Tasked with guarding 150 nuclear missiles at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, fourteen airmen are under investigation for allegedly using cocaine. Last year, three launch officers, known as missileers, pleaded guilty to using ecstasy after an investigation into illegal drug possession uncovered roughly 100 officers involved in a cheating scandal.
According to Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, the 14 suspects are airmen, airmen first class, or senior airmen (E-2 to E-4) from the 90th Security Forces Group at F.E. Warren AFB outside Cheyenne, Wyoming. Responsible for protecting 150 Minuteman 3 nuclear missiles, the 14 airmen have been suspended from their security duties while the investigation continues. Although Gen. Rand refused to specify which drug the airmen were caught using, the Associated Press has reported that they were high on cocaine.
"It came to light because one airman who had suspicion of drug activity by another reported that to his chain of command," stated Rand. "The drug allegations involving these 14 airmen are credible."
Along with Malmstrom AFB in Montana and Minot AFB in North Dakota, F.E. Warren is one of three Air Force bases responsible for maintaining 450 active intercontinental ballistic missiles. Last year, three missileers at Malmstrom pleaded guilty to illegal use, possession, or distribution of ecstasy. While investigating the missileers' cell phones, the Air Force stumbled upon a cheating scandal involving approximately 100 officers.
In March 2014, the Air Force fired nine officers and accepted the resignation of the commander at Malmstrom when an investigation into illegal drug possession exposed a pervasive cheating epidemic on base. After examining the text messages of four missile launch officers suspected of possessing illicit narcotics, investigators discovered test answers including classified information on their cell phones.
