Missile

Plot

MISSILE follows the 4315th Training Squadron of the Strategic Air Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where Air Force officers are trained to man the Launch Control Centers for the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Sequences include discussion of the moral and military issues of nuclear war; the arming, targeting and launching of the missile; codes; communications; protection against terrorist attack; emergency procedures; staff meetings and tutorial sessions.

Why watch

A group of Air Force officers at Vandenberg Air Force Base engage in rigorous training for the launch control of Minuteman missiles, grappling with the weight of their responsibilities. Watching this film is like stepping into a world where the cold calculations of military strategy collide with the deeply personal moral dilemmas faced by those who wield such power.

Talking points

• the morality of nuclear warfare
• the role of military training in society
• the impact of institutional structures on individual ethics
• the psychological effects of war on soldiers

Cultural context

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