Air Force investigates graffiti of Swastikas, racial slurs

Graffiti containing profanity, swastikas, and a racial slur was found spray-painted on the garage doors of a housing unit at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. The incident was reported to the 5th Security Forces Squadron on April 1, and officials are investigating the case.

The base has a zero-tolerance policy for vandalism and discrimination, said Col. Dan Hoadley, the commander of the 5th Bomb Wing. He emphasized that the behavior was abhorrent, unacceptable, and did not align with Air Force core values. The Ward County Sheriff’s Department and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation are assisting in the investigation.

According to a base spokesman, no other similar incidents have been reported in the past year. It is unclear whether the families whose unit was spray-painted will be moved or have already moved because of the incident. However, Col. Hoadley said he has engaged personally with the affected families to ensure their needs are taken care of.

Situated approximately 130 miles north of Bismarck, North Dakota, Minot Air Force Base is home to around 12,000 residents, including about 5,500 active-duty and reserve personnel. The vast 5,000-acre facility is unique in that it operates both the 5th Bomb Wing’s B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers and the 91st Missile Wing’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, making it the only installation of its kind in the service.

The graffiti incident marks the latest incident to make headlines out of Minot. In late February, Col. Gregory Mayer, the commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the commander of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, as well as four subordinates, were fired from their jobs. A defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the service members were not fired for any improper personal conduct but rather due to concerns regarding a failed safety inspection.

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The Air Force base officials have emphasized the need for a safe and secure environment for all individuals living and working on the base. The incident has been met with widespread condemnation from the Air Force community and beyond. The investigation into the graffiti incident is ongoing, and officials have vowed to take appropriate.