Military Extremism: A Closer Look

Did you know that since 2017, over 480 people with military backgrounds have been linked to extremist crimes? Most famous, perhaps, is the role played by some 230 individuals with military ties in the January 6, 2021 insurrection. These numbers, while a tiny fraction of the overall military population, suggest a worrying trend. Surprisingly, plots involving ex-military personnel were more likely to aim for mass casualties, according to research by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland. Though Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stated that extremism isn’t widespread, the fact remains that there's a concerning pattern here.The situation grows even more serious when you consider that some of these individuals facing extremism charges have been flagged by their own colleagues as potential "insider threats. " This means co-workers recognized warning signs and red flags that weren’t immediately addressed or investigations didn't materialize. Why? Why weren’t these issues taken more seriously? These questions demand answers, especially when it comes to high-profile figures like the Trump administration's Pentagon pick. This isn’t just a problem for the military; it’s a societal one. It calls into question how extremism is dealt with in all sectors, not just the military. What can we do to change this reality? That’s a question we all should be asking and trying to answer.