BBC News, 11
October 2013
 |
| The Air Force cited General Carey's behaviour on a temporary duty assignment |
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Stories
The general
in charge of the US Air Force's long-range nuclear missiles has been sacked due
to "loss of trust and confidence", officials have said.
The Air
Force said Maj Gen Michael Carey's removal was for "behaviour during a
temporary duty assignment".
The sacking
was not linked to the operation of the nuclear arsenal, which was safe, the
officials insisted.
On
Wednesday the US Navy announced an admiral overseeing nuclear weapons forces
had been sacked from the role.
That was
due to illegal gambling activities, officials said.
'Unfortunate'
Michael
Carey is a two-star general in the 20th Air Force and was responsible for
maintaining intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at three bases across
the US - a total of 450 missiles.
In a
statement, the Air Force said Lt Gen James Kowalski, the commander of Air Force
Global Strike Command, had made the decision.
It read:
"Kowalski made his decision based on information from an Inspector General
investigation into Carey's behaviour during a temporary duty assignment.
 |
| An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is test launched in May from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California |
"The
allegations are not related to operational readiness or the inspection results
of any 20th AF unit, nor do they involve sexual misconduct."
Gen
Kowalski said: "It's unfortunate that I've had to relieve an officer who's
had an otherwise distinctive career spanning 35 years of commendable
service."
Gen
Kowalski oversees all Air Force nuclear weapons, including aircraft-delivered.
The vice
commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, Maj Gen Jack Weinstein, is temporarily
replacing Gen Carey.
The Air Force's biography of Gen Carey says he is in charge of 9,600 people at three
operational wings and served in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
It lists 13 major awards he has received.
 |
| Adm Giardina was removed over gambling concerns |
On
Wednesday the Navy announced that Vice-Adm Tim Giardina had been removed as
second-in-command of US Strategic Command.
His job was
to oversee the nation's nuclear weapons forces.
He is
accused of using counterfeit gambling chips in "a significant monetary
amount" at an Iowa casino.
Adm
Giardina was demoted to a two-star admiral and is being reassigned pending
outcome of an inquiry.
The two
sackings follow several other incidents affecting the US military's nuclear
establishment.
In August,
a nuclear missile unit at Malstrom Air Force base in Montana failed a safety
and security inspection, after which a senior security officer was relieved of
duty.
In 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.
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