91st MW successfully completes simulated launch

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shane Balken
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 91st Missile Wing successfully completed a Simulated Electronic Launch - Minuteman, or SELM, operational test with a 100% success rate recently.

Air Force Global Strike Command conducts SELM tests twice yearly. The tests are part of the command's on-going program to evaluate the operational readiness and reliability of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.

"The Minuteman III continues to be an impressive system and has once again proven its enduring reliability, capability and performance. This test reinforces our confidence in the continued operation of the Minuteman force well into the future," said Col. S.L. Davis, 91st Missile Wing commander. "I'm also very proud of how the Airmen who prepared for and conducted this test performed, it was flawless."

Lt. Col. Steve Barosko, director of operations for the 741st Missile Squadron and test support manager for the SELM, said the wing has been planning for over four months after his squadron was chosen for the test.

"Thanks to the professionalism and expertise of the men and women of the 91st Missile Wing and the 576th Flight Test Squadron, we successfully demonstrated the effectiveness and reliability of the Minuteman III weapon system, while maintaining our constant ICBM alert with the wing's other 144 ICBMs," Barosko said.

This is the most complete test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system in its deployed environment, said Capt. Adrian Zollinger, the test manager for the SELM assigned to the 576th FLTS at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Zollinger said the SELM tests the people and equipment from the initial 'on alert' transmission all the way to simulated first stage ignition.

"It's been a great experience working with 91st Missile Wing, the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, and Nuclear Weapon Center personnel to successfully execute Giant Pace 12-1M Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman," said Zollinger.

Operations Project Officer for the SELM, 1st Lt. Mike Ryan, said this was his first involvement in a SELM test. "The scope of the test spanned four bases and was a much larger effort than [I] anticipated," Ryan said. "It was a great experience being involved in something this large and complex."

Capt. Joseph Eddington, Maintenance Project Officer from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron echoed Ryan's sentiments. "The men and women of the 91st Maintenance Group spent more than 650 work hours in the missile complex ensuring SELM was a success for the 91st Missile Wing, thus securing the reliability and credibility of our nation's land-based strategic deterrent force."

SELM tests differ from ICBM test launches at Vandenberg in that a SELM tests ICBMs in their deployed environment at operational bases without actually launching a missile. An Operational Test Launch is an actual test launch of a missile, but uses test launch facilities and launch control centers at Vandenberg.

Both OTLs and SELMs are overseen by the 576th FLTS and are components of the ICBM Force Development Evaluation program. The FDE program is used to verify the operational effectiveness and reliability of the weapon system.

SELM tests reinforce AFGSC's commitment to a safe, secure and effective strategic deterrence.

In addition to verifying the weapons system and its associated infrastructure, SELM also verifies personnel and procedures, both in the LCC and in the airborne launch control center.
 
"The credibility of the strategic deterrent depends on the capability of the Minuteman III, and the competency of the people whose performance creates deterrence every day," said Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, 20th Air Force commander. "It remains the overarching priority in Twentieth Air Force to produce credible strategic deterrence for the nation. This comprehensive and challenging SELM test contributes to that credibility."