Some Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee questioned whether white nationalism and other forms of extremism are as rampant in the military as some people say, Politico reports.
“We lack any concrete evidence that violent extremism is as ripe in the military as some commentators claim,” Rep. Mike Rogers (Ala.), the committee’s top Republican, said Wednesday during a hearing on the issue. “While I agree with my colleagues that these numbers should be zero, this is far from the largest military justice issue facing our armed services.”
The issue has become a hot topic, especially after revelations that some military members and veterans participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and that some white nationalist groups try to recruit active duty and retired service members.
“We don’t know for sure how large the problem is,” Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said. “That’s why we’re having the conversation.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declared a forces-wide “extremism stand-down,” ordering commanders to talk with service members about the issue by early April.
A new Army training program on the subject is getting mixed reviews from soldiers, Stars and Stripes reports.
“You had a few people who were very loud and boisterous about their opinion, but then the majority of people were just [like], ‘This was kind of a waste of time,’” a staff sergeant from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, told the paper.
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Angel Thuy Jaskuloski