Air Force fires nuclear base workers

(RT) ⸻ The US Air Force has dismissed six military service members who were stationed at a key nuclear base, including two commanders, due to "loss of confidence" in their ability to perform assigned duties. The firings occurred at Minot Air Force Base in Ward County, North Dakota, which is the only US military base that hosts two legs of the nuclear triad. Colonel Gregory Mayer, the head of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Major Jonathan Welch, the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, were the two senior officers whose dismissal was announced on Monday by Air Force Global Strike Command. Four subordinates of the two commanders were axed as well. The Air Force declined to explain what exactly had led to the decision, but Gebara assured the public that the military remained "committed to the success of [its] no-fail mission" of strategic deterrence. Mayer has a 25-year-long career under his belt, with experience in civil engineering, and took charge of 1,900 airmen and military assets worth $4.3 billion. In 2013, Associated Press reported that an inspection of the base unearthed what one commander described as "rot," including weapons safety-rule violations, possible code compromises and other failings being tolerated.