741st MSFS blends in with silent, vital task

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
  • 341 Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Airmen huddle in front of a single space heater hooked up to an outdoor generator, in full cold-weather gear as masses of snow and blistering winds barricade the outside of the missile alert facility. For the next three days, they wait for a break in the inclement weather without the convenience of power or running water, and unable to leave the area due to outdoor conditions.

Throughout the day, they dig through the snow in the blizzard so response choppers can get to the MAF. Despite the cold weather and harsh conditions, the defenders of the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron remain vigilant and at constant ready with unrivaled dedication to protect maintainers and fellow Airmen, and to secure the weapons the Air Force uses to provide the United States with strategic deterrence.

"The value of our squadron is in our professionalism," said Maj. Thomas Clarke, 741st MSFS commander. "We are the quiet professionals of the base. We do a lot of things, and when we do our jobs properly, no one really notices. Doing the job right just means blending in."

The 741st MSFS organizes, trains and equips the Airmen responsible for providing first-hand security and the first line of defense for one of the nation's top assets. These Airmen secure missile maintenance and special weapons movements, as well as escort and protect missile maintainers and missile components at more than 150 facilities.

"Our main mission is to support maintenance and keep alert rates up," Major Clarke said. "Without missiles being maintained, the missiles can't launch and we fail our mission. Therefore, maintainers are a priority."

In order for the "quiet professionals" of the 741st MSFS to sustain combat readiness, they must also stay updated with training and qualifications.

"Being out in the field, it's important for them to stay current on their weapons qualifications and core security forces skills including handcuffing and searching," Major Clarke said.

"They also have job- or section-specific knowledge, denial and recapture training, alarm situations, and sometimes even additional training to deal with local and state law, and the department of energy because of being out there on the roads moving resources," Major Clarke said.

The 741st MSFS is broken into three sections: security escort, convoy response force and mobile fire team. 


Security escort
"Security escort accompanies the maintenance team out to site, which includes military personnel and contractors," said Senior Airman Sean Davis, 741st MSFS section trainer for security escort. "We open up the site for maintenance personnel and provide security for them until they finish."

Security escorts are often the first responders on site if something happens, and they protect assets to their full capability, Airman Davis said.

"If a launch facility goes down, we provide security until operations are back up and running," Airman Davis said. "Sometimes that can take multiple days and we stay out there in campers until the sites are clear. It's a very big job." 


Convoy response force 
The convoy response force is responsible for escorting resources to a site and providing security while waiting for the resource to be attached to the missile.

"Without the security we provide, anything could happen," said Senior Airman Andrew Green, 741st MSFS convoy response force member.

"I like my job," Airman Green said. "The Air Force depends on us to stay on top of our game and be ready. Yes, it's a lot of sitting, but it's the fact that you're providing security for such a valuable resource. We just remember to remain vigilant and ready for anything." 


Mobile fire teams
"We are the people with the heavy weapons," said Senior Airman Timothy McCoy, 741st MSFS mobile fire team section trainer.

The mobile fire teams provide site security with heavy weapons for open launch facilities and penetrated sites and serve as backup for convoy missions.

"We do security when any kind of maintenance is being done on weapons' systems," Airman McCoy said. "As heavy weapons support, we have a required presence to deter any terrorist attack while maintenance occurs. We also respond to any alarm system, if triggered, at the missile facilities.

Each role plays an important and specific part in the functionality and success of the 741st MSFS mission to maintain missile readiness.

"Our squadron is very unique," said Capt. Richard Zeigler, 741st MSFS assistant commander. "We don't have a regular specific number of people on sites, or a consistent time frame or destination that we go to on a daily basis. Every day is a new day for us; our jobs are never stagnant. The numbers will change, the site will change, who does what will change, but the mission is always the same."

The 741st MSFS works behind the scenes to make sure the nation's security is maintained. They work long hours through tough conditions, but carry out one of the most important responsibilities for the country.

"With our job, we can't really see the progress of everything happening like most people who have office jobs," Airman McCoy said. "The only thing we have on our mind, the only way we know that our job is done, is at the end of the day that missile is still there, safe and untouched. That's how we keep pride in our job."