91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

(left to right) Airman 1st Class Brandon Shirey, Senior Airman Benjamin Delaney and Airman 1st Class Christopher Perez, all 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron electro-mechanical team (EMT) technicians, download equipment at a launch facility near Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 2, 2026. The EMT’s responsibilities center on maintaining the network of power, access and security systems that support Minot AFB’s Launch Facilities and Missile Alert Facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)

91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

Airman 1st Class Michael Alcaraz, a 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron electro-mechanical team (EMT) technician, descends a ladder into a launch facility (LF) near Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 2, 2026. Beyond physical maintenance, EMT maintains security measures designed to ensure constant accountability and protection of the LFs, regardless of whether a missile is present. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)

91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

Senior Airman Andrew Constancio, a 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron electro-mechanical team chief, pries loose chain links holding replacement batteries for a launch facility near Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 2, 2026. These Airmen play a vital role in sustaining the old, yet still formidable Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)

91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

Airmen from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team (EMT) guide a replacement battery into a launch facility near Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 2, 2026. A significant portion of EMT’s work involves “remove and replace” procedures, in which aging or worn components are swapped out before they fail. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)

91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

Senior Airman Audrey Smith (center), a 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron electro-mechanical team technician, uses a crane to lower a replacement battery into a launch facility near Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 2, 2026. The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic system dates back to the 1960s and its longevity demands consistent upkeep. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)

91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

Senior Airman Benjamin Delaney, a 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron electro-mechanical technician, lowers a battery into a launch facility near Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 2, 2026. Despite the inherent risks of working with high-voltage systems and heavy mechanical equipment, safety remains a constant priority for the EMT. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)

91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

Airmen from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team (EMT) replace one of the many batteries in a launch facility near Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 2, 2026. Many of EMT’s procedures fall under strict nuclear surety guidelines, which demand step-by-step adherence without deviation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)

91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s electro-mechanical team powers the mission

Published April 13, 2026
By Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum
5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --

It is 30 degrees on a Thursday, April morning, which is generous for the early spring temperatures around Minot Air Force Base. The sky is overcast, a steady wind blows snowflakes across the prairie and the roads are slicked with an icy sheen.

Still, the mission goes on for the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron’s Electro-Mechanical Team (91 MMXS EMT), who play a vital role in sustaining the old, yet still formidable Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system. Their work, often technical and sometimes hazardous, centers on maintaining the network of power, access and security systems that support Minot AFB’s Launch Facilities (LF) and Missile Alert Facilities (MAF).

Even if the temperature is in the negatives, The EMT still ensures the functionality of Minot’s nuclear deterrence facilities. Their responsibilities are focused largely on electrical power and security systems tied to the missile infrastructure.

“We're responsible for the electro-mechanical maintenance on the Minuteman III weapon system, primarily subsystems such as the emergency power system, personal access system, security systems as well as missile coding operations,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Paxton Evans, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 91 MMXS EMT.

Their work primarily takes place at the LFs and MAFs. A significant portion of EMT’s work involves “remove and replace” procedures, in which aging or worn components are swapped out before they fail. This preventative approach helps reduce the likelihood of system malfunctions and ensures continuous readiness.

Each site presents its own set of challenges, particularly in Minot’s harsh climate. As winter transitions into early spring, melting snow and ice can create flooding risks. Water intrusion can threaten the LF’s underground infrastructure, requiring additional mitigation efforts unique to the base.

Beyond physical maintenance, EMT maintains security measures designed to ensure constant accountability and protection of the LFs, regardless of whether a missile is present. With this comes the duty of uploading operational software to missiles. This programming ensures the missile’s guidance systems function as intended.

“If those subsystems in the LF didn't work, the missile can't go anywhere,” said Senior Airman Krystopher Collins, 91 MMXS EMT team chief. “It can be built up completely but there'd be no one to code it or there’d be no power for it to go anywhere.”

Much of the team’s workload is rooted in routine maintenance, also known as remove & replace type of work. The Minuteman III system dates back to the 1960s and its longevity demands consistent upkeep.

Technical precision is a defining requirement of the job. Many procedures fall under strict nuclear surety guidelines, which demand step-by-step adherence without deviation. At the same time, Airmen must be capable of independent problem-solving when faced with issues outside those procedures. Troubleshooting often involves interpreting decades-old wiring diagrams and isolating faults down to a single component using diagnostic tools such as multimeters.

Despite the inherent risks of working with high-voltage systems and heavy mechanical equipment, safety remains a constant priority.

“A lot of what we do is very, very dangerous but I always tell the troops that jobs are only as dangerous as you make it,” Evans said. “We accomplish everything as safe as possible, given the constraints of legacy systems maintenance."

For newer Airmen, the transition from training to real-world operations can be both challenging and rewarding. Senior Airman Benjamin Delaney recently completed his first official dispatch outside of training in early April.

“I've been waiting for a while to get out into the field, and I think it was a lot more than I expected, in a good way,” Delaney said. “The biggest challenge is just that it's a big job and it's new to me. I'm trying to figure out what I could be doing to help out the most.”

While their work often goes unseen, the electro-mechanical technicians remain a foundational element of the missile wing’s operations. Through a combination of technical expertise, strict procedural discipline and adaptability in the face of environmental challenges, these Airmen help sustain a key component of the nation’s strategic deterrence.