The Air Force fired a security unit commander on Wednesday after his unit lost a machine gun and 19 grenades within the span of less than three weeks.
Col. Jason Beers, former commander of the 91st Security Forces Group at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, was fired Wednesday “due to loss of trust and confidence after a series of events under the scope of his leadership, including a recent loss of ammunition and weapons,” according to a statement from Minot.
The unit lost a container filled with 19 grenades on May 1 after the box fell off of a Humvee. Less than three weeks later, it was discovered during a regular inventory check that the M240 machine gun was missing, reports the Air Force Times.
The Air Force’s Office of Special Investigation launched an investigation and the Global Strike Command, which oversees the Air Force’s nuclear missiles and bombers, ordered a weapons inventory check following the incidents.
Neither the machine gun nor the grenades have been located, despite Minot reportedly offering a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to their recovery.
The release also details Beers’ prior responsibilities.
“Beers was responsible for ensuring the 91st SFG was trained, organized and equipped to secure 150 Minuteman III missiles and launch facilities and 15 missile alert facilities geographically separated throughout 8,500 square miles of the missile complex,” the statement reads.
