The US Air Force suspended 34 officers in charge of launching nuclear weapons over accusations they cheated on proficiency tests.  The cheating allegations emerged after another investigation uncovered an alleged drug ring involving bases across the US and in England.

The cheating allegedly occurred at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, where members of the nuclear missile staff are required to take monthly tests to prove their fitness.  Some blatantly used text messages to exchange answers among officers.

“Some officers did it,” Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said of the cheating.  “Others apparently knew about it, and it appears that they did nothing, or at least not enough, to stop it or to report it.”

34 officers have had their security clearance revoked.

Three Malmstrom nuclear officers were among ten scattered across six bases in the US and England to be investigated for allegedly using and dealing synthetic marijuana (often called Spice) and Ecstasy.

America’s nuclear weapons program is troubled.  In October, Air Force Major General Michael Carey was sacked from his gig in charge of America's long-range nuclear missiles after a rip-roaring drunken bender in Russia.  Days earlier, the Navy sacked Vice Admiral Tim Giardina for illegal gambling.

In August 2013, an officer was relieved of duty when a nuclear missile unit at Malmstrom failed a safety and security inspection.  And last May, it was reported that 17 officers in charge of maintaining nuclear missiles were sidelined over safety violations at Minot Air Force base in North Dakota.