Air Force: 92 implicated in nuke cheating scandal

[alp227]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said Thursday the number of nuclear force officers implicated in a proficiency test cheating scandal has grown to 92 out of a force of 500.

James spoke to reporters after touring nuclear bases around the country. The cheating has been found at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. The Associated Press has revealed the overall nuclear force suffers from such low morale and burnout that they have committed serious security lapses and other breakdowns.

James, who is new to the job, said the nuclear force is beset by "undue stress and fear," and said the nuclear force suffers "systemic problems."

The Air Force announced recently that initially 17 officers were believed to have been involved in cheating on a monthly proficiency test to ensure they know how to maintain, and launch, nuclear missiles.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/systemic-personnel-problems-seen-nuclear-corps

[EC]

1. they really thought their grades were more important

than how to work around nuclear bases? This sounds real dangerous to me.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. only 20%?

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.
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no worries . . .

CC

[Orsino]

3. What "undue stress and fear"?

Story gives no hint of what the fuck the excuses/reasons for cheating are supposed to have been, or how tests came to be designed that enabled cheating at all.

[gussmith]

4. Good For You..

No article I have read answers your questions. Facts are the purpose of journalism.

[TwilightGardener]

5. They MUST pass the tests at something like 95%, or they are "punished" with either

slowed career advancement ($$$) or by other means, like working additional shifts (losing $$$, since they're salaried). I read this somewhere, can't remember where, in the last few weeks. Edit to add: the system as it is now is all stick, no carrot--that's why poor morale and cheating. I have the feeling that will change, soon.

[Orsino]

6. That makes sense. n/t

[Major Nikon]

7. When I was active duty, missle bases were the most chickenshit places in the USAF

This was decades ago, but it sounds like not much has changed in that regard.

[marble falls]

8. On the alert!

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4504416955793441&pid=15.1&H=160&W=160