Negative Experiences in Military Service Drive Veteran Radicalization
A recent study conducted by the RAND Corporation has shed light on the significant role negative experiences during military service play in driving extremist beliefs among veterans. The study, which surveyed 21 veterans, found that one or more negative experiences in the military were the most consistent attribute for those expressing right- or left-wing extremist views. While the report also highlighted external catalysts such as former President Donald Trump and the events of January 6, it emphasized that negative and traumatic life events during and after military service were key factors in radicalization.
The study identified a range of extremist movements supported by the sample group, including QAnon, the Proud Boys, the Five Percent Nation, KKK, Antifa, the Nation of Islam, and the New Black Panthers. It revealed a considerable presence of negative and traumatic life events experienced by interviewees while in the military and during their transition to civilian life. While the study acknowledged the need for further research due to its small sample size, its general conclusions aligned with findings from other studies on the subject.
Another study conducted by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland found that extremists with military backgrounds were 2.41 times more likely to be classified as mass casualty offenders. While the study clarified that service members and veterans are not inherently more likely to radicalize to the point of violence compared to the general population, it highlighted that when they do radicalize, they are more likely to plan or commit mass casualty crimes, posing a significant threat to public safety.
A 2018 report from the Department of Justice also identified prior military service as a risk factor for violent extremism, along with other factors such as social isolation, being single, living alone, and being male. These findings have prompted calls from Pentagon leadership and members of Congress for greater efforts to address extremism within the military ranks.
In response to these concerns, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin initiated steps to combat extremist activities within the military, including implementing training programs and engaging senior officers, law enforcement, and legal advisers in counter-extremist efforts. Both liberal and conservative lawmakers have urged action to identify and address service members involved with extremist groups to maintain order and discipline within the armed forces.
However, the central finding of the RAND report suggests that veterans with negative military experiences are at higher risk of radicalization. This challenges the notion that extremism is primarily infiltrating the military from external sources. A report commissioned by the Defense Department also found no evidence of a disproportionate number of violent extremists in the military compared to the general population.
Negative experiences such as sexual and psychological abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse resulting from military service were cited by veterans as contributing factors to their radicalization. These experiences also reflect the broader recruiting crisis faced by the military in attracting qualified young individuals to serve.
As discussions continue on addressing extremism within the military, there is a growing recognition of the need to evaluate the impact of military service itself on individuals. Programs aimed at addressing the hardships faced by soldiers during their service and transition to civilian life are seen as crucial steps in preventing radicalization among veterans. By focusing on supporting service members through their military experience and beyond, efforts can be made to address the root causes of extremism within the veteran community.