Oct. 31, 2024 | By
Greg Hadley Based on an updated and expanded data set, the Air Force now says the preliminary statistics show no significant difference in cancer rates between Airmen who worked on nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles and the rest of the Air Force or the general population.
Oct. 23, 2024 | By
David Roza The latest round of environmental sampling for the Air Force’s Missile Community Cancer Study found trace amounts of potentially harmful chemicals called volatile organic compounds in the service’s ICBM facilities, but not at levels that would pose a health hazard, Air Force Global Strike Command ...
June 6, 2024 | By
Greg Hadley Air Force Global Strike Command’s sweeping study of cancer cases in the intercontinental ballistic missile community will expand this summer to include environmental samples from the launch facilities themselves, one of several next steps officials detailed during a virtual town hall June 5.
May 20, 2024 | By
Chris Gordon Certain harmful chemicals were likely present at decommissioned intercontinental ballistic missile bases, the Air Force said in a memorandum published May 20. The Air Force has found evidence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)—which are possible carcinogens, at active Minuteman III ICBM bases as part of its ...
May 9, 2024 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force general who oversees the nation’s land-based nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile fleet said he is strongly committed to an ongoing study of cancer cases among crews who worked around ICBMs. “I'm the commander of this mission, and if I don't care, who does?” ...
April 22, 2024 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force found no significant evidence of harmful chemicals at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., as part of its ongoing Missile Community Cancer Study, the service said on April 22. Samples collected in February found “no instances of contamination above regulatory action level.” The sampling ...
March 13, 2024 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force found increased rates of breast and prostate cancers in service members who worked on nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles compared to the general population, according to a preliminary study of data publicly released on March 13. “What we don’t know is whether these ...
Dec. 4, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon and
Greg Hadley Air Force Global Strike Command has finished collecting a second round of test samples looking for hazardous chemicals at its three intercontinental ballistic missile bases and plans to expand testing to Vandenberg Space Force Base early next year, officials said Dec. 1.
Aug. 22, 2023 | By
Greg Hadley and
Chris Gordon Air Force experts found trace amounts of hazardous chemicals at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., but even though the hazards fell within an acceptable threshold set by the Environmental Protection Agency, Air Force Global Strike Command ordered a complete cleanup, the command announced Aug. ...
June 28, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force’s study into possible cancer risks associated with work on intercontinental ballistic missiles will be a comprehensive review—and will not favor the service over evidence, medical officials leading the effort insisted. “We need our solutions to be driven by science and data,” Col. ...
May 31, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force is conducting a detailed investigation of environmental hazards at ICBM bases as part of its broad study of cancer risks at the facilities. There is an improved understanding of the environment and factors that can affect the issue, as well as better ...
May 18, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force is pressing to find out why some Airmen and former Airmen who worked wth the nation's intercontinental continental ballistic missile fleet are being diagnosed with blood cancer—years after the service dismissed such concerns in the early 2000s.
March 28, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force’s study of possible links to elevated rates of cancer among personnel who worked on intercontinental continental ballistic missiles has begun, the commander in charge of the U.S. ICBM fleet confirmed March 28. The initial phase of that study will mine cancer registries ...
Feb. 23, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon Air Force Global Strike Command is launching a new study of cancer risks among Airmen and Guardians who worked near intercontinental ballistic missiles and is developing new resources for current and former service members and their families.
Dec. 13, 2023 | By
Unshin Lee Harpley The Air Force is poised to get a new top enlisted Airman, as Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass prepares to pass the baton to Chief Master Sgt. David A. Flosi, selected as the next CMSAF this week. Here are seven ...
Aug. 24, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force has found residue of a harmful and possibly carcinogenic substance at intercontinental ballistic missile facilities at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., it announced Aug. 24. According to service officials, military bioenvironmental experts found elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in an underground ...
Aug. 7, 2023 | By
Chris Gordon The Air Force has found hazardous chemicals exceeding acceptable levels at two launch control centers at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., and has ordered an immediate cleanup, according to an Air Force memo obtained by Air & Space Forces Magazine.
June 22, 2023
World: Military Families: 5 keys to life as military spouse; New ICBM Cancer study.
April 1, 2003 | By
Suzann Chapman American Forces Commence Operations in Iraq March 20, 2003—President Bush told the nation at 10:16 p.m. on March 19 (5:16 a.m., March 20, Persian Gulf time) that US and coalition forces had gone into action against selected military targets in...
Jan. 1, 2003 | By
Suzann Chapman Iraq Mounts Attacks on Patrols Iraq continued to fire on US and coalition aircraft patrolling the UN no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq. On Dec. 1, US aircraft patrolling in the Operation Southern Watch zone responded with precision guided...