Probe uncovers cheating by U.S. Air Force's nuclear officers

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Thirty-four U.S. Air Force nuclear weapons officers cheated on a proficiency test or knew cheating was going on and kept quiet, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

The offending officers, who were "decertified," comprise nearly a fifth of the officers tasked with monitoring the Air Force's nuclear arsenal, CNN reported.

"This was a failure of integrity," Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said.

Sixteen cheaters used text messages to share exam answers, officials said while the rest of the officers knew the cheating was taking place and failed to report it, CNN said.