Posted on Apr 2, 2021
Military must do more to weed out white supremacists, extremists
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2021/03/30/our-view-military-must-do-more-weed-out-extremists/ [login to see] /
When a closet extremist named Brandon Russell joined the Florida Army National Guard in 2016, examiners took note of an odd tattoo on his right shoulder.
It looked like a radiation-warning symbol, but apparently didn't raise concerns. It should have. It was the emblem for a violent neo-Nazi organization Russell had founded. "I was 100% open about everything with the friends I made at training," Russell later boasted online about the acceptance of his views among other troops. "They know all about it. They love me too cause I'm a funny guy."
Extremism in the military is hardly a laughing matter, and evidence is mounting that it's long past time for the Pentagon to take it seriously.
When a closet extremist named Brandon Russell joined the Florida Army National Guard in 2016, examiners took note of an odd tattoo on his right shoulder.
It looked like a radiation-warning symbol, but apparently didn't raise concerns. It should have. It was the emblem for a violent neo-Nazi organization Russell had founded. "I was 100% open about everything with the friends I made at training," Russell later boasted online about the acceptance of his views among other troops. "They know all about it. They love me too cause I'm a funny guy."
Extremism in the military is hardly a laughing matter, and evidence is mounting that it's long past time for the Pentagon to take it seriously.
Military must do more to weed out white supremacists, extremists
Posted from usatoday.comPosted in these groups: Florida ARNG
Pentagon
Pentagon
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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Gee, I endured hours of lecture on discrimination. More hours of EEO training on computers. I never saw white supremest in the military. I did read about minorities creating hoaxes such as the incident at the Air Force Academy. The press is pushing an agenda. Funny how Asian discrimination agenda has stopped. Most of those committing attacks against Asian were from another minority. Can we give the BS a rest?
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LTC David Brown
SrA John Monette - of course there are always bad actors. The military doesn’t launch witch hunts every time an incident occurs in the military. I hope the military is using cyber investigation of recruits etc. It s interesting that a few years back I read an article about American gang tags being found in war zones around 5he world. Military officials were concerned gang members were going to tilize military training on city streets and to train other gang members. I don’t recall a witch hunt of this caliber. So it iis less of a treat to be a gang member than a white supremest? There are articles on gang activity in the military going back to 2011. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/08/17/army-street-gang-activity-increasing-internal-report-shows.html
Army Street Gang Activity Is Increasing, Internal Report Shows
In the Army, the gang-related crime investigations ran the gamut from murder to absences without leave.
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SrA John Monette
LTC David Brown - i would treat the white supremacist threat more seriously. wasn't there a problem in the late 70's and early 80's with gang members enlisting?
i certainly hope social media sites are being looked at for every potential recruit too. people don't realize that whatever they post is going to be there forever.
i certainly hope social media sites are being looked at for every potential recruit too. people don't realize that whatever they post is going to be there forever.
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SrA John Monette
MSgt Steve Sweeney - things that make you go "hmmmmm". both of his responses were rife with misspellings.
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SrA John Monette
LTC David Brown - yes, it is less of a treat to be a gang member. they usually have to get "jumped in" whereas all a white supremacist has to do is hate anyone who isn't white. so there's that
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White supremacy today radical Islam yesterday and tomorrow who knows? Possibly spook supremacy.
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PFC (Join to see)
MSgt Steve Sweeney I understand what other context and connotation that word means. Way to take a tongue to cheek moment out of hand. As the article states all extremism is a threat but white supremacy is the biggest now. Who knows what other extremism will form tomorrow or 100 years from now.
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