10th Missile Squadron exercises continuity of operations with 40th Helicopter Squadron

U.S. Air Force nuclear and missile operations officers assigned to the 10th Missile Squadron conduct a continuity of operations exercise in a launch control center at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Feb. 6, 2026. The COOP created by the 10 MS allows the 341st Missile Wing’s mission to continue in the wake of reduced or removed day-to-day resources. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell)

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10th Missile Squadron exercises continuity of operations with 40th Helicopter Squadron

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. William Van Beek and 1st Lt. Jack Lacy, 10th Missile Squadron nuclear and missile operations officers, carry a code component case to a UH-1N Huey helicopter during a continuity of operations exercise at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Feb. 6, 2026. The 10 MS integrated with the 40th Helicopter Squadron to take crew members to their respective missile alert facilities and perform a radio communication poll with the corresponding launch control centers. This communication exercise validated the ability of the 40 HS to communicate with missileers positioned below ground, providing the 10 MS additional primary, alternate, contingency, emergency communication plan options. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell)

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10th Missile Squadron exercises continuity of operations with 40th Helicopter Squadron

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Isaac Williams, 10th Missile Squadron commander, and Maj. Patrick Gour, 10 MS assistant director of operations, guide mission planning during a continuity of operations exercise at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Feb. 6, 2026. The 10 MS developed the COOP to be utilized in the event the squadron encounters a contested, degraded, operationally-limited environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell)

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10th Missile Squadron exercises continuity of operations with 40th Helicopter Squadron

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Karina Burgoa and 1st Lt. Nathan Moore, 10th Missile Squadron nuclear and missile operations officers, converse during a continuity of operations exercise in a missile alert facility at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Feb. 6, 2026. Once all exercise players arrived at their designated posts within the missile complex, they were required to mission plan without normal modes of communication between the base or additional crews elsewhere in the field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell)

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10th Missile Squadron exercises continuity of operations with 40th Helicopter Squadron

2nd Lt. Kenneth Walsh III, 10th Missile Squadron nuclear and missile operations officer, is flown to a missile alert facility on a UH-1N Huey helicopter at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Feb. 6, 2026. The 10 MS integrated with the 40th Helicopter Squadron to take crew members to their respective missile alert facilities and perform a radio communication poll with the corresponding launch control centers. This communication exercise validated the ability of the 40 HS to communicate with missileers positioned below ground, providing the 10 MS additional primary, alternate, contingency, emergency communication plan options. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell)

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10th Missile Squadron exercises continuity of operations with 40th Helicopter Squadron

Published Feb. 11, 2026
By Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- U.S. Air Force nuclear and missile operations officers assigned to the 10th Missile Squadron conduct a continuity of operations exercise in a launch control center at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Feb. 6, 2026. The COOP created by the 10 MS allows the 341st Missile Wing’s mission to continue in the wake of reduced or removed day-to-day resources. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell)