‘Fitness for Duty’ a Daily Issue

GROVER, Colo. — The Air Force doesn’t trust just anyone with its nuclear missiles.

Beyond the usual requirements of competence and good character, the men and women who operate, service and police the Air Force’s 550 intercontinental ballistic missiles in five states must demonstrate daily the right “state of mind.”

A distraction as seemingly minor as the death of a pet can “ground” a missileer, as the launch control operators call themselves.

“If your mind is on your dog, we don’t need you today,” says Col. Roger Burg, commander of the 90th Missile Operations Group, and himself a former launch control officer.

All missile crew members, as well as the Air Force security police who guard the missile sites and the maintenance people with direct access to components there, must be certified in the Personnel Reliability Program to weed out potential problems.

The missile squadron commanders or other front-line supervisors are required to certify each day that the men and women working with the missiles are not hindered by such things as marriage troubles, financial worries, medication or any psychological strain that puts in doubt their fitness for duty.

Missileers normally hold the job for four years. They generally are in their mid-20s and must be officers, ranging in grade from second lieutenant to captain.