Teaching next generation: Boy Scouts learn missile mission

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Donald Prey
  • 90th Operations Support Squadron
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  Some potential Airmen of the future visited the 90th Operations Group April 28. 

Eighty boys and chaperones from the Boy Scouts of America toured the 90th Operations Group missile procedures trainer during their annual "Order of the Arrow" multi-state conclave. 

The Order of the Arrow is the Boy Scouts' National Honor Society and recognizes the Scouts who best exemplify the Scout oath and law in their daily lives. Those who visited the 90th OG represented Boy Scout troops in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska. 

The missile procedures trainer simulates the environment inside one of the 15 underground launch control centers in the 90th Space Wing's Minuteman III complex. The trainer is used six days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. to ensure every missileer in the 90th OG accomplishes all necessary training and evaluations. 

The Scouts received a briefing on the 90th OG's mission and operations then toured the trainer to see how the men and women of the 90th OG train to fight every day. Some Scouts were even able to sit at the missileer's console and react to simulated messages from America's leadership. 

"The youth and chaperones all really enjoyed the tour," said Capt. Brian Hendricks, 90th OG, a Boy Scout himself and member of the conclave. "They asked lots of questions and seemed excited to learn about our missile mission here in the 90th." 

The Scouts seemed most interested in two things: What do the missileers do all day in a launch control center when they're not launching missiles, and how big are the bombs? 

First Lt. Donald Prey and 1st Lt. Keira Havens, 90th Operations Support Squadron missile procedures trainer instructors, conducted the tour. 

"They were surprised to learn exactly how much maintenance and security is involved in missile operations each day," Lieutenant Havens said. "Most of our alert days are filled with processing checklists and procedures that ensure our missiles are ready to fly at a moment's notice." 

The Scouts also met with Air Force and Army recruiters Saturday, discussing possible careers in those services. 

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if you run into a few of them on active duty in the next several years," said Karl Kaszuba, assistant scoutmaster of Troop 102 in Cheyenne.