Secretary of the Air Force Visits F.E. Warren
Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, says she moved up her fact finding mission to the country's nuclear missile bases due to the events of last week. The Air Force was hit with a cheating scandal last week after uncovering widespread cheating on a key proficiency exam. James says the investigation is ongoing.
Thirty-four launch officers assigned to a nuclear missile wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana were either caught with answers to a monthly proficiency test or were aware of the cheating and did not report it. Officials immediately ordered all 600 Air Force officers who work in missile crews to be retested on the proficiency exam. So far, 97 percent of those who have taken the test again have passed, a normal rate. James says the cheating scandal is still under investigation. James said she is confident the nuclear mission itself was not compromised by the incident.
James said she was impressed with what she saw at Warren, but added she did pick up on some morale issues. James said she plans to visit Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana as well as Minot Air Force base in North Dakota.