FIP: LCC deep cleaning to greatly improve quality of life

by Airman Malcolm Mayfield
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

10/23/2014 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Over the last 50 years, Minuteman III launch control centers -- underground hardened command and control bunkers --within 20th Air Force's control have been in continuous use by missile launch crews performing nuclear alert and overseeing maintenance and security in the missile complex.  After decades of constant use, these LCCs are getting a professional deep cleaning.

ICBM operators across 20th Air Force identified the need for this project during Air Force Global Strike Command's Force Improvement Program, an aggressive grass-roots feedback program designed to quickly provide senior Air Force leaders with actionable recommendations for improvement. This FIP initiative is an effort to make the LCCs more habitable to the missileers who work in them day-in and day-out.

Contracted cleaning companies will now deep clean 45 LCCs, along with 30 underground launch control equipment buildings, to improve the work environment for personnel at F.E. Warren, Malmstrom and Minot air force bases. This is just one way to provide outstanding installation and missile field support to the men and women who perform duties in the missile field.

"The crews were being interviewed [during FIP] for a lot of different reasons and one of the things that came up was that the crews' living conditions," said Capt. Amanda Filiowich, 320th Missile Squadron assistant director of operations.

While crews perform routine cleaning tasks each day, to include vacuuming carpets and cleaning the restroom, Filiowich stressed they don't have the time away from alert duties or the equipment needed to safely access and completely sanitize the LCC.

"There's ton of infrastructure between the equipment and the inner bubble with crevices and spaces between the steel framing, it's probably 8 or 9 feet high," Filiowich said.

She added that in these crevices, dust builds up; this can circulate through the air system.  However, for safety reasons, ladders cannot be taken down into the LCC during alerts.

Although quality of air is a health concern, quality of life also plays a part in the need for this FIP initiative. It is important for the missileers to be able to concentrate on the task at hand - their important role in the nuclear deterrence mission.

"It's going to greatly improve the quality of life for the crew force," said 1st Lt. Stephanie Konvalin, 320th MS and the secondary POC for this project. "This is really important to me because it's my second home."

This deep clean is not just a one-time thing, as it will continue on a reoccurring contract.

Officials from the 90th Operations Group, 90th Maintenance Group and 90th Contracting Squadron worked together to determine what the requirements would be for the LCC cleanup, said 1st Lt. Cassie Fletcher, 90th Contracting Squadron contract specialist.

"It's the first requirement of its kind since the LCCs were built," she said.

The contractor that received the job is the same one that cleans the office spaces on base and are familiar with the military environment.

Malmstrom and Minot's contracting offices will use the 90th CONS' effort as a template when they contract the cleaning out for their missile complexes, Fletcher said.

Approximately $348,000 will be divided between the three missile wings under 20th AF to pay for the one year initial contract. Soon, AFGSC will write a new contract, which will span from 5-10 years, for the wings, bringing to fruition another initiative targeted to improving our nuclear deterrence mission and making sure the FIP philosophy continues.