Hi all, I'm fascinated by the science and strategy of nuclear missiles, and I'm considering the military as a potential career path. Could someone please tell me which US military branch primarily controls these? Thanks in advance!
The United States Air Force and the United States Navy are the two primary military branches that handle nuclear missiles.
The Air Force maintains Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) under Air Force Global Strike Command. An ICBM is a missile with a minimum range of 5,500 kilometers primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads). This means they are capable of striking targets over long distances, even on other continents.
On the other hand, the Navy controls the Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), which are part of the US’s nuclear triad strategy. These missiles are housed in nuclear submarines and can be launched from underwater to strike targets on land from great distances.
So if you lean towards science and strategy of nuclear missiles and are considering the military, you might want to look into careers in the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Navy. Both branches would provide opportunities to study and work with nuclear missiles.
You might also be interested in studying nuclear engineering or a related field in college to further understand the technology and strategy behind nuclear missiles. Just keep in mind that working with nuclear weapons in any capacity will require a high-level security clearance, which includes a thorough background investigation.
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