank you for your service!
The Delta LCC was the squadron command post. Had additional comm systems over non-command post LCCs. Spent almost three years at Delta as the Senior Crew Member for the 66ths. It got real dicey at Easter when the "Sword to Plowshare" protesters would climb the perimeter fence at one of Delta's LFs to protest. We always had two mobile fire teams and a helicopter at LCF for this day.
As a veteran of the 321 SMW / 446 SMS, this brings back a flood of memories from training at Vandenberg. Early in training, the students are put through a keyturn exercise to determine whether they could do it, if asked. In my 16 weeks at VAFB, we had one guy who, after going thru the exercise, determined he couldn't do it for real. No idea what happened to him,
Flaggeed as a threat to national security for life i hope.
@@AndreasGlad-rq7vx lol
Bro what?? @AndreasGlad-rq7vx
Admitting that you wouldn't be able to turn the key that will end millions of lives is something normal.
He was sent to either Keflavik Iceland, Diego Garcia, or Adak AK. Where his job was to stare at a wall for 12 hrs a day.
I always laugh at the people who use to quote the line from WARGAME where they said a lot of people might not turn the key, because the Air Force (and now Space Force) would never have risked that. As Jeffrey said, anyone they had any doubt of would be on a DEW monitoring post watching ice grow, not in missile command.
Wow! Even in practice, I would imagine this to be somewhat spine tingling.
Actually, not spine tingling at all. Take it from me.
It is kind of like the first time one gets shot at. There is no time for tingles, only time to take action. Like the other guy said: no tingles.
It is all fake, in reality there is a guy lighting the knot with a cigarette lighter
It must be damp :))
Be easier and quicker - just unlock the cabinet, pick up a lighter, and light the damn fuse!
@@x.y.8581 Soo simple!! 🎇
@@patrickramosofmanila ahaha I understand that
@@x.y.8581: Titan II? 3/4 inch torque wrench dropped down the silo shaft should do it.
Wow, ladies of the 80's were truly outrageous!
Truly, truly outrageous!!!!!
the MOST chilling part for me was watching one of the crew running a wax pen down the status and saying '6's gone...11's gone........3's gone.. they're all gone' C H I L L I N G to have heard those words and what they would have meant.
As for their issues with the keys etc..That's what training is for...and consider WHAT they're training for. Would you be freaked out?
That was interesting to see/watch. Erie.
As far as actually doing it, I imagine that's what the training is for, doing it enough times that it becomes automatic. Like firing your weapon at the enemy. Not everyone has it in them to end the life of another human being as soon as they join the military, but that's what the training is for, create muscle memory so by the time they're in that situation they don't have to think about the ethics and morals of snuffing out another living soul.
I don't know, maybe afterwards they might actually start processing it, but I think when the the time comes their training has already conditioned them to complete their duty.
Crazy.
@@dsandoval9396 By the time you make it to Missileer school they know you'll turn the key when asked. You've been poked and prodded by psychologists and you've spent months learning about the whys and hows of US nuclear policy so that you know turning that key may save millions of lives. It might take millions of lives. What's important is that you understand that that decision was made by rational people who above you who have a very good reason to believe it's a good idea.
@@MillionFoul Mr Trump wants those missiles launched, he's got an election to win and a golf game to get to.
@@misterguts First off, Trump is not the president, and secondly, POTUS cannot generate launch orders, only select and authorize them. Those are the military's weapons, and while they are subject to civilian authorization for use, the president no more directs their use than he can tell the Air Force which houses of reporters he doesn't like to bomb.
@@MillionFoul President: "General, I want you to nuclear-bomb China"
General: "That doesn't sound like a good idea, sir"
President: "I'm giving you an order. Use a nuclear bomb on China"
General: "Nah, I'm good"
Of course this the unclassified checklist from the T.O. which is a little shorter. I have taken and given hundred or so missile procedures training rides and can assure you many have the case of the nerves when doing the emergency war order portion for missile launch. You have to understand even a bad evaluation in training ride can limit or even eliminate your career especially under the Strategic Air Command.
I have witnessed deputies turning the key so hard they have broken the key and cut their fingers. I also have seen shoulders dislocated when they have dropped something while strapped in with the belts. The scariest alarm for the missiler is called alarm #2 you heard when the enable was initiated. If I remember correctly you get the same alarm when an intruder breaks the inner security alarm at a launch facility. To say in a go to war scenario your nervous is a real understatement even in training, but that is precisely why constant training is required so your reactions are precise, correct and automatic.
Spot on Jerry ... that Alarm #2 could always get the adrenaline flowing as you tried to figure out why it was sounding. (MCCC/FC 510SMS 351SMW INDIA Flight)
@@tombohon6280 - I am a 510th man myself, started in November flight then Oscar. There from 1982 -1986 before moving to GLCM, I think we may had some overlap.
@@justdad53 Thanks so much for the information, Jerry! Do you mind explaining what the purpose of the seatbelts is? Is it in case there's an enemy strike while the procedure is occurring so the crew doesn't get knocked unconscious? That was my guess.
Jerry Adams
(Wow...) 😮
@@justdad53 Hey there from a fellow Missileer 508th 88-92, although I pulled a few alerts in the 510th when I was an instructor, nothing like an Oscar alert home right after changeover but the constant tours were a pain...nobody was going to Hotel for a tour...lol
There was an old Titan II missile silo 20 miles from where I am right now. It was decommissioned and there for a time you could go down and check it out. Most of the equipment had been removed and the door leading to the missile silo had been welded shut. The Command room was round and the floor was supported by huge coil springs. My guess is that in the event of an nuclear attack, the people in the chairs would have been bouncing around, thus the need for seatbelts. The whole thing was filling with water and there was about 2 feet at the bottom already.
Very interesting! Curious as to what site this was? Very cool that they let people see what was hidden beneath the surface before demolished occurred. What state are you in?
NORAD was similar back in the 80s - all these trailer buildings sitting on big springs. I presume that is true today as well. I think they moved a bunch of personnel outside the tunnel, to make room for more electronics.
@@silopedia - Nebraska.
@@silopedia You can still visit a Titan II silo complex. 571-7 in Tucson is dedicated as a museum and they offer guided tours of the complex, which is in more or less the same condition it was in during its operation.
Been there twice…very amazing place….the gift shop is a Cold War collectors paradise! My dad worked at all 18 missile silos installing the electrical systems…we lived with the knowledge of being a primary attack target in the event of a conflict w the Russians…the nuns at our school made us pray every noon to request that “Mary” ask “Jesus” to spare us from nuclear conflict….I guess our prayers were answered back then ❤.
Every time i watch one of these ICBM launch training videos i get goosebumps… may these birds never need to fly 🙏
Nobody:
America: puts how to launch an icbm on yt
That's deterrence. All those nobodies with nukes can watch it as part of their own TH-cam benders and see how credibly the US can destroy their entire civilization in about 4 minutes; presumably it makes the idea of attacking the US less of a good idea than it might otherwise be.
But this was also very clearly a 1980s production given the style of glasses and hair, so the Air Force didn't exactly put it up on TH-cam themselves.
@@pyro4002 nobody wins if nukes are launched from any country, we’ll be dead.
You also need the target and launch codes.
Actually, the targets are already loaded in the guidance sets on the missiles. The launch codes are already in the computer and sent when the keys are turned. What is required and received in the message are the enable codes. These are what “unlocks” the missiles and allow them to accept the launch codes. Also, this is not the actual launch checklist and procedure...this is the unclassified version.
as someone who's been a contractor at the Armée, clearly, we don't have this transparency. Neither britains, russians, germans or china. Hell even if this missile system is old, you don't unveil the plans of anything and the procedure there, just, is not like this.
4:28 Its comforting to know that in at least 1 universe, Barb wasnt killed by the Demogorgon and went on to become a launch specialist for the US's nuclear arsenal.
Yes
glad i wasnt the only one to see this lol
Barb's back, and she's out for revenge!
Internet won
Blondie's got a nice rack!
That red box they were opening; I welded several dozen of them together when I was assigned to the 28th FMS welding shop, Ellsworth AFB, SD. From August 1976 to December 1979
How thick are they?
@@JamieVegas thats FRD
Do you happen to know much about the locks?
@@RichardDressler Nnsa is now watching this thread
@@jbond119
They're already watching every thread.
Most of the comments on any video I watch. Already read as some kind of multiple choice quiz that I'm supposed to react too.
1:23 Me when i am drunk and i try to open the door.
lex mark anyone can do this, a fucking toddler can, chill out there
@@lexor521 what you on about mate he said nothing about being a man or woman
This short film proves how "Wargames" was extraordinarily accurate.
OF COURSE. Did you ever doubt it? Tsk tsk tsk...
Actually, not accurate at all--even this demonstration is not what the real procedure looks like. Not even close.
@@fredpearson5204 What's the real one like? Always curious. Also, why train for a fake one?
@@JamieVegas, far more involved (and classified). Why train for a fake one? Like anything else, training makes you better, and it has to be “fake,” otherwise it would be war. We don’t want that, right? ;-)
@@fredpearson5204
"otherwise it would be war. We don’t want that, right?"
media1.tenor.com/m/br8YyUed2GwAAAAC/pedro-monkey-puppet.gif
Being in the US Navy, there is one secret to this (practice, practice, practice) And then when you got it right MORE PRACTICE to keep it that way. Being a radioman, I also had to learn those similar type of procedure for voice radio.
"OK they're all gone deputy. That's it. That's all she wrote."
And that is literally all there is to it. 4 minutes 33 seconds.
Poef and the world is gone
And then there was no point into doing anything else. With that, the war is over. The surface is no longer habitable. Likely the entire planet would be that way in a matter of days. I think the only thing to do would be to pull your sidearm and check out since you just helped make all of Human history irrelevant and doomed the only planet we know with life on it to extinction.
@@Anarchist86ed And this is how the Detterence theory works buddy
@@DuRöhre4711 ya baskly play nice or else
That thought was a major reason why when this was the only billet I was offered for OTS 38 years ago I decided not to pursue matters further.
The old SAC form 1800! Papa 7's for enable code (only in the simulator)! Shoot the works for the launch sequence! Good job! It was also nice to see the old EWO building at Vandenberg!
Totally agree DrB!!! Lots of good memories after watching this video.
th-cam.com/video/zUeQm6XUPZg/w-d-xo.html
Working for FAA NAS/ATC facility sys ops, I think some of those analog electronics are still in service today. DIP switches and Toggle sequence programming. Standby tape decks for flight/ATC recording. If it’s reliable, it’s good even if it costs 100x alternative solutions.
It all still works, mostly. Although FAA ATC ops is high stress, we don’t change the Earth for a 1000 years when called to do our duty.
Much respect to everyone who supported these systems…on both sides of the planet. ✊
Has trouble inserting key "hang on". Has trouble putting on seat belt "hang on"...are you ready? "stand by one" Classic!
When I was at Minot, a PBS team came onto the base to do a documentary called "Nuclear Outpost". I happened to be in the MPT for a trainer ride while people from that team were observing. The instructors actually let them on the floor with the crew. One of the reporters asked me if I had nightmares about nuclear war. I told her "No. I have nightmares about Two Officer Policy violations". And I did, too. I was dead serious. She just stared at me like I was crazy.
No one will ever understand unless they pull alert. BTW, never trust a newsie
These officers make me feel secure about our LCC procedures and proficiency. Our enemies will watch this and see our level of readiness with TRAINEES .God willing they are the deterrence that keeps the peace forever. The missileers are the unsung heroes of the peace we have kept; their heroism is of an unsung type. Their stunning display of commitment and resolve during these test launched here and other videos lends hope against ever having to take launch action.
"Hang on. It doesn't want to go in." That's what she said!
That was, in fact, what she did say!
When I was on crew in the 1980s, we were issued “Crew Blues”. Essentially, they were the same uniform as worn by the Thunderbird ground crews. A dark blue fatigue shirt and pants with a neck scarf or ascot that was colored according to the assigned squadron. At the 44SMW 66 SMS blue, 67 SMS yellow, 68 SMS red, Instructors white, Standardization Evaluation black, Flight Commanders and Flight Commander’s Deputy gray. I understand that sometime in the 90s, perhaps, the Crew Blues were phased out for flight suits. When Minuteman first went on line, the crew uniform was white coveralls and a construction type hard hat.
William Peterson That some way cool info. Thanks.
What years were you on crew? My crew time was 85 - 89 at with 66 SMS. These are students in IQT as "line swines" are whole lot faster.
I was on crew from 1980 to 1984.
@@williampeterson5554 Call me dumbo but why the seat belts, is there a movement underground or is it for when the missile takes off and the resultant vibration. Also what are you trained to do after the missile is launched?
The area the ladies are sitting in was called an Acoustic Enclosure. This was hung from the ceiling of the reinforced concrete capsule by huge chains and four shock isolators. In the event of a near miss, it was expected that the Acoustic Enclosure would be violently shaken, hence the need to strap in before launch. If we survived the attack, we were told we had done our job and were on our own. I planned to try to find my family or what their fate was, if possible. However, I didn’t think it was too healthy to dwell on these matters while on alert
My old junior high school had an underground wrestling room, which was a decommissioned Nike missile site. The huge metal doors on the ceiling were still there and the control room didn't have equipment in it anymore, but it was both cool and terrifying. Wish I could see it again.
What school is this? Would love to learn more / see pcitures.
@r0ckt3hc4sb4h well it was O'block Junior High in the Plum Boro School District, but they tore the building down years ago. Not sure if the underground silo is still there or not!
@@K1200R thanks! I'll look it up.
The process of sending a bomb somewhere that you can't call back requires the utmost of caution.
Unconditional commit.
Remember, ' Duck and Cover? Remember, knowing where every ' Fall Out Shelter ' was in you home town?
Our teachers taught us 'Duck and Cover'. Dad taught us to grab our ankles, stick our head between our knees, and kiss our sweet ass goodbye !
I remember fallout shelter in my grade school. The civil defense logo painted on the wall outside. They still conducted drills in 1981.
Ah yes, the good ol days growing up during the cold war. Remember it well.
Duck and cover,I always thought that was a exotic Asian dish that the chef ran out of time to finish the rest of the cooking instructions.....
I was a USAF Meteorologist for 20+ years. I worked elbow to elbow with a former Launch Control Officer (LCO) for a couple of years. He was the most rock-solid, stable individual I had ever met. NOTHING could move this guy's emotional needle. He made Captain below the zone...quite fast. One night, after a quiet shift, he went home and blew his brains out. This was in 1977.
Wow :(
@@jackflowers6897 - Yeah. It was pretty bad.
My youngest daughter was in the class behind these two. I asked her if she knew either of them? She said she sits alert with the one fumbling with the keys.
Am i the only one that got chills when she said “thats all she wrote”?..
Having done this on a ballistic missile submarine you get more proficient the more you run drills.
"That's all she wrote" (everybodies dead)
This feels like the first time you startup a tablet for the first-time nowadays and have to register
Or typing in the mile long password coding that Norton gives you when you buy their software
If you were a Missilier, you deserve respect. This was a high stress job and not a lot of fun but we were very proud of ourselves. We did well. Where ever you are Dom, I hope you are well and your family is well also. Check air, one last time.
Nothing worse that being on silo duty during Blues Mondays.
Wow, they make it look so easy I can understand why only 22% of these guys wouldn't turn their keys.
22% of the poople in this comment section can suck my balls :)
22% National traitors.
The clock in the thumbnail (3:51) is what got my attention, my dad bought a clock that looked EXACTLY like that one at a garage sale some years back, we thought it was really cool and he had it in his office for many years, had no idea they were using those exactly clocks at Minuteman bases, blows my mind.
It's a military time clock. I have a Russian made Vostok brand watch with a similar layout.
Standard military clock.
Always amazing when you think about who designed all this stuff. Like sat down and said, "Okay, so we have to design the sequence for how these missiles will be launched."
Why don't they just have one keyless switch and put it right next to the light switch?
Actually, the process is intentionally complicated because the aims are different. It's not :how do we design the launch sequence", it's "what sequence do we use to launch the missiles only when we want them to".
It's just a checklist, same as you hear in an airline cockpit. They are doing specific things in a specific order, which, if done wrong, will screw it all up.
What about two people and two lock picks? they are basic keyswitches. (I'm probably on a watch list now...)
@@rafbarkway5280 Don't flatter yourself.
And no, they're not "basic keyswitches".
My whole childhood was spent this far away from global thermonuclear war. It was a different time then...
Yes and it was a major stress and bullshit. No wonder all our generation are ruined either physically or mentally. Too much stress for a young kid to worry about.
@@veganjones8985 what is your generation?
@@jackburton37211 70s/80s child
@@veganjones8985 Same here. 70s/80s.
Yeah, "Duck And Cover" and waiting for the sirens to start up.
I love that little annoyed look she gives the console when it interrupts her with more buzzers at the end
You watch one ICBM video now you got how to launch a nuclear missile in your recommended
Amazing how simple this seems compared to average space launch
hmm this seems way more complex than the average space launch.. you just don't understand what is happening
In this Training Exercise at 02:54 when the Crew Commander says the six elements of the launch code, she says p-7-7-p-7-p.
The Crew Commander then requests Read Back and the Deputy says
p-7 p-7 p-7 p-7 p-7 p-7.
This does NOT match what the Crew Commander gave to the Deputy.
But the Crew Commander says "I agree" when at 03:32 when the Deputy asks "Do you agree?".
Read back was incorrect, but the Launch proceeds as they got the code correct.
Training is designed to catch mistakes and learn from them, so our war fighters can carry out their duties under the stress of real combat operations.
Thank you Charles for sharing this clip with us.
Caught that…
Most unprofessional.
Both persons tried inserting their keys backwards, because the long "lever" of the key is pointing opposite the way it normally extends on keys used to open doors and start cars. Poor design.
Yes, I found someone who agrees with me. Poor design.
That's actually probably good design as it forces you to pay attention to the key that launches a freaking nuclear missile. Also the long part of the key points to the direction the key is selected to. Which helps also. Removes ambiguity. And since this was a training on the new launch system, it makes sense they hadn't yet committed that to rote memory.
norman door... key.
Settle down tough guy
@@kevinbushracing58 Uh-oh he's here.
Interesting that the training enable code hasn’t changed since I was on crew in the early 1980s.
Judging by the haircuts, this was the early 80s.
@@andyr4941 Yes, the haircuts, but the big lens on glasses of the 80s. What is old is new again, big lens on glasses are making a come back. ugh
I am pretty sure the software and the hardware is still the same. "Don't fix what isn't broke"
@@theotherwalt I don't know, seems like every year the US government SAYS they're going to update stuff, but they never end up saying what they've done or not. At least up until a few years ago, they were the same systems though.
Excellent work people.
Really love you guys.
GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!
"All missiles away"?
"Confirmed, all missiles launched"!
"Ok, let's take our lunch".
Might as well... in about 10-15 minutes 200+ kilotons of Russian death is gonna land on them.
Imagine the feeling as what you have just done starts to sink in.
@@kvh1962 I was thinking more along the lines of realizing you had just killed several million people, many of whom were completely innocent children.
@@kvh1962 Retaliate against the guilty, most definitely. Even if that meant killing innocent people, because that's what I had to do. But I definitely wouldn't feel good about killing people who had no hand in the slaughter. And there is the other matter of the significance of having to launch- it means my own family is dead, everyone I knew may be dead, and it may well be that the entire world will be dead depending on how accurate the nuclear winter models are.
They are trained to not think about the long term ramifications of killing millions of people. No one could do it, not even the knuckleheads posting below. Big picture you are throwing humanity either 1. back a couple of hundred years or 2 extinction. Either way the world is changed completely. There is no plan of action for what comes after..all the meticulous detail simply goes into the launch prodedures come to a halt after the bombs hit...humanity or what is left of it will live short probably painful lives.
Honeywell manufactures a lot of that panel hardware along with Allen Bradley for the pilot lights, indicators and switches.
Remember that the next time you change your thermostat. Or should I say thermonuclear-stat.
No missile badges or operational uniforms. This is probably a film of a training sortie at the MM schoolhouse. Looks like early 80’s by the uniforms.
That sounds about right. Then again, I wasn't born until '98, so I wouldn't know that first-hand.
Read the description.
Looks like early 80s by the glasses
It is--it's a training session at Vandenberg Air Force Base--where all missile officers are trained prior to being reassigned to an operational missile base. Those uniforms (duty uniforms) have been around since the 70s and are still used today.
TURN YOUR KEY SIR...I MEAN....MA'AM!
Did you just assume xer gender???
You were right the first time.
@@generaljdripper TURN YOUR KEY, PRONOUNED INDIVIDUAL!
“It’s ma’am!!”
Titan2 launch sequence, none of it exists any more.
it wasnt Titan 2 it was Minuteman 3
"They are all gone." so chilling.
One time use missile silos, now spent. Await further orders. 30 day supply of food and water on hand.
Then await further orders. The orders that wouldn't come because most of the command structure is either a pile of ashes or dying of radiation sickness on some bunker somewhere.
"That's it. That's all she wrote"
I like how they put on seatbelts like they're going to fly those missiles out of there themselves...
"Hey, if I'm gonna destroy the world as we know it, I at least want a ride on a rocket for my trouble!!"
"M" as in 'Mancy'!!!
Gold!!!
When you have armageddon at 8, and bingo at 9.
Imagine what would be going through your mind if it was you that just launched those missiles knowing the world as we know it was soon to end. And most likely the fact you were never going to leave the underground firing module alive!
I get the feeling that half of the steps and timed urgency in the procedure is to keep personal busy from having such thoughts. All they really need to do is confirm order authenticity, input required target, input required yield and fire.
That thought crossed my mind. I can't imagine doing a job that you pray that is never necessary but, once done they had to know that no one would be coming to get them out of there. They were to await further instructions but face it, even if there were survivors, they probably can't rescue them. In a way, it was almost cruel that they would survive only to eventually starve to death or suffer radioactive fallout trying to go somewhere else.
Ooh is that the idea that the module is booby trapped so the ones inside die, this has of course never been confirmed or denied.
Launch the missile! “Hang on my seatbelt won’t click!”
This is video of a Wendy's drive-thru in the 1970's.
Their speed rivals that of my local Wendy's now. _sigh_
"They're all gone, Deputy." Ain't that the truth.
Been there done that as an MT2/SS (E5) on a SSBN and we didn't need no stinking seatbelts!!
LOL
Though in fairness, unless there was a catastrophic security leak, no one was gonna try and drop a nuke right on top of you in the middle of a launch evolution.
Lol SSBNs are just submersible surface ships. XD
There is a silo open for the public in SD, near the Badlands. It looks so ordinary from the outside... A small shed... But what lies beneath.. he he
@alberto sobieski exactly!! you could drive by and not notice a thing...looks like a little tool shed from the highway.
I’ve watched this video many times but only this time did I realize she actually didn’t read the sequence back correctly
P77P7P7P7 she read p7p7p7p7
I find this video oddly reassuring. I'm glad it's a complicated procedure requiring two people going through numerous steps.
That's exactly why it's done that way. No one person or single action could launch those missiles. Another team in a separate launch facility has to complete the exact same process for the missiles to launch. It's an extremely complicated system and there is NO button. It's called Permissive Action Link. However, this is an old out dated LCC. I suspect all of this is mostly done at a computer console now with screens. The Old system is still very cool.
@@SocialistDistancing It is possible for a single LCC to fire all 50 missiles of a MinuteMan 3 squadron. If a single LCC turns their keys and sends a Launch Command to all 50 missiles, a timer begins to countdown, it non of the other 4 LCC do not issue Launch Inhibit commands before that timer reaches zero, all 50 missiles will launch and strike targets. This ensures that a Russian MM3 decapitation strike destroys 4 of the 5 MM3 LCC AND the Airborne Launch Control System aircraft is destroyed as well, that the 50 missiles of that MinuteMan 3 squadron will still be launched.
@@hoghogwild yes I know that. But the point was, no one person could launch without a second person. Further, that would have to be confirmed by a second LCC. Meaning, you could not carry out a terrorist act. The fact that the missiles would launch after X-amount of time is a safe guard to ensure the missiles launch even if 4/5 LCCs were destroyed. At that point it would not matter if there was a confirming LCC . The war has already started. Furthermore, you still wouldn't be able to launch anything without proper codes. It would be impossible to start a nuke strike on your own. Its redundant security and would probably earn you a bullet in your head for trying.
@@SocialistDistancing
You stated "Another team in a separate launch facility has to complete the exact same process for the missiles to launch."
I'm simply illuminating the fact that there is a method in which missiles can be launched without another LCC turning its keys, though the probability of that happening in miniscule.
Exactly! You can't just "TURN THE KEYS" and launch the missiles. You simplified it. There's numerous codes and steps that need to take place first. For instance, Target selection. The method you describe is when an all out war has already started. Nobody can simply decide to turn the keys and start a launch. Numerous steps must take place simultaneously. There's a very good reason why a second LCC must verify. If it was a simple as turning the keys, than all the other steps are moot. wouldn't you think? Every step has a reason and a purpose. It's why the training is as stringent as it is. There must be the highest proficiency rate or you are cut from the program.
everybody's gansta, until u hear those keys jingle jangle....
Growing up in the 70's and 80's, my friends and I thought nuclear war with the Soviets was inevitable. Appreciate everyone who served and is serving in launch control centers...I can't imagine the amount of pressure they feel training for a job they hope they will never ever need to do.
"Hello this is the lockpickinglawyer and today we will be launching some ICBMs".
Seriously... those keys, did nobody think about something more secure?
LMAO
Keys are just a glorified switch. The idea is that both crew members must authenticate an Emergency War Order to get the keys out of the safe, they must enter valid codes and so forth to get the system to actually register a key turn, and if there isn't a valid message then it will be clear that the crews attempted to tamper with the system. It's not like starting your car. There are layers upon layers of contingencies at play.
You could have a lock picking supreme court, you ain't getting into a silo 😂
I'm hoping the issue with the keys at the beginning was just being nervous in front of the cameras, and NOT a reflection of their drill history and preparedness 😑
Nervous in front of the cameras...how’d they cope if it wasn’t a drill?
Good #diversity though.
There is Crispness , w/out prejudice
.99.9 of Boneheads react as them..Aim high Missile dawgs, Well done. Tc "Rocketman".
Maybe they were never instructed that the keys go in with the "bubble" on top. Or considering that they're doing so many things, they're thinking 5 moves beyond the "key insert" before they ever retrieve the keys at all.
That was bugging me too. Now that I rewatched it, it is a seperate shot, close up of the hand and key.
Probably this film is for training purposes. Showing missileer trainees that if they can't do it blindfolded, they are going to lose precious seconds, minutes... Seriously, a fully trained missileer would be able to do all of those actions blindfolded. Only the writing and reading parts would be a bit harder.
Suppose the lights failed, they would probably go through the routine with penlights for reading and writing.
@@AudieHolland So what happens if one of them is in the middle of dropping a deuce when the hammer comes down?
I guess from the recommendations TH-cam is giving me, I am going to be drafted soon.
Typically while in a MPT ride when all the missiles are launched the training session will be over. They executed what we affectionately called the "Parking lot option."
Why the seat belts?
I think they may be to help the operators stay at the comsoles in the event of a missile attack on their base so they are still able to launch their missiles.
Love the glasses!! Its like basic training!
i noticed they are adding a verticle line through the S that makes them look like dollar signs. do they do that to distinguish between 5's and S's if the writing is sloppy?
Some do - like ZERO and OH - we always slashed the ZERO and/or put a short horizontal bar over the alphabetic OH.
@@tombohon6280 good to know, thank you.
@John Flaherty i have noticed that folks from France tend to put a horizontal line through the middle of the 7 also.
Standard NATO 'Service Writing' protocols: S slashed thru' (vs 5), O slashed thru' (vs 0), 1 underscored (vs l), 7 crossed in deference to continental Europe (not just France) written script of 1 that can be mistaken for Anglo-Saxon 7 without the cross-thru.
@@concise707, not all missile crew members do this; in fact, many don't. As long as you get it right, you can do whatever works for you.