GREAT FALLS — A missile from Malmstrom Air Force Base will undergo an operational test launch in May at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Missile maintenance teams are going through the stages of removing a missile for transportation. The military stays prepared and ready for whenever the call is made.
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"Here at Malmstrom, I perform missile handling operations. So, we get we receive boosters from Hill Air Force Base, to install here at the sites and, missile silos. And then we remove, remove boosters, and we roll out of them roll transfers back to Hill — removal in place, basically,” explained Missile handling team chief, trainer and driver, Senior Airman Giovanni Ulloa.
Missiles are removed and tested to ensure our nation's safety each year.
“So, we've done a couple of emplacements and removals to practice for the foot shot launch. Right now, we're removing GTM — which is the Guided Training Missile — here at the training facility on base,” Ulloa explained.
The airmen and women spent countless hours training in simulators, as well as actively working with a live missile.
“It's definitely a once in a lifetime experience. This will be my first time as a team chief. My last flight launch was as a...team member. It was definitely a fun experience. And, just seeing your missile, like, go off is cool,” Ulloa told MTN.
Vandenberg is the highlight of an airman's career. So after spending years training in the harsh Montana landscape, a few selected airmen and women will be taking one of our Montana missiles to Vandenberg and actually get to see her fly.
