West Virginia Governor Approves Firing All Cadets Who Posed In Nazi-Like Salute Photo

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced Monday he has approved recommendations to fire all of the correctional officer cadets who participated in an apparent Nazi salute during a class photo.

"As I said from the beginning, I condemn the photo of Basic Training Class 18 in the strongest possible terms," Justice said in a statement.

"I also said that this act needed to result in real consequences — terminations and dismissals," he added. "This kind of behavior will not be tolerated on my watch in any agency of State government."

Two academy trainers and a cadet were fired after the photo was first released by the state's Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety on Dec. 5. Thirty-four others were put on unpaid leave.

A third staff member who failed to report the contents of the photograph will also be fired, bringing the total number of staff terminations to three. Additionally, four academy instructors who are known to have seen the picture and failed to report it will also be suspended without pay.