Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced plans to update screening procedures for military recruits as part of an effort to weed out extremism among the nation’s troops, according to a memo released Friday.
The development comes after the Pentagon last week concluded its 60-day “stand down” to address extremism and white supremacy in the military in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
In the memo on Friday, Austin said: “The vast majority of those who serve in uniform and their civilian colleagues do so with great honor and integrity, but any extremist behavior in the force can have an outsized impact.”
The defense secretary called for additional screening of potential recruits, demanding that military services ask recruits a standardized set of questions “to solicit specific information about current or previous extremist behavior.”
It’s notable that Pentagon policy does not specifically prohibit membership in many of those groups and that Friday’s actions do not ban current service members from being members of such organizations.
The memo said that the updated screening procedures will still help officials to “clarify that any demonstrably false answers provided in response could form the basis for punitive action for fraudulent enlistment.”
The Pentagon had acknowledged in February that white supremacist and similar fringe groups “very aggressively recruit soon-to-be veterans.”
Austin also announced on Friday steps that include setting up a working group that will immediately be tasked with developing a checklist that includes training for retiring service members who are often targeted by extremist groups and reviewing the department’s definition of extremism.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters on Friday that unaffiliated, lone-wolf extremists would also likely be considered as the Pentagon updates its definition.
“It’s not just about group membership,” Kirby said on Friday, adding: “Some of this radicalization occurs on an individual level.”
How about they start with this guy? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/extremists-military-shawn-mccaffrey-white-nationalist_n_60706a94c5b634fd437d8e09
To weed out or to weed in?
Start by getting rid of those 39% of marines who refuse to be vaccinated.
39% of marines are exhibiting cowardice in the face of the enemy.
What about the extremists already serving?
And, at least as far as extremist opinions go, I’m not sure how they could. Unlike, say, Germany (which I happen to know fairly well), the First Amendment here would be a pretty strong impediment to any attempt to “weed out” based on political beliefs or statements.
Now, action is another thing – groups that are actively involved in … just to pick an example completely at random … storming the Capitol and threatening lawmakers, I’d think could be treated no differently than membership in a criminal gang (which is what these so-called militia groups actually are).
But, of course, I Am Not A Lawyer. I look forward to hearing from some of the actual practitioners here.