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Captain promotes underground

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sarah Post
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

Strategic deterrence through ICBMs is one of the most crucial missions of the U.S. Air Force. Every Airman has a role to play in this mission, but missileers arguably play one of the biggest roles. Missileers are officers that pull 12 or 24-hour alert shifts in underground launch control centers in order to monitor all of the missiles and launch facilities in their section. Capt. Cory Sylvester, squadron command post commander with the 320th Missile Squadron, is one of these missileers. 

“Because of the patriotism, integrity and abilities of Airmen like Capt. Sylvester, we have the confidence of allies and adversaries alike that our nuclear forces are ready day or night,” said Col. Barry Little, vice commander of the 20th Air Force.

On Sunday June 12, 2022, Sylvester was promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain and Little administered the oath of office during his promotion ceremony in the LCC of the Bravo-01 missile alert facility. The day was also special for Little, because on June 12, 24 years ago he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.

“The striking symbolism of renewing the oath to the constitution in an operational LCC was not lost on me or anyone else that day,” said Sylvester. “I owe a debt of gratitude to Col. Little for recognizing and orchestrating the promotion on the day that also marks his 24 years of active service.”

During the ceremony, Little passed down a blues uniform Captain rank insignia to Sylvester that had been passed down to him when he was promoted to Captain. Little asked that one day Sylvester would pass the rank down again. 

A promotion is a sign of trust and confidence placed in Airmen by the Air Force and American people. Sylvester believes that what Airmen do with their time in uniform is more important than the rank that sits on it.