Extremism; a troubling trend for US military, Pentagon report shows
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The report details incidents of criminal gang activity, promotion of widespread prejudice, and advocating or engaging in violence to attain political aims.
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US service members wait at the Pope Army Airfield before deploying to Europe at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (AFP)
Extremism in the US military ranks is a troubling trend, according to an annual Pentagon study reported by the RT, and the 78 service personnel who were suspected of advocating for the overthrow of their own government are clear proof of that.
The report issued this week showed that 44 military personnel were suspected of supporting or engaging in terrorism in the previous year. According to RT, the 183 charges of extremism across all branches of America's military represented a 25% rise in comparison to the previous year's level.
Among the findings are incidents of criminal gang activity, promotion of widespread prejudice, and advocating or engaging in violence to attain political aims, in addition to incidents where members promoted revolution or backed terrorism.
Since 2021, when President Joe Biden assumed office and began highlighting the risks presented by white supremacist terrorism, the Pentagon has begun sharing extremism statistics with the US Congress.
In December 2021, Lloyd Austin, the Defense Secretary, authorized a 60-day "stand down" in early 2021 to devise regulations to combat extremism throughout the military's many branches.
The crackdown was prompted, at least in part, by the January 2021 US Capitol riot, in which dozens of military veterans and a few active-duty troops attempted to prevent legislative certification of Biden's presidential election victory.
The guidelines barred military officers from engaging in extremist activities where they may face disciplinary action even for "liking" terrorist information on social media.
Additionally, officers cannot be "indifferent" and must hold military personnel who engage in extremist activity accountable.
According to the Pentagon's most recent annual extremism evaluation, the US Army has the most alleged cases of any military department, with claims filed against 130 members. The Navy and Marine Corps each reported 10 cases, while the Air Force had 29. More than 30% of all claims were investigated and judged to be baseless or unsubstantiated.
US soldiers, senior army officers members of Neo-Nazi active club
Several current and former members of the United States military are enlisted as members of a neo-Nazi “active club”, The Guardian revealed in August. Among the US military members are a lance corporal machine gunner currently in detention on insubordination charges, Mohammed Wadaa, and a former US Marine Corps staff sergeant who was booted from the service for stealing large quantities of ammunition, Gunnar Naughton.
Wadaa and Naughton are part of the "active club" Clockwork Crew, according to the group’s own internal research records and social media posts, as well as law enforcement sources.
The Clockwork Crew, formerly Crew 562, has been identified as a neo-Nazi "active club" based in California, The Guardian reported. Active clubs are a cause of concern to law enforcement because they consist of white nationalists and are involved in combat sports training and the recruitment of current and former members of the United States military. Some of its members have served in various branches of the military, including the Marine Corps. The Clockwork Crew is noted for its aggressive and confrontational approach, engaging in public demonstrations of their extremist beliefs.
The founders and members of the Clockwork Crew include individuals with ties to various hate groups and extremist ideologies. Wadaa, who co-founded the group, participated in the group's activities and was found guilty of advocating extremist ideology and having extremist tattoos. He has been sentenced to military confinement and a bad conduct discharge.
