MSCB ERC (Equipment Readiness Center) with MP John Thompson at the console (1975).

• The ERC consisted of an Equipment Readiness Console and large automatic status display panels for all major equipment areas: radar, computers, missiles (including RSL's), and all other major supporting systems.
• From Dale Whitacre:
  • The panel just to the right of the scope is part of the phone system. I do remember some of the phone buttons; they were not as much speed dial numbers as they were "Direct Lines" hardwired to other sites: Grand Forks, Minot, and other SAC or NORAD locations. "Push the button and someone always answered, never a busy signal."
  • The brass colored lights in the backround are key tags, inside key lockboxes (glass fronts). I'm not sure what they all were used for, some were for lock-outs to disable firing, while working in missile cells, some were for security alarms on cells (disable during service). Some even activated motor switches, to move cell covers. Two keys were always required (some locations required three): one from the red missle crew, one from the blue missle crew, and some entry locations, that were alarmed, required the MP's to also bring a key, or combination, and to communicate with the SOCC operator during entries.
• Photo by John Thompson.