does the us military accept people who are racist, homophobic, trans-phobes, and white supremacists?
Seems they don’t want these type people but some manage to still get in.
+10
The U.S. military has official policies designed to prevent the recruitment and retention of individuals who engage in racist, white supremacist, or extremist activities, as these are viewed as detrimental to unit cohesion, good order, and discipline.
U.S. Department of War (.gov) +2
However, the military's ability to screen out people based solely on their internal beliefs or ideologies is complex, and in practice, instances of extremism, white supremacy, and discrimination have been reported within the ranks.
The Guardian +2
Policies on Racism and White Supremacy
- Zero Tolerance Policy: The Department of Defense (DoD) expressly prohibits military personnel from actively advocating for supremacist, extremist, or criminal gang doctrine, ideology, or causes.
- Active vs. Passive Participation: While "active participation" (such as recruiting, fundraising, or public advocacy) is strictly forbidden and can lead to administrative or criminal punishment, some military officials have testified that "passive" association or holding beliefs without acting on them is harder to prohibit, raising concerns among civil rights groups.
- Command Accountability: Commanders are responsible for identifying, investigating, and intervening when they see signs that troops are associating with extremist ideologies.
U.S. Department of War (.gov) +3
Policies on Homophobia and Transphobia
- Inclusion Policy: Current Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) policies prohibit harassment and unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Transgender Service: Policies on transgender service have shifted between administrations. As of 2021, policy allowed transgender individuals to serve openly and access gender-affirming care. However, subsequent political actions and executive orders have targeted these policies, creating volatility in the status of transgender service members, with some directives aiming to bar them entirely.
- Harassment: While individual discriminatory viewpoints may exist, harassing or discriminating against service members based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a violation of military policy.
Advocates for Trans Equality +3
Challenges and Reported Incidents
- Ideology in the Ranks: Surveys have shown that a significant percentage of service members report witnessing white nationalism or ideologically driven racism within the ranks.
- "Woke" Debate: There is internal debate, with some arguing that initiatives designed to promote diversity and inclusion (DEI) are weakening the military, while others argue that a diverse force is essential to military effectiveness.
- Extremist Activity: The DoD Inspector General has received reports of domestic extremism, and efforts are ongoing to strengthen screening to prevent extremists from joining.
The Guardian +4
In summary, the US military
officially does not accept individuals who actively engage in or support racist, white supremacist, or hateful ideologies. However, reports suggest that such individuals sometimes infiltrate the force, leading to ongoing efforts to identify and remove them.