The rest of the story is almost – almost – irrelevant, despite the fact that it involves a failed drill on nuclear missile security. I know that that sounds bizarre, but hear me out: even the best-trained personnel can flub a test. Probably not in this case, but it can happen. But this part of the story is, to me at least, more worrisome…
The AP also points out that at least two launch officers from the 341st Missile Wing are currently being investigated for alleged illegal drug use/possession.
…because it suggests a more chronic problem. One familiar to anybody who knows anything about the US military in the late 1970s, which this era is becoming depressingly comparable to. Oh, boy…
Via Instapundit.
Moe Lane
Please excuse my son from his drug test, signed, Epstein’s mother.
I’m convinced. Legalizing marijuana is a really good idea! /sarcasm
So .. if they were found drunk on duty .. that’d be different?
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Mew
The basic level of competence to pass a military test is pretty low.
Seriously, I’m not joking. The baseline is that a kid with minimal hours of training can reasonably be expected to pass.
Our gunner’s exam allowed a minute or so as the standard to meet for a large deflection change. Anyone halfway competent could do it in under 10 seconds.
“But Stanley himself was later forced to resign amid a scandal related to hundreds of missile officers cheating on exams, as 60 Minutes recently chronicled.”
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I worked for a defense contractor a long, long time ago. It was a company of engineers – integrity was valued and displayed there every day. We discovered that a supplier had been rubber stamping test reports on a part. We notified our customer, shut down the production line, got a second and third source to ramp up production on that part, sent field teams throughout the world to replace this part in the weapon system (while upgrading the software – a bonus for the customer). Our processes worked, and the customer was thrilled with our honesty and quick response. Then in steps 60 minutes with an expose on the company that had falsified their test reports. Who did 60 minutes implicate in their report? Why, the big, bad defense company, of course. Better for ratings, you see.
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So I am sure Stanley has his side of the story to share, only 60 minutes and the AP will make sure we never hear it.
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What you did there? I see it.