January 6 triggered a widespread movement within the Defense Department to identify any “right-wing extremists” in the ranks. The Secretary of Defense ordered an “extremism shutdown day” and studies were commissioned to find out how deeply “extremism” was rooted in the military.
Hundreds of thousands of uniformed service members and I have undergone scenario-based extremism training. The training came with flagship videos intended to discourage everything from overt extremism to basic gun ownership.
Later, it would be revealed that there was no large swath of military personnel determined to demolish the country they had sworn to protect. However, this has not stopped one of the military academies from investing in an anti-extremism digital monitoring program. Otherwise known as espionage.
Vague by design
The United States Air Force Academy has purchased a contract to digitally monitor – spy on – cadets and faculty. The purpose of the program is to:
“…combat cadet conduct in digital media that has the potential to negatively impact culture and climate.”
Deputy Director of the Air Force Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development, Thomas Torkelson, said the monitoring program is part of:
“…a broader cultural concern at the Air Force Academy that is captured in a larger campaign.”
However, the definitions of “cultural concern” and “broader campaign” are unclear. This vague language allows for possible creative use of the monitoring system.
The fear is that a digital monitoring campaign like this could expand beyond the scope of “extremism.” It could also expand outside the walls of the Academy itself. And, of course, the definition of “extremism” will extend to banal views.
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Property of the People executive director Ryan Shapiro explains:
“The broad scope of the program reeks of calculated ambiguity. It seems tailor-made to serve as a vehicle for policing dissent, not only among military personnel but also among the broader public.”
According to the Academy, this program is intended to help shape and educate future DOD military leaders.
Character building?
Torkelson insists there’s nothing to worry about with a program designed to monitor cadets’ and faculty’s use of digital media. After all, he explains:
“The Academy’s mission is to develop leaders of character ready to serve their nation. We’re trying to educate them on a common thread in their character: what is the correct way to behave in an anonymous digital space, that’s all.”
So, what constitutes appropriate behavior in a digital space? What does the Academy consider “extreme” versus “acceptable” speech on social media and other online environments for its future leaders?
A major ideology embraced by the Air Force Academy is leftist gender ideology. This month, the Academy featured transgender activist Lt. Col. Bree Fram at the National Character and Leadership Symposium.
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When asked about the repercussions if a service member refers to a transgender service member by their biological pronoun, an Academy spokesperson said:
“Intentionally misgendering an individual may be considered harassment or discrimination under our equal opportunities policies.”
One wonders whether cadets or faculty whose religious or scientific beliefs do not align with the transgender movement would be considered “extremists.”
Take position
The DOD tasked the Institute for Defense Analyzes (IDA) with investigating the prevalence of extremism within the military ranks. The report presented by the IDA concluded:
“Racism and sexism continue to be problems in the military, but only a handful of violent extremists have been identified within the military ranks.”
In fact, the IDA has found fewer than 100 substantiated cases of violent extremism per year among the military. On the other hand, statements made by one of the most revered military leaders show some disturbing nuances.
At this month’s leadership symposium, Lt. Col. Fram said:
“Even though I don’t have a crystal ball, I can look out and say, ‘Well, either things are going to be great next year or I’m going to fight for my ability to continue to serve.’
Clearly referencing the upcoming presidential election, this statement was made not only by a military member at a conference, but by a commissioned officer wearing the United States uniform endorsing one presidential candidate over another. To put it another way, this was a commissioned military officer arguing that one political party over the other was not only in charge of the White House but held the position of commander in chief.
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The irony
The most shocking aspect of this purchase of a digital monitoring tool at the Academy is that the extremism experts who consulted with the DOD were surprised by it. Bishop Garrison, who was a member of the Pentagon’s Working Group on Extremism, said of the program:
“This is not something we’ve talked about, and it’s not something I’ve ever heard of in the military. I think this will have to be looked at thoroughly because it has the potential to be a Fourth Amendment issue and could potentially violate key privacy protections.
Electronic Frontier Foundation policy analyst Matthew Guariglia echoed Garrison’s concerns, saying:
“The concern here, as always, is mission risk: the idea that a program designed to detect serious threats could be used to penalize people for their beliefs, associations, or creative expressions.”
All Americans should ask themselves: How long will it be before these same measures are taken against the general public? The military has long been a launching pad for policies and initiatives that have since been implemented nationwide.
I leave you with this final note. At a DOD pride event in 2022, Lt. Col. Fram said this:
“Remember that Pride doesn’t start with a celebration, but with a riot.”
To think that even the digital monitoring program intended to eradicate extremism was born out of an uprising. Some riots are meant to be celebrated by the DOD, while others are used as tools to stifle individual freedoms.
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