Possibly representing service differences, the pilot of the F-14 definitely could select the weapon while the RIO could not. Remember that thread a while back where I linked a short YouTube documentary on the 1989 Gulf of Sidra incident with the actual cockpit radio recordings where the RIO fired an AIM-7 Sparrow much to the pilot’s surprise - on hearing his RIO call Fox-1, the pilot said, “Ah Jesus.” I was under the impression that the RIO was being a bit panicky in later telling the pilot repeatedly to take a Fox-2 shot to which the pilot was replying “I can’t, I don’t got a fucking tone.” It turns out that in the stress of the engagement the pilot only thought he had selected Fox-2, actually he hadn’t, and the RIO was trying to communicate to him he hadn’t actually selected Fox-2.
The creator of that short documentary put up a new version of it on his main channel just last week recreating the visuals in the video game DCS (Digital Combat Simulator) World. The relevant part of the exchange between the pilot and the RIO and the immediate Sidewinder tone and sound of the missile launch when the pilot realizes his mistake start at ~11:50.