Could you push the Nuclear Button?

I can't speak for the Navy submariners simply because I don't know the procedures for Trident operations. As for the Air Force, that’s one of the questions asked during crew selection and as part of the continuous PRP process for all nuclear certified personnel. As an operator or maintainer on those critters you’re always scrutinized as to your dedication, mental acuity and understanding of what it means to “push the button.” In other words, do you really understand the gravity of your profession and what you may be ordered to do? If there is any doubt to a launch officer’s ability to turn keys then they’re removed from duty. One must also understand the launch crews do not live in a vacuum. There are continuous intel briefings and know much more about the state of the world than the average person on the street. Also, as with any profession, operations and maintenance in the ICBM fleet are continually undergoing some kind of evaluation. It’s suppose its very similar to developing “muscle memory.” You practice, simulate or perform a task so often that it becomes second nature. So if/when the balloon goes up I have no doubt the crews will turn keys. I know I would.

Sadly, I know I could.
Sometime during the height of the cold war, somewhere in the north Atlantic, in a 640 class boat.
We were suppose to have a WSRT (weapons system readiness test), the OOD screwed the pooch and said "man battle stations missile for strategic launch", everyone was shitting themselves but every last man did their job and was ready to pull the trigger before the word was passed that this was "just" a WSRT. This remains some 35+ years later the closest thing to PTSD I have. I can't talk or write about it without a fit of emotion.

Yes. It is not my call to make whether or not I push the button. It's my job to actually push the button. The people making that call are sitting in intel briefs weighing the odds. Maybe we are making a first strike against one of their remote missile silos. Maybe we are stopping a global catastrophe. Or maybe we're just sick of it all and going for global conquest. I don't know and it's not my job to know. My job is to push the button when I'm told to.

What I do know though is that if it were actually my job to push that button, I would make damn sure my family was protected in the event of retaliation.