Military woes: Probe finds aviators 'worked to death'

The Air Force overworking and undertraining its crew members may have led to a fatal collision involving helicopters like this one

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada (CNN) -- The presidential candidates have been trading conflicting claims lately about the healthiness of the U.S. military.

Vice President Al Gore maintains the United States has the best-trained and the best-equipped military in the world and its morale remains high. Gov. George W. Bush says the U.S. military is in decline; sagging under the weight of constant deployments with its members suffering from low pay and morale.

CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre describes how a tragedy two years ago was an urgent wakeup call and impetus for change when he visited Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Military investigators concluded that some aviators in a helicopter rescue squadron had been essentially "worked to death."

Watch McIntyre's full report on CNN, tonight at 8 p.m. EDT, on "The World Today." Then read the full story here on CNN.com.

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Nellis Air Force Base, NV
Failing Our Protectors (washingtonpost.com)

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