The air force has skyrocketed the number of official launch of nuclear missiles under investigation allegations of traps to 92, said Thursday.
The new total is nearly three times the initial 34 officers who were involved in the scandal and nearly one-fifth of the force. Officers have taken their missile wing duties during research on infidelity, which occurred during a discussion of key competition, Deborah Lee James air force Secretary said at a Pentagon news conference.
92, 40 Are suspected of cheating in fact obtaining answers before the test; the remaining 52 were allegedly aware of the pitfalls, but it could not inform superiors.
"The situation is still unacceptable," James told reporters.
Officials have insisted that there has been no change in the global nuclear mission and without degradation of the nuclear capability of the United States.
"This is a lack of integrity, not a failure of the mission," James said Thursday.
The official original of the probe, all assigned to the 341st Air Base Wing do missile Malmstrom in Montana, are accused of apparently text messaging answers to another, or knew that fraud was going on and not report it, according to officials.
The monthly review had proven knowledge of missile systems officers. It was administered in August and September, 2013.
Air Force Chief of staff General Mark Welsh said earlier this month that officials shared the test "electronically". Text messages were involved, he said. It would not expand the exact circumstances of alleged infidelity, citing an ongoing investigation.
Research on cheating ring was announced on 15 January by the air force.
341St wing do missile provides security for 150 nuclear Minuteman 3 Intercontinental ballistic missiles, one-third of the entire ICBM force. There is no evidence of similar deceptions in the other two nuclear missile bases, F.E. Warren in Wyoming and Minot, North Dakota, said James.
Only two days ago, a United States military officer said that NBC News the number of officers under allegations had almost doubled.
James, who is senior civil service, said Thursday that the systemic micromanagement in the nuclear force has created "an undue stress and fear", and that situation at Malmstrom was "is not a healthy environment."
She has said that the alleged deception in Malmstrom was discovered during a previously announced probe of drug possession by 11 officers at several bases. Initially, the probe included only 10 officers.
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This story was originally posted on Thu January 30, 2014 3:25 PM EST
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