The military has a hate group problem. But it doesn't know how bad it's gotten.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The Pentagon is confronting a resurgence of white supremacy and other right-wing ideologies in the ranks and is scrambling to track how acute the problem has become in the Trump era.

It's an issue that has simmered in the military for years, but is now front and center following signs that former military personnel played a role in the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol last week.

Tackling the influence of hate groups, racist propaganda and anti-government sentiment in the officer corps and enlisted ranks must be an immediate task for Joe Biden’s pick for secretary of Defense, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, according to lawmakers, retired military leaders and experts on extremism. If confirmed, Austin would be the first Black defense secretary.

“There is a crisis issue: the rise of extremism and white supremacy in the ranks,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a retired Army officer and member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in an interview. “That has been fueled by President [Donald] Trump, unfortunately. So that has to be dealt with right away and unequivocally. That’s top of the list.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/military-hate-group-problem-doesnt-005510798.html

We had to take race relation classes when I was in over 40 years ago. Don't know how effective they were but I don't remember anyone belonging to a white supremist group.

[judesedit]

1. Trump himself called them suckers and losers

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I reported one of my former students yesterday.

He is national guard officer, his mom was a big tea party nutcase. His posts on fb and twitter were scary after the 6th. I was afraid he would be called up so I called the army and reported my concerns.

[Bluethroughu]

6. Thank you for your service

This is how we begin to fix this.

[leftieNanner]

3. They hear Rush Limbaugh on Armed Forces Radio

Every day! That certainly can't help.

[crickets]

5. That has got to stop.

Rush Limbaugh shouldn't be on Armed Forces Radio of all things. WTH?

[leftieNanner]

7. A good friend's son joined the Marines a few years ago

Left home as a good democrat, came back a rabid republican.

[redstatebluegirl]

9. That happened to my brother over 40 years ago.

[pfitz59]

8. Fux News is played constantly

on most TVs in many bases.

[pandr32]

11. I've heard the same

[Bluethroughu]

10. WTF?

He is?
Disgusting!
No wonder these people are radicalized!

They believe if the Military allows this kind of radio show, he must be speaking truth!

[Hoyt]

4. A good chunk of our military are people who joined up to kill Muslims? That's evidence of a hater.

I get people who joined up for a better future, out of some real sense of patriotism, to help (although I'd suggest Peace Corp, National Guard, or Coast Guard for that), etc.

But those wanting to participate in 21st Century Crusades or training to kill are the problem.

[Cirque du So-What]

12. Nearly 50 years ago, discrimination was taken seriously in the armed fotces

I recall several individuals getting dealt with severely for charges ranging from using racial epithets to sporting white supremacist tattoos. The military of that era was ahead of the nation as a whole IMO.

[llashram]

13. We had Confederate sympathizers

in our company in Vietnam. A quiet tension was always present between then and us company side. When we had to take care of business, self-preservation does kick in. Sweep it clean. Troops and officers know who they are. The worst that can happen? Trump has his army, we have the can of whoop-ass. Large can. Huge can.

[Alacritous Crier]

14. My ship had...

a fair amount of KKK and other WS. I was onboard 80-83

[Sgent]

15. I'm not shocked

to see it among lower level enlisted personnel, but to have senior sergeants and field grade officers involved is starting to get scary.