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Two US Air Force commanders and four subordinates were fired this week after their base failed safety inspections related to the nuclear arsenal.
Col. Gregory Mayer and Maj. Jonathan Welch were the two officers removed due to a “loss of confidence” in their ability to run Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, officials said Monday.
The exact reason for the loss of trust was not initially shared, but has since been made public by a report from CNN disclose failed security tests.
Minot Air Force Base is home to two pillars (bomber and ballistic missile silos) of what is often referred to as the ‘nuclear triad’, or the three ways of delivering nuclear weapons.
It is unclear at this time what caused the unit to fail its safety inspection and there is currently no indication that it was mishandling a nuclear weapon.
Two US Air Force commanders and four subordinates were fired this week after their base failed safety inspections related to the nuclear arsenal.
Colonel Gregory Mayer was one of two officers relieved due to a “loss of confidence” in his ability to run Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
in a release dispatched Monday, Maj. Gen. Andrew Gebara, a two-star in charge of the Air Force’s nuclear units under the 8th Air Force, called the layoffs “necessary.”
“These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units tasked with supporting our nation’s nuclear mission,” Gebara said.
The test that the unit failed is being conducted to ensure that the reserves at the North Dakota base are safe and secure, two defense officials told CNN.
Among other things, nuclear security doctrine tests a unit’s ability to carry out its mission, as well as the overall security of nuclear weapons.
The test results are classified.
An official told the outlet that the failure that resulted in the layoffs was due to ‘vehicle and equipment safety inspections for non-compliance.’
In a statement, Col. Brus E. Vidal, director of public affairs for the Air Force Global Strike Command, said he could not confirm the details, but said there is clear guidance for members to follow.
“We have deliberate and disciplined inspection protocols in place and we expect 100% compliance,” Vidal told CNN.
‘Anything less than 100% compliance is unacceptable. It’s that important to us,’ she said.
In a statement sent Monday, Maj. Gen. Andrew Gebara, a two-star in charge of the Air Force’s nuclear units under the 8th Air Force, called the layoffs “necessary.”
The Minot Air Force Base is a critical member of the United States’ nuclear weaponry.
This is the statement issued by Major General Gebara earlier this week confirming the dismissals.
Minot Air Force Base is home to two legs (bomber and ballistic missile silos) of what is often referred to as the ‘nuclear triad’ or the three ways of delivering nuclear weapons.
In his statement earlier this week, Gebara confirmed that he had relieved the commanders of the 5th Mission Support Group and the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
Then their identities were reported by the Air Force Times.
Mayer commanded the 5th Mission Support Group, while Walsh commanded the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
The Mission Support Group is in charge of taking care of the base facilities for troops and civilians, about 1,600 people.
The Readiness Squad works on deployment planning and supply chain management.
“Eighth Force continues to safeguard global combat power and conduct round-the-clock strategic deterrence operations safely and effectively,” Gebara said Monday.
He continued, saying that he and his officers are focused on their “faultless mission.”
“Our mission is critical to the defense of our nation, and we remain committed to the success of that mission without fail,” the major general said.
PICTURED: A sign at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Cascade County, Montana
In 2013, another unit working on nuclear missiles failed a 2013 safety test at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
In 2013, another unit working on nuclear missiles failed a 2013 safety test at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
At the time, the officials said in a statement, the group received an ‘unsatisfactory rating’ after making ‘tactical level errors’.
However, the exact details of the situation were never made public and were even classified in 2017 out of fear that they could reveal tactical issues that could leave the US exposed to vulnerabilities.