The Air Force admitted on Wednesday that it was investigating 34 officers that have been accused of allegedly cheating on nuclear proficiency tests.
According to The Associated Press, the officers have all be excused from launch duty while under investigation.
The alleged cheating was discovered at the Malmstrom Air Foce Base, Mont. while the Air Force was already investigating nearly a dozen officers, spread across several bases, of drug possession. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James commented, "This is absolutely unacceptable behavior."
The Washington Post reports that the suspected officers were found to have illegally obtained the answers to the exams. Other officers weren't necessarily cheating themselves, but have been accused of simply looking the other way and keeping quiet.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III tried to downplay worries by saying, "The nuclear missile force remains ready and able to accomplish its mission." He added, "This is not about the compromise of nuclear weapons. It's about the compromise of the integrity of some of our airmen."
The Air Force has struggled with scandals as of late, with one such issue involving a two-star general who was in Moscow and reportedly got too friendly with some women while out heavily drinking.
image: Wikimedia Commons
