That many?? Seriously??
I find it hard to believe. More likely Obastard is looking for an excuse to replace them with his loyal cronies.
I just read it. The 37 aren’t busted for drugs, they’re being busted for cheating on (having the answers for) a monthly proficiency exam, most likely their EWO (Emergency War Order) exam if I had to guess. Might also be a Code Handler exam. Missileers are/were required to train and test monthly on a number of key areas but the EWO training and exam are the most important since it involves the procedures and knowledge to execute nuclear release orders. Not sure what the exam passing scores are now but they used to be 90% minimum passing score under SAC. Failing an exam requires retraining and you are decertified until you are successfully retrained on the concepts.
To some extent, this went on even back in the 70s but where I was at it didn’t involve the EWO exams, it was usually monthly code handler exams where the questions became so chickenshit that became stump the dummy exercises. When it comes to the EWO exams there is no excuse, it is the most critical part of the job.
Many of us who were old SAC hands predicted this sad state of affairs in the early 90s when they did away with SAC and its strict rigor. The fighter jocks took over and all bets were off. Serving in SAC might have been a daily rectal exam experience but they tried to ensure that nuclear weapons and warplans were protected and strictly controlled.
Launch Officer is extremely stressful, as well as being incredibly boring. That some turn to drugs isn’t surprising.
The Air Force has always had problems with Launch Crew individuals, but never this publicized, I think.