Minot Air Force Base officials fired over ‘loss of confidence’ after failed security test

Two commanders and four subordinates in the US Air Force were fired this week after their base failed safety and security inspections related to the nuclear stockpile.

Officials said Monday that Col. Gregory Meyer and Maj. Jonathan Welch are the officials exempt from duty due to a “loss of confidence” in their ability to command Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

The exact reason for the loss of trust was not initially shared but has since been made public by a report from CNN exposing the failed security checks.

Minot Air Force Base has two legs—ballistic missile silos and bombers—of what’s often referred to as the “nuclear triad,” or the three ways to deliver nuclear weapons.

It is not clear at this time why the unit failed the safety check and there is currently no indication of misuse of a nuclear weapon per se.

Among other types of weapons, Minot stored and stored B-52s equipped with cruise missiles with W-80 nuclear warheads.

In August of 2007, six cruise missiles with W-80 warheads were transferred from Minot AFB to Barksdale AFB in northwest Louisiana. Neither the base personnel nor the crew of the B-52 flying the missiles knew what was on board.

In a statement sent Monday, Maj. Gen. Andrew Jabara, two stars in charge of Air Force nuclear units under Eighth Air Force Command, called the firing “essential.”

“These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the extremely high standards that we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our country’s nuclear mission,” Gebara said.

Two defense officials told CNN that the test the unit failed is being conducted in order to ensure that the stockpile at the North Dakota base is safe and secure.

Among other things, the Nuclear Assurance Principle tests the unit’s ability to carry out its mission, as well as the overall safety and security of nuclear weapons.

Classified test results.

One of the officials told the outlet that the failure that led to the shooting was due to “Failure to comply with equipment and vehicle safety inspections.”

In a statement, Col. Bruce E. Vidal, director of public affairs for the Air Force’s Global Strike Command, said he could not confirm details, but said there were clear guidelines for members to follow.

“We have thoughtful and disciplined inspection protocols in place and expect 100% compliance,” Vidal told CNN.

Anything less than 100% compliance is not acceptable. He said, “This is important to us.”

In his release earlier this week, Jabara confirmed that he had relieved the commanders of the 5th Mission Support Group and the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Their identities were then reported by the Air Force Times.

Meyer commanded the 5th Mission Support Group while Walsh commanded the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

The Mission Support Group is responsible for taking care of base facilities for troops and civilians, about 1,600 people.

The Readiness Squadron works on deployment planning and supply chain management.

“The Eighth Force continues to protect the global combat force and conduct round-the-clock strategic deterrence operations in a safe, secure and effective manner,” Jubara said Monday.

He went on to say that he and his officers are focused on their “non-fail mission”.

“Our mission is the foundation of defending our nation, and we remain committed to the success of that mission that does not fail,” the general said.

In 2013, another unit working on nuclear missiles failed a safety and security test in 2013 at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.

At the time, officials said in a statement that the group had received an “unsatisfactory rating” after making “tactical errors.”

However, the exact details of the situation were never made public and were even classified in 2017 due to concerns that it could reveal tactical issues that could leave the United States vulnerable.

Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk