Pentagon Plan to Fight Extremism in the Ranks Is a Start, But Experts Say Problems Loom – By Konstantin Toropin (Military.com) / December 21, 2021
Experts who study extremism are calling the Pentagon’s latest report and plan to combat extremism in the ranks a step in the right direction, but one that relies on an already problematic approach — leaving the issue for commanders to fix.
The 21-page report, released Monday, created new guidelines for activities that are banned for service members by adding more detail and clarity on what constitutes extremist activity as well as “active participation.”
Since the Pentagon began discussing a crackdown, it has lacked a clear definition of what types of actions would get service members in trouble. Most troops aren’t broadcasting membership in extremist groups, and what constitutes support had previously been ambiguous.
