Following the recent scandal caused by the incident, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has moved to fire every cadet that gave a Nazi salute in a recent class photo. Justice’s decision falls in line with the recommended actions called for by an investigation into the situation.

Two trainers and a cadet were fired, while the other 34 seen in the photo were suspended. In addition to recommending the firing of every cadet, the investigation into the photo suggested that other staff members should be fired, while several instructors who failed to report the situation should be suspended without pay.

The photo was released on Dec. 5 and showed members of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety’s Basic Training Class 18 unmistakably raising their arms in Nazi salutes. The faces in the photo were blurred out and the phrase “Hail Byrd!”

Investigations into the incident found that the salute had been used by the class during training as a “sign of respect” for an instructor with the last name Byrd. The instructor in question has said that she was unfamiliar with the historical context of the gesture. This claim has been refuted by a handful of sources.

“The investigation disclosed that she encouraged it, reveled in it, and at times reciprocated the gesture,” the report reads. “Additionally, Byrd appeared to overrule the corrective actions taken by others and assured the cadets the behavior was acceptable.”

When forwarded the photo and asked to explain the salutes, Byrd reportedly said that it was acceptable and cited the racial and cultural diversity of the cadets in the photo as a defense.

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