The United States has a three-pronged strategy to nuclear deterrence. The largest component is a fleet of Minuteman III missiles based in the Midwest. The other two thirds are submarine-launched Trident missiles, and our nuclear bomber force, part of which is based at Barksdale Air Force Base, a short drive from Bossier City.
Recently, it has come to light that a frightening number of officers in the Air Force nuclear missile force have forgotten the honor with which they are sworn to serve.
Last Thursday, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James revealed that up to 92 officers were implicated in a proficiency test cheating scandal. All of the officers are a part of the land-based nuclear missile force at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
With 500 officers total in our land-based nuclear force, that means almost a fifth were not up to the task of ensuring our national strategic defense. Thirty-four have already had their security clearances revoked and have been suspended from duty.
The exams themselves test the ability of the launch officers to handle what are known as “emergency war orders.” These can be anything from moving to a heightened DEFCON level, to the immediate fueling and launch of our Minuteman III missiles.
You know, nothing terribly important.
At the beginning of every semester, our professors always dedicate the first day to reviewing their syllabi. Once they have laid out the overall objectives of the course, they come to everyone’s favorite topics: academic dishonesty and cheating.
In short, if you are caught plagiarizing, collaborating on non-group assignments, making use of a cheat sheet or doing an old-school pencil-drop-and-quick-glance during an exam, you are sent directly to a scary administrative office — do not pass go, do not collect $200.
As students, we are held to a certain standard and will continue to be throughout our careers.
One of the most highly esteemed professions where honesty and integrity are of the utmost importance is military service. Standards are so stringent, they even have their own set of laws, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ.
Under this code, with sufficient substantive evidence, all 92 officers should be court-martialed under Article 133 of the UCMJ, for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.
This can include making false official statements and cheating on exams. I am quite sure this falls under that category.
While it is probably true that the officers themselves all have served honorably in their careers, if it can be proven that they skirted regulations so cavalierly, they must be punished accordingly.
Also, earlier this year there was an investigation into two officers and a number of airmen for potential criminal drug use. To top it all off, last October, the major general in charge of the intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM force, Michael Carey, was fired for drunkenness while leading a group for a nuclear exercise in Russia, our principal and longtime nuclear adversary.
It seems our nuke officers are getting volatile.
This sort of behavior is unacceptable for service members, especially officers, who are expected to lead by example. This situation is perhaps the worst-case scenario, considering that these officers are responsible for executing any potential launch orders for a force that has prevented war between any major powers in the past half century.
If there needs to be a quick purging of launch officers, then so be it. The job is far too important to allow for something as asinine as cheating on a routine exam.
If students can have their careers ruined for one instance of plagiarism or cheating, the men with their fingers on the big red buttons should be held to the same, if not a higher standard. The fact that this is even happening is shameful.
Ryan McGehee is a 21-year-old political science, history, and international studies major from Zachary.