“I was impressed by much of what I saw during that trip, as I am every trip, to all of our bases around the world. And I talked to some of the most motivated young officers and enlisted personnel in our armed forces.
But, at the same time, I am deeply concerned – as I know Debbie and Mark and all leaders in the Air Force are – about the overall health, and the professionalism, and discipline of our strategic forces. Recent allegations regarding our ICBM force raise some legitimate questions about this Department’s stewardship of one of our most sensitive and important missions”, said Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
During a swearing in ceremony for the new Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Chuck Hagel the current Secretary of Defense commented on the security situation involving the recent revelation of ongoing cheating by air force personnel in charge of our nuclear strategic missile forces.
What Secretary Hagel said was pretty shocking considering the fact that these same Air Force personnel have their itchy fingers near the turn keys to launch ICBM missiles at Malmstrom Air Force base in Montana – during a time of war.
“I was impressed by much of what I saw during that trip (at Malmstrom) , as I am every trip, to all of our bases around the world. And I talked to some of the most motivated young officers and enlisted personnel in our armed forces.
But, at the same time, I am deeply concerned – as I know Debbie and Mark and all leaders in the Air Force are – about the overall health, and the professionalism, and discipline of our strategic forces. Recent allegations regarding our ICBM force raise some legitimate questions about this Department’s stewardship of one of our most sensitive and important missions.
Yesterday, we announced several steps that will ensure we are fully focused on this challenge. Secretary James and General Welsh will lead on this, and I will meet regularly with them to ensure this issue has the highest level of my attention, and that anything I can do as Secretary of Defense to assist the leaders of this magnificent institution who lead these magnificent people.
Whatever the factors – historical, institutional, cultural – the Department of Defense and the Air Force will do whatever it takes to continue ensure the safety, security, reliability, and effectiveness of our nuclear enterprise – because our security will always depend on the reliability of our men and women charged with that responsibility”, said Secretary Chuck Hagel at a swearing in ceremony for the new Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.
A few comments later he said:
“Restoring confidence in the nuclear mission will be a top priority for all of us. At the same time, other challenges will not stand still” (source: DODhttp://www.defense.gov/Speeches/Speech.aspx?SpeechID=1827).
In October, a senior air force officer in charge of 450 ICBMs, major general Michael Carey, was fired after accusations of drunken misconduct during a summer trip to Moscow. An internal investigation found that Carey drank heavily, cavorted with two foreign women and visited a nightclub called La Cantina, where “Maj Gen Carey had alcohol and kept trying to get the band to let him play with them” (see article: Air Force General with serious drinking problem promoted to Assistant Commander for the Air Force Space Command https://groundreport.com/air-force-general-with-drinking-problem-promoted-to-assistant-commander-for-the-air-force-space-command/).
See related article: Dozens of US nuclear missile officers caught up in drug and cheating scandals Investigation that began with accusations of illegal drug use expands into allegations of cheating on proficiency exams http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/muclear-missile-officers-suspended-drug-cheating-scandals