Air Force Punishes 15 Service Members Over Teixeira Leak at Massachusetts Guard Base

Following the disclosure of secret material earlier this year by 21-year-old Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, the United States Air Force has acted against 15 officers and personnel of the Air National Guard.

The Air Force revealed in a report given to Congress on Monday that Teixeira apparently acted alone when he posted hundreds of secret papers on social media. The 15 members of the Air National Guard who were disciplined were, however, said to have been negligent due to a "lack of supervision."

Inadequate inspection of command areas, inconsistent guidance on reporting security incidents, different definitions of the 'Need to Know' concept, confusion between classified system access and the 'Need to Know' principle, ineffective disciplinary action procedures, lack of supervision during night shift operations, and failure to provide security clearance field investigation results were some of the indirect factors highlighted by the Air Force's investigation as contributing to the leak.

At the beginning of this year, Teixeira, who was stationed at the Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, was taken into custody for publishing secret material on a gaming website. The material included facts about the United States and its allies as well as information pertaining to the war between Russia and Ukraine. In June, he pleaded "not guilty" to six charges of illegal disclosure of national security secrets. He is now awaiting trial.

In a statement sent to Military.com on Monday, Air Force Spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said that fifteen people, with ranks ranging from E-5 to O-6, were subject to disciplinary and administrative procedures that began on September 7. Dismissal from duty and other nonjudicial punishments were part of the penalties outlined in Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said, emphasizing the significance of protecting such information, stating, "Every airman and Guardian is entrusted with the solemn duty to safeguard our nation’s classified defense information. When there is a breach of that sacred trust, for any reason, we will act in accordance with our laws and policies to hold responsible individuals accountable."

The inquiry shed light on the need to address systemic flaws and improve supervision within the Air National Guard, since it found no indication that senior commanders were aware of Teixeira's conduct.

The need for improved security measures in military operations and the difficulties presented by changing communication technologies are both highlighted by this occurrence. Following the Teixeira breach, the Air Force took measures against the 15 service members implicated, demonstrating its unwavering dedication to responsibility and the protection of sensitive material.

The Air Force hopes to gather insight from this episode and improve its procedures to avoid future disclosures of sensitive information as the legal actions against Teixeira continues. The 15 people' experiences highlight the military's commitment to maintaining strict discipline and security requirements.

Source Link is given below:

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/12/air-force-punishes-15-troops/