CMAFS exercises button up

Published Oct. 27, 2006
By Senior Airman Mandy Weightman
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

Peterson AFB, Colo. -- The people of Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station exercised their button up procedures Oct. 18 as part of the 21st Space Wing's Operational Readiness Inspection.

Button up is the procedure that shuts the mountain's blast doors and is usually done in response to a strategic threat against the United States.

"The blast doors are 3.5 feet thick, weigh 25 tons and are normally closed by a hydraulic pump that can close them in 30 to 45 seconds," said 1st Lt. Jeff Crepeau, 721st Mission Support Group executive officer. "They can also be closed manually in 4.5 minutes."

The last time the doors were closed real-world was as a shelter-in-place measure on Sept. 11, 2001.

During button up configuration, air is directed into rooms containing chemical, biological and radiological filters that remove contaminates from the air so there is no requirement for gas masks or protective clothing, Lieutenant Crepeau said.

"We routinely practice for contingency operations to include portions of our button up capability," said Lt. Col. Philip Platt, 721st MSG deputy commander. "The process includes everyone from the Cheyenne Mountain command director, North American Aerospace Defense and U.S. Northern Command Headquarters, the 21st Medical Group and all elements of the 721st Mission Support Group."

Once the decision to close the doors is made, the 721st MSG commander notifies appropriate mission-essential military, civilian and contractor personnel to prepare and execute the button up procedures. This direction came as part of the ORI and the men and women responsible accomplished the task with flying colors, according to the colonel.

"We were prepared well ahead of time and were able to overcome severe weather to meet the inspector general's objectives," Colonel Platt said. "Our emergency services personnel quickly responded to events within the mountain and quickly took control of the situations whether they were security, fire or medical-related."

He also said the command and control staff performed at a top-notch level as well.
"The emergency operations center directed all actions to prepare and implement the button up," the colonel said. "We were able to flawlessly complete the task."

Cheyenne Mountain exercises 'button-up'