Word on the Interwebs is that the patch that you see to your left is one that is actually worn by a number of USAF missile crews. In real life, sitting at a nuclear missile console waiting for an order to push a bunch of buttons and rain nuclear Armageddon on your nation’s foes is probably a really, really boring job – and missile silos are not designed with comfort in mind – hence the bunny slippers.
From Air Force Captain (ret) John Noonan:
n a favorite missileer uniform patch (right), the Grim Reaper sits at an ICBM console, dressed in bunny slippers. In the real world, death wears a campus T-shirt, JCrew bottoms and the ubiquitous Snuggie. The silly blanket-robe hybrid is suited to the missile force, keeping an officer toasty while allowing him to interact with the weapons console unobstructed.
Missileers learn that on alert, comfort is as important as humor. One enterprising fellow liked to string a hammock between the two command chairs and stretch out for his long shifts at the console. Videogame systems are forbidden, a rule that was mocked until it got out that wireless Nintendo Wii controllers could cause the system to detect a false electromagnetic pulse attack and shut down.
