"General Discharge" -- Nuclear Command COUP Taking Place

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Trinity_Site_Obelisk_National_Historic_Landmark.jpg/250px-Trinity_Site_Obelisk_National_Historic_Landmark.jpg


The Day Approaches

The word on the street today is "military coup". If you go into Starbucks, keep your ears open for those words. People are talking about it.

The NBC channel is reporting that US nuclear command is undergoing a total shakedown, as TWO commanders with nuclear responsibility are fired in a single WEEK.

____________________________________________________________

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/11/20922413-air-force-general-in-charge-of-nuclear-weapons-removed-for-lack-of-trust-defense-officials?lite

Air Force general in charge of nuclear weapons removed for lack of trust: defense officials

Air Force officials said Maj. Gen. Michael Carey was fired for “personal misbehavior” while on temporary duty at an unspecified location outside his usual command. The officials would not describe the behavior, other than to say that it did not involve any sexual improprieties, drug use, gambling, or criminal conduct.

...

It is the second firing of a top-ranking commander with authority over nuclear weapons in the past week. Navy Vice Adm. Tim Giardina was demoted to the from the three-star rank to two and relieved of his post as second in command of U.S. nuclear forces at U.S. Strategic Command amidst a gambling investigation, the Associated Press reported.

_____________________________________________________________

http://www.globalresearch.ca/losing-control-of-nukes/5352438

Losing Control of Nukes

By Winslow Myers
Global Research, October 01, 2013
Consortiumnews 30 September 2013

http://www.globalresearch.ca/every-nuclear-tipped-missile-is-an-accident-waiting-to-happen/5353432

Every Nuclear-Tipped Missile is an “Accident Waiting to Happen”

By William Burr
Global Research, October 08, 2013
The National Security Archive 7 October 2013

____________________________________________________________

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/vice-adm-tim-giardina-fired-nuclear-commander/story?id=20524735

Vice Adm. Tim Giardina Fired as No. 2 Nuclear Commander
Oct. 9, 2013
By LUIS MARTINEZ
LUIS MARTINEZ More From Luis »
Producer

The No. 2 officer at U.S. Strategic Command has been relieved of command by President Obama because of a "loss of confidence" in his abilities to carry out his post.

Vice Adm. Tim Giardina has been the focus of a criminal investigation looking into his suspected use of counterfeit gambling chips in a poker game at a western Iowa casino.

StratCom commander Gen. Robert Kehler suspended Giardina from his duties as deputy commander on Sept. 3 and recommended to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that he be relieved from his post. Kehler's moves were guided by preliminary information he had received from investigations of Giardina's alleged activities.

______________________________________________________

Please pray for our country, that we maintain our national sovereignty and safety. No matter what kinds of weapons have been proliferated and/or lost, it still takes a human decision to use them. Please pray that God, Source, ET, higher power, ancestors, anyone that listens -- pray that the world refrains from the use and proliferation of nuclear warheads. I couldn't stop thinking about nukes a couple years ago, and part of my message on my personal website was that we would soon, not in the future, but SOON come to regret our support of nuclear weapons as a nation. It's sad to think that petty people with petty problems would be rewarded with control over the most crucial resource in America at present, nuclear power. But even more so, that over such petty problems, control would change hands.

Something big is going down.


http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nm/us_70/sands.jpg


Trinity was the code name of the first detonation of a nuclear device, conducted by the United States Army on July 16, 1945 as a result of the Manhattan Project,[5][6][7][8][9] in the Jornada del Muerto desert about 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Socorro, New Mexico, at the new White Sands Proving Ground, which incorporated the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range. (The site is now the White Sands Missile Range.)[10][11] Trinity used an implosion-design plutonium device, informally nicknamed "The Gadget".[12] Using the same conceptual design, the Fat Man device was detonated over Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. The Trinity detonation produced the explosive power of about 20 kilotons of TNT (84 TJ).

Although nuclear chain reactions had been hypothesized in 1933 and the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction (Chicago Pile-1 or CP-1) had taken place in December 1942,[13] the date of the Trinity test is usually considered to be the beginning of the Atomic Age.[14]

[christian]

On his facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/paul.j.watson.71/posts/10151956813271171), Paul Joseph Watson commented:


The General in charge of America's long range nukes has been fired a month after Infowars exposed the top secret transfer of nuclear weapons by Dyess Air Force base.

Here is the article he mentions: http://www.infowars.com/exclusive-high-level-source-confirms-secret-us-nuclear-warhead-transfer-to-east-coast/

So the undertone in Paul´s message is that General Carey got fired because he was the one who leaked the information.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

On his facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/paul.j.watson.71/posts/10151956813271171), Paul Joseph Watson commented:


The General in charge of America's long range nukes has been fired a month after Infowars exposed the top secret transfer of nuclear weapons by Dyess Air Force base.

Here is the article he mentions: http://www.infowars.com/exclusive-high-level-source-confirms-secret-us-nuclear-warhead-transfer-to-east-coast/

So the undertone in Paul´s message is that General Carey got fired because he was the one who leaked the information.

This makes more sense now. Thank you for this.
My grandfather who worked the nukes was terrified of the gov't.
He wouldn't admit it in such a way, but he knew the price of opening one's mouth.

Those of us who continue speaking anyway, deserve our fate.
God Bless you!

[T Smith]

Someone needs to try to get a comment or interview from the top brass systematically being replaced. I know they are probably under gag order, but maybe, just maybe, one of them will have enough courage to talk, al a Edward Snowden.

[norman]

"National Security" is such a smoke screen, it's hard to know what anything like this means.

All these people are knee deep in secrecy contracts.

I once wanted to apply for a simple caretaker job at a place that turned out to be a specialised police training school ( I found out later ). It was just a caretaker job but the "D notice" part of the paperwork was twice the size of the rest of the application form.

I decide not to get involved and chucked it all in the bin.

These generals are so far into the mincer that there's no chance any of them will risk even expressing how pissed off they are, never mind telling tales.

[13th Warrior]

On his facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/paul.j.watson.71/posts/10151956813271171), Paul Joseph Watson commented:


The General in charge of America's long range nukes has been fired a month after
Infowars exposed the top secret transfer of nuclear weapons by Dyess Air Force base.

Here is the article he mentions: http://www.infowars.com/exclusive-high-level-source-confirms-secret-us-nuclear-warhead-transfer-to-east-coast/

So the undertone in Paul´s message is that General Carey got fired because he was the one who leaked the information.

This doesn't sound right...Alex Jones contact at the base was freaked out because there wern't suposed to be any nukes at that base...

[christian]

This doesn't sound right...Alex Jones contact at the base was freaked out because there wern't suposed to be any nukes at that base...

Does this contradict what Paul says or that the General may have leaked this info?

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

P.S., this satellite was very important IMO in the detection of earthquakes, but look:

http://news.yahoo.com/europes-gravity-mapping-goce-satellite-faces-big-fall-204142433.html


Europe's Gravity-Mapping GOCE Satellite Faces Big Fall from Space
SPACE.com By by Leonard David, SPACE.com's Space Insider Columnist

A European-built satellite built to map Earth's gravity like never before is about to fall victim to the planet's ever-present gravitational pull.

The European Space Agency's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer, or GOCE for short, is nearly out of fuel and will make a nosedive to Earth this month after more than four successful years studying the planet's gravitational field.

_______________________

The GOCE satellite was the one I found interesting in regards to the gravity readings before and after the huge quake in japan.

it seemed odd. like they should have known.

[crosby]

this is very interesting, thank you tesla....... i feel that something is brewing under the soft-underbelly of the tptw... fear.....one last stance, or one last 'power trip'....... what i feel will come from this episode of ridiculous behavior is that those who are being [(and have been dismissed)] will join the masses of the awakening. they will continue the legacy of coming forward and blowing the whistle..... THANKS!!!!..... you are doing the right thing.......carry on....
warmest regards,
corson

[GoodETxSG]

:bump:

Keep ears open for more info to what is REALLLY behind this story!!!

[mountain_jim]

Related? In a column about Syria, satanism in the military, and Bush-era corruption,

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/10/11/how-syria-unlocked-americas-dark-closet/

Duff includes this paragraph today:



The official leader of the America’s Satanic community is Lt. Colonel Michael Aquino (ret). Aquino is responsible for organizing Satanic sects throughout the military and within the service Academies, particularly at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

After a flurry of bad publicity with the Satanic group was exposed at the former Presidio base in San Francisco, Satanic groups “repackaged” themselves as followers of John Hagee’s “Christian Evangelical” doctrines, blending Satanism, close alignment with Israel and Zionism and “Dominionist and Dispensationalist” beliefs.

The stated purpose of this group is to steal nuclear weapons and bring about the apocalypse. Members of this sect have recently been removed from nuclear command authority in moves the military characterizes as “command failures.”

On more than one occasion, nuclear weapons have been removed from inventories without authorization. One or more of those weapons is missing and the Joint Special Operations Command has engaged in at least one recovery operation in Indiana on July 13, 2010.



In the comments, Jim Dean, an editor for the site, concerning this week's generals, says:



It still seems a bit strange. These folks don't usually operate as loners, but as crews, for flank protection. No mid level officers are going down like they did when the Navy cleaned house.


also in comments, Duff responds:




john ccarleton
October 11, 2013 - 8:31 pm


Is this why Maj. Gen. Carey was removed from command?

Log in to Reply

Gordon Duff
October 11, 2013 - 9:41 pm

yes

[Sebastion]

From my own experience in the Air Force, while working at two air bases in Germany, I can confirm that there was a number of men who were involved in serious witchcraft. They prided themselves in being full blown warlocks and more often then not, their wives considered themselves as being witches as well.

I did witness a few paranormal things over there which the people who were into that stuff claimed responsibility for. They seemed to be a rather large and organized group, having meetings and gatherings all over Europe and Egypt as well. I steered clear of those folks as much as possible.

[sigma6]

"National Security" is such a smoke screen, it's hard to know what anything like this means.

All these people are knee deep in secrecy contracts.

I once wanted to apply for a simple caretaker job at a place that turned out to be a specialised police training school ( I found out later ). It was just a caretaker job but the "D notice" part of the paperwork was twice the size of the rest of the application form.

I decide not to get involved and chucked it all in the bin.

These generals are so far into the mincer that there's no chance any of them will risk even expressing how pissed off they are, never mind telling tales.


Based on comments like this...

The officials would not describe the behavior, other than to say that it did not involve any sexual improprieties, drug use, gambling, or criminal conduct.
I'd say they are replacing Generals who have up to now, have been responsible... for not setting these off... It looks like they are replacing them with 'cronies' they need to fire off a few missiles... I have been saying for years the US has bet the farm on Military... how are they going to get their return on that investment... They took the easy money for decades... Now they are all dressed up to fight off an alien attack from Star Ship Troopers in a world where everyone is crying for peace (except their Al CIAda partners, et al...)

[frozen alchemy]

I sincerely BEG everyone to watch this short video; it's a clear warning to anyone who might go up against the government, and how easy it is for them:

zislzpkpvZc

[mountain_jim]

I'd say they are replacing Generals who have up to now, have been responsible... for not setting these off... It looks like they are replacing them with 'cronies' they need to fire off a few missiles... I have been saying for years the US has bet the farm on Military... how are they going to get their return on that investment... They took the easy money for decades... Now they are all dressed up to fight off an alien attack from Star Ship Troopers in a world where everyone is crying for peace (except their Al CIAda partners, et al...)

It occurs to me to doubt this, as I think the 'bad guys' would use some of their fancy assasination weapons to kill them rather than demote them, as that both replaces them and silences them from blowing any whistles.

[RMorgan]

Jesus! I was reading that Infowars article, concentrated like hell, then scrolled down the article and saw the image of a deformed victim of the Hiroshima bomb...I almost fell of my chair...Seriously. No kidding...The guy scared the **** out of me.

This article is completely sinister...Bad vibe.

Raf.

[sigma6]

I'd say they are replacing Generals who have up to now, have been responsible... for not setting these off... It looks like they are replacing them with 'cronies' they need to fire off a few missiles... I have been saying for years the US has bet the farm on Military... how are they going to get their return on that investment... They took the easy money for decades... Now they are all dressed up to fight off an alien attack from Star Ship Troopers in a world where everyone is crying for peace (except their Al CIAda partners, et al...)

It occurs to me to doubt this, as I think the 'bad guys' would use some of their fancy assasination weapons to kill them rather than demote them, as that both replaces them and silences them from blowing any whistles.

not necessarily, don't you think having your status and recognition, and livlihood, in the military what literally defines you... and you are suddenly extracted from all that like a used tampon... isn't that humiliating enough? and if you want to complain, well aren't you just going to look like a "disgruntled employee"... then if that doesn't work, I could understand if you decided to "commit suicide" due to "emotional instability" by ODing on cocaine and/or slitting your wrists, or maybe just shooting yourself in the head... Come on... or if your reputation is just too solid, you can always get incinerated when your breaks lock up ala Hastings... gotta think a little more strategically and with efficiency... I don't think the bullet is always the first and most cost effective option, imo... just for the hard to "remove stains"

[ThePythonicCow]

I sincerely BEG everyone to watch this short video; it's a clear warning to anyone who might go up against the government, and how easy it is for them
If you see a preview image of an attachment in your email ... that preview image is most likely on your local disk drive. You don't have to download the image to get it on your drive, just opening up that email (unless your email interface provides you a way to avoid including images until requested) will most likely put the preview images onto your local disk.

I would presume that one could get charged with a felony for having preview images of forbidden child pornography just as quickly as for having high resolution images thereof.

If I were a "high value target" of the bastards in power, as the WeAreChange chap in the above video appears to be, I would only access email in a virtual machine running off a refreshed copy of a bootable drive, and automatically scrub any writable virtual partitions at the conclusion of each such session.

[christian]

Here Alex Jones and Athony Gucciardi are breaking it all down, very much recommended:

HnYX4WlqfJg

[mountain_jim]

let me second this concerning (at least first 20 minutes) of the above video:


very much recommended

another comment to Duff in the VT article, reflecting the info and pov from the vid Christian posted above



actionMan
October 12, 2013 - 2:03 pm


Gordon, please provide further insight on Carey’s departure and weinstein’s appointment. Storyleak.com sees it the opposite way, that Carey protested the Dyess broken arrow incident on Sept 3 and was removed by the black hats. The Dyess nuclear weapons appear to be missing, according to Infowars.com, and Anthony Gucciardi believes Carey was taken out because he was the impediment to the potential nuclear false flag. Would like to hear your thoughts.

[Czarek]

...If I were a "high value target" of the bastards in power, as the WeAreChange chap in the above video appears to be, I would only access email in a virtual machine running off a refreshed copy of a bootable drive, and automatically scrub any writable virtual partitions at the conclusion of each such session.

Thanks Paul.

[Nanoo Nanoo]

I like Guchiardis idea of de programming ... this is good tech. hmm

I was speaking with a Police Officer just a week ago .. i was intervening in a dispute , i asked to speak alone with the officer .. in calming him down i noticed the monment when he gave up the police program and resumed the human one. Mid conversation he sighed and dropped his shoulders .. he then tilted his head slightly at the same moment. Its was after this we managed to agree on the appropriate actions to be taken and the result was a better one .. much bette than if the officer had resumed his police cyborg program.

My tactic was to speak to him rspectfully and logically. This confuses them.
\
I used this once before a few months back .. i was being questioned by no less than 5 police officers. I concentrated on the one who i thought had the reasoning human inside him still. I made him an ally by treating him as a friend. I spoke with him in a familiar and trusting tone.. this affected him and he then rallied for me in negotiation to the other four. It takes time to break their program.. dont expect results immediately .. the police cyborg program runs strong in them.. be patient and very calm , the eventually respond when you do not act the way they assume you would.

N

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10373827/General-in-charge-of-Americas-nuclear-weapons-sacked-for-misbehaviour.html


General in charge of America's nuclear weapons sacked for misbehaviour
The US Air Force general in charge of America's nuclear missile arsenal has been sacked for a 'loss of trust and confidence' following allegations of misbehaviour.

By Raf Sanchez, Washington6:42PM BST 11 Oct 2013Follow Comments2 Comments
Gen Michael Carey was removed as head of the 20th Air Force, the command responsible for 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles, after an internal investigation.
The Air Force would not give the precise allegations against the veteran officer but said they were not related to recent failed inspections at nuclear bases - "nor do they involve sexual misconduct".
"It's unfortunate that I've had to relieve an officer who's had an otherwise distinctive career spanning 35 years of commendable service," said Gen James Kowalski, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
The Air Force insisted that the abrupt sacking had not affected America's nuclear arsenal which remained "safe, secure and effective".
The removal of Gen Carey comes two days after another senior nuclear officer was sacked following allegations he used counterfeit gambling chips during a poker game at an Iowa casino.
Related Articles
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Netanyahu: I'm prepared to talk to Rouhani on the phone 04 Oct 2013
Iran could develop nuclear weapons capability despite sanctions, report warns 02 Oct 2013
Iran’s secret trade links to bypass sanctions 29 Sep 2013
Iran sits down at UN table with softer words on nuclear ambitions 27 Sep 2013
Vice Admiral Tim Giardina was removed from US Strategic Command, which has responsibility for America's overall nuclear posture, after police began investigating his gambling habits.
He was demoted and re-assigned but no charges have been filed against him.
The twin sackings are the latest in a series of blows to America's nuclear forces.
In August, a nuclear base in Montana failed a safety inspection after its staff made "tactical-level errors" during a drill.
Weeks before that 17 officers were stripped of their authority for taking part in nuclear launches after a botched exercise at a North Dakota base.
Lt Col Jay Folds, deputy commander of unit, wrote in an internal email that there was "rot" in the Air Force's nuclear personnel, adding: "We are, in fact, in a crisis right now."

US nuclear posture demands that the military be ready to unleash a nuclear strike at any time and President Barack Obama is always accompanied by a military aide carrying the "nuclear football" - the briefcase from which he can authorise a launch.

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/7/liekwoah.png
in my premonition, the prez was holding a nuclear basketball, LMFAO

i didn't even know at the time of that drawing that there was such slang as "nuclear football" nor would I have known what that was anyway.

LOL

[RMorgan]

in my premonition, the prez was holding a nuclear basketball, LMFAO

i didn't even know at the time of that drawing that there was such slang as "nuclear football" nor would I have known what that was anyway.

LOL

Did you draw this?

Girl, you have talent...You have style!

You should try to find a job in illustration, you know, children books, comic books, magazines...I think you may have a bright future in this area.

Just my two cents...

Raf.

[panopticon]

Can I ask if anyone can identify what military uniform (enlisted) has a short sleeve blue shirt and white hat with brim (not cap). Similar to the US Coast Guard uniform as seen here (http://josh.freivald.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/DSCF6843-768x1024.jpg) but military (at least there were 1000's of people in the uniform at a camp in the desert so thinking military). I've been trying to identify the uniform for an associate of mine.
-- Pan

Just PM a response if you want as I don't want to de-rail this thread.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

http://www.prisonplanet.com/u-s-general-fired-for-alleged-drinking-and-carousing-with-women-in-russia.html

U.S general fired for alleged drinking and carousing with women in Russia
December 20, 2013

A two-star general who oversaw the U.S. arsenal of intercontinental missiles was fired for allegedly drinking and carousing with women while leading a government delegation to Russia for talks on nuclear security, an inspector general report showed.

An internal investigation by the Inspector General of the Air Force, released on Thursday following a Freedom of Information Act request, showed that Major General Michael Carey was removed from his job as commander of the 20th Air Force in October for “conduct unbecoming a gentleman.”

At the time the Air Force announced that Carey had been removed from his position, it did not reveal details of what the general was alleged to have done. Carey’s removal was one in a string of high-profile firings of top U.S. generals.

Carey’s “indecorous” behavior is alleged to have taken place during an official trip the general led in July 2013 for U.S.-Russian exercises and discussions related to nuclear security.


This article was posted: Friday, December 20, 2013 at 6:50 am

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Uh ber ber ber ber BUMP! d'oh :(

link to the latest: http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69899-Nine-nuclear-base-commanders-fired-from-US-Air-Force-over-cheating-scandal

Today 10:18

SamwiseTheBrave


I am surprised nobody has posted this story yet. Looks like more purging to me as WWIII is becoming more and more a desperate plan by the PTB.

Nine nuclear base commanders fired from US Air Force over cheating scandal
The United States Air Force says it has taken unprecedented action by firing nine nuclear missile base commanders on Thursday amid an ongoing and exhaustive investigation surrounding allegations of cheating.

Dozens of additional employees described as junior officers at those bases will be disciplined as well, the Associated Press reported first on Thursday afternoon, and will join an ever-expanding list of Air Force personnel who have been reprimanded in recent months as part of an embarrassing scandal that has increasingly generated criticism directed at the Pentagon’s nuke program.

But although the Air Force has taken action already in recent months amid reports that missile base personnel cheated on critical military examinations, the AP says officials describe the latest round of terminations as being “unprecedented in the history of the intercontinental ballistic missile force.”

“None of the nine fired commanders was directly involved in the cheating, but each was determined to have failed in his or her leadership responsibilities,” Robert Burns wrote for the AP.

According to Burns, a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the AP that Air Force investigators believe the cheating scandal started as early as November 2011 and continued for two years.

“It involved unauthorized passing of answers to exams designed to test missile launch officers' proficiency in handling ‘emergency war orders,’ which are messages involving the targeting and launching of missiles,” Burns learned from his confidential source.

This past January, the Air Force said that 34 missile launch officers were implicated in the cheating scandal and stripped of their security clearances, though they may not have necessarily faked their way through their own exams. According to the AP’s latest however, upwards of 100 missile launch crew members from a single facility — the Malmstrom Air Force Base in the state of Montana — were at one point or another linked to the scandal.

“Some officers did it. Others apparently knew about it, and it appears that they did nothing, or at least not enough, to stop it or to report it," Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said at a news conference earlier this year.

Now two months later, on Thursday the Air Force reportedly took action against a number of officials linked to the scandal by investigators, including Col. Robert Stanley, the commander of the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom.

Stanley was allowed to resign, the AP reported, but nine key commanders below him were removed from the Air Force, including the commanders of the 341st Wing's three missile squadrons, according to Burns, “each of which is responsible for 50 Minuteman three nuclear missiles.”

“Also sacked were the commander and deputy commander of the 341st Operations Group, which oversees all three missile squadrons as well as a helicopter unit and a support squadron responsible for administering monthly proficiency tests to Malmstrom's launch crews and evaluating their performance,” Burns claimed. Members of all three missile squadrons were implicated, he added, although no generals were formally punished.

This week’s news is only the latest to stir up the Air Force’s nuke unit, which for months now has repeatedly come under fire due to a barrage of incidents. The Pentagon removed 17 of its officers from a base in North Dakota last year following a poor inspection rating, and last October it was reported that two US missile technicians assigned with launch keys were discovered repeatedly leaving a blast door open while sleeping on base.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
~Gandalf to Frodo

:whistle:


As former Air Force I am quite saddened by this news. However the tests I was given were a lot easier than those given to the Nuclear fellas. IMO.

p.s. is this even on CNN front page??


http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/us/air-force-cheating-investigation/

9 Air Force commanders fired from jobs over nuclear missile test cheating


By Greg Botelho, CNN
updated 5:51 PM EDT, Thu March 27, 2014


Washington (CNN) -- Nine Air Force commanders lost their jobs in the wake of a cheating scandal involving systemic cheating on tests by officers in the U.S. nuclear missile program, officials from that military branch said Thursday.

The fired officers were in "leadership positions" at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said. Though not directly involved in cheating, "they failed to provide adequate oversight of their crew force," according to James.

In addition, Col. Robert Stanley -- head of the 341st Missile Wing and a 25-year veteran -- "relinquished command" and submitted his resignation Thursday morning, said Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, the commander of the Air Force's Global Strike Command.

"Leadership's focus on perfection led commanders to micromanage their people," said Wilson, pointing to pressure to get 100% scores on monthly proficiency exams when only 90% was necessary to pass. "... Leaders lost sight of the fact that execution in the field is more important than what happens in the classroom."
James said Thursday that 100 lower-level officers were at one point implicated in the ordeal -- having either been accused directly of cheating or having looked the other way. Nine of those have been cleared and will be allowed to return to duty, while others could face punishments ranging from letters of counseling to courts-martial on various charges.

These disciplinary measures are only part of the response, however. James and Wilson both referred to a number of changes to address this incident as well as far-reaching issues with morale, micromanagement and more among those in the Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile program.

"The issues that we have before us today are tough, and they didn't come overnight," said James. "... While we have progress in certain areas in recent years, there is more work to be done."

Military investigators stumbled into the cheating scandal while looking into alleged drug activity involving airmen. Three of their targets in the drug probe happened to work as missile crew members at Malmstrom, which is how investigators got access to their cell phones -- and "found test material on them," according to Wilson.
Authorities previously said the cheating took place last August and September at the Montana base, with officers using texts and pictures to cheat on their proficiency exams.
But Wilson said Thursday that such behavior actually went well beyond that, having occurred as far back as November 2011 and as recently as November 2013.
The whole Malmstrom scheme centered on four individuals, three of whom were being investigated in the drug probe, according to Wilson.

"If we would have removed those, then this incident probably would never have happened," he added.

About 190 officers oversee the readiness of nuclear weapons systems at the Montana base, meaning the episode tainted a large percentage of that force in some way. James said she found worrisome not just that airmen cheated directly, but that no one -- whether or not they were directly involved -- spoke up.

The Air Force officials said investigators didn't find any indication of similar cheating on other bases tied to the missile program, though they pointed to common issues elsewhere when it comes to the program's management.

To that end, Wilson said he has a list of "400 action items" to possible address those issues. Some are simple, like grading the monthly proficiency on a simple pass/fail metric. Others are more complicated, though all have a common aim of ensuring the nuclear weapons program is run smartly and effectively by satisfied, capable military personnel with high integrity.

"Our nation demands and deserves the higher standards of accountability from the force entrusted with the most powerful weapon on the planet," Wilson said. "We are committed to living up to those standards."

Navy responds to allegations
Air Force cheating scandal
CNN's Shirley Henry and Barbara Starr contributed to this report.



My gramps is probably really upset over this news, he was a nuclear maintenance SMSgt (section chief?) at one point... (before his son had a parachuting accident).