Nearly all members of the ICBM force have retaken the nuclear proficiency exam, an Air Force Global Strike Command spokeswoman told the Daily Report on Friday. US Strategic Command boss Adm. Cecil Haney ordered the entire ICBM community to retake the test after 34 missile launch officers assigned to the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., allegedly cheated on a nuclear proficiency test or knew of the cheating and did nothing about it. Of the 472 officers who retook the test, 95.6 percent passed—a “pass-fail rate [that] is in line with historical averages,” said Rear Adm. John Kirby, Pentagon press secretary. The 21 officers who failed can retrain and retake the test at a later date, he said. Twenty-seven personnel were still on leave as of close of business Jan. 17 and will take the test when they return to duty, according to the AFGSC spokeswoman, who emphasized those on leave were not involved in the cheating investigation. The airmen implicated have been suspended pending the completion of an investigation and will not retest. Kirby said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was “deeply troubled” by the allegations and will continue to monitor “the issue closely.” (See Pentagon briefing.) (See Cheating at Malmstrom.)(See also AFPS report)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.