Trump Vows to Create ‘Anti-Woke’ Military Task Force, Targeting Progressive Generals
At a rally in North Carolina recently, Trump, the former President of the United States declared his intention to start a force that would be tasked with identifying what he refers to as ‘woke generals’ in the military. The declaration arrived after a question from a former Space Force commander, Matthew Lohmeier, who was fired last year for speaking out against military diversity indoctrination.
Army Chiefs Come Under Fire
Trump’s declaration has only brought discourse on political affiliation back into focus as a determinant within the military force. The former president avowed on live television that progressive military commanders would be “gone” if he were to be re-elected for another term, a statement that was cheered by his supporters. This position is consistent with his other complaints about military management, especially demanding Milley’s resignation in 2021 over a general’s advocacy for educational courses to discuss racism and identity in service academies.
It goes beyond leadership toward more general questions as to how diversity and inclusion training contributes to military preparation. Some using social dynamics to advance backlash believe it makes the armed forces better, while Trump and Lohmeier, and others deny the argument, stating that it weakens and divides the military. This debate corresponds to a broader discussion of the relationship between more conservative armed forces and the changing culture in America.
Recommendations for the Military
The implications of the proposed task force are huge if it is put into practice affecting military training and culture. Lohmeier, who will reportedly be part of this initiative, previously authored “Irresistible Revolution: In his op-eds “The Left’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military” the author demonstrates that today’s military training is infused with Marxist and critical race theory ideas. This particular approach has become popular among the conservatives who regard such training as counterproductive and disruptive to the unity of the military.
But military commanders like General Milley have argued that such things as social events are critical to understand, especially in the wake of the January 6th Capitol incident. Milley’s comment about expressing the desire to study “white rage” and its links to domestic terrorism only, shows that there’s always a creepy connection between the military’s preparedness and social consciousness. As stated by the homeland counters, domestic violent extremism including that of service members is still a major security threat in the US.
