The U.S. Air Force is investigating alleged drug activity by 14 members of the nuclear weapons security force at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, the Air Force said Friday.
The 14 junior enlisted airmen are part of the security detachment assigned to the 90th Missile Wing and have been suspended from their duties while the investigation is underway, Gen. Robin Rand said during a conference call with reporters.
Some of their duties include guarding the missile fields and launch facilities while others perform law enforcement duties on the base, Rand said. He added that the 90th Missile Wing has 1,300 airmen assigned to these security roles.
Rand, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said that the alleged drug activity occurred while the airmen were off-duty but would not say whether it happened on or off base.
The investigation, which began after a fellow airman reported their suspicions up the chain of command, is being carried out by the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations, officials said.
The 90th Missile Wing operates 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to the base’s website.
“This has not had an operational impact on the 90th missile wing or any other aspect of Air force Global Strike Command,” Rand added.