The Air Force has released initial data on cancer diagnoses among troops who were involved with nuclear missiles, revealing that the numbers are lower than expected. In the ongoing review, the Air Force has identified 23 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among service members who operated, maintained, or supported silo-based Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The review focused on missile community personnel who used the military health care system from 2001 to 2021, totaling around 84,000 individuals. This group includes missileers, who spend extended periods underground in launch control capsules, ready to launch missiles if ordered by the president.
