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 The Air Force on Wednesday disclosed that 34 nuclear missile
officers were implicated in cheating on a key proficiency exam at
Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
It was only the latest incident involving America's nuclear missile
officers, some of whom are also wrapped up in a separate Air Force
probe over illegal drug possession.
The head of the ICBM force, Air Force Major General Michael Carey,
was also fired in October for getting drunk and carousing with women
while leading a government delegation to Moscow for talks on nuclear
security.
"(Hagel) intends to follow this issue very, very closely. He
considers this absolutely critical — the vitality, the health, and
the security and effectiveness of the nuclear mission," said
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby.
The scandals are raising questions about how to keep up morale of
the force in the post-Cold War era, in which officers face the same
pressure of guarding destructive power without some of the same
recognition of other high-profile missions.
Hagel discussed the issue of incentives with two missile officers
during a visit last week to a launch control center in Nebraska,
Kirby told a news briefing.
"He asked them that question: How much would incentives, one way or
the other, whether it's educational incentives or financial
incentives, affect your ability to be recruited into this force or
to stay in this force," Kirby said.
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The officers acknowledged that incentives were a matter of
discussion within the force.
"What (Hagel) indicated, though, is that he's willing to think about
that. He didn't make any decisions. He didn't make any promises,"
Kirby said.
"But he expressed that he's willing to look at that. He considers
the ICBM force that important ... and he's not going to close any
doors."
The Air Force pulled the 34 officers from their missile crew duties
as the investigation continues and suspended their security
clearances. It is also re-testing the force, a process that should
be completed on Thursday.
So far, partial testing showed a 96 percent pass rate, a result that
Kirby said was in line with historical averages.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart; editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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