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9 Air Force commanders fired over nuclear missile test cheating

Posted at 3:03 PM, Mar 27, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-27 17:06:29-04
Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James talks to members of the 341st Missile Wing during a visit Jan. 22 to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. During the base all call, James took the opportunity to speak with the Airmen in attendance and stressed the importance of the nuclear mission here. Image courtesy John Turner/U.S. Air Force

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James talks to 341st Missile Wing members during a visit Jan. 22 to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. James spoke with the Airmen and stressed the importance of the nuclear mission here. Image courtesy John Turner/U.S. Air Force

By Shirley Henry

CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Air Force has fired nine commanders in the wake of a scandal involving cheating on tests related to the U.S. nuclear missile program, that military branch’s top official 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 crews, according to James.

A 10th commander submitted his resignation and will retire.

Some of those involved are accused of cheating on the test via text messaging last summer, while others are accused of not speaking up about it.

CNN’s Barbara Starr contributed to this report.

The-CNN-Wire
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