- Pentagon reports 183 cases of extremism in the military, including 78 advocating for U.S. government overthrow.
- Other allegations: 44 terrorism advocacies and 58 gang activities.
- Army leads with 130 cases; Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Space Force follow.
- Varied reporting structures in military branches complicate data tracking.
- Post-Jan. 6 efforts intensified to train troops against extremist behaviors.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) recent report, detailing a significant rise in suspected extremist activities among military personnel, has raised concerns about internal threats to national security. According to the Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General, in fiscal 2023, there were 183 allegations of extremist behavior across the military branches. This represents a notable increase from 146 cases reported in 2022, although it is lower than the 270 allegations documented in 2021, the first year data was released to Congress. These statistics reveal an ongoing struggle within the military to address extremism. (Military.com, MilitaryTimes)
Most alarmingly, the report cites 78 service members suspected of advocating for the overthrow of the U.S. government, along with 44 instances of members supporting or engaging in terrorism. These numbers are part of a broader pattern of extremist activity that includes advocating for widespread discrimination or violence to achieve political goals, as well as involvement in criminal gang activities. In total, there were 58 allegations of gang-related activities within the military.(Military.com, MilitaryTimes, Stars and Stripes)
The report also sheds light on the challenges the military faces in tracking and responding to these allegations. The different branches of the military use varied reporting structures and systems, complicating the process of compiling accurate data. The Army, Navy, and Air Force each have their unique methods of reporting allegations, with the Army using several independent databases that make it difficult to track uninvestigated allegations. The Air Force and the Air National Guard face similar issues due to the complexity of cases and lack of a unified reporting system. The Navy reports that the process of reporting data to the Inspector General is time-consuming and confusing due to multiple policies. (MilitaryTimes, Stars and Stripes)
Despite these challenges, the report reveals that efforts are underway to address the problem. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has prioritized tackling extremism within the DoD, including training troops to recognize and report signs of extremist behavior. This focus emerged following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which included some service members and veterans among the mob. The Pentagon is aware that extremist groups, particularly far-right and anti-government organizations, target military veterans and encourage their followers to enlist for military training. The report underlines the need for a standardized process to improve tracking and reporting of prohibited activities. (Stars and Stripes)
The majority of allegations in 2023 came from the Army, with 130 soldiers suspected of extremist activities, followed by 29 from the Air Force, 10 each from the Navy and Marine Corps, and four from the Space Force. Of the total allegations, 69 were substantiated, leading to various forms of punishment, including courts-martial and involuntary discharges. However, the report does not specify which types of allegations led to these disciplinary measures. It also notes that 68 cases were investigated and cleared or deemed unsubstantiated, highlighting the complexity and sensitivity of addressing these issues within the military ranks. (Military.com, MilitaryTimes, Stars and Stripes)