The U.S. Army issued more specific guidance on extremism policies.
In one memo titled “Handling Protest, Extremist, and Criminal Gang Activities,” members of the Army cannot distribute “literature or other promotional materials, on or off a military installation, the primary purpose and content of which is to advocate for extremist activities, with the intent to promote that advocacy.”
Those in the Army are also prohibited from “engaging in electronic and cyber activities regarding extremist activities, or groups that support extremist activities-including posting, liking, sharing, re-tweeting, or otherwise distributing content-when such action is taken with the intent to promote or otherwise endorse extremist activities.”
“Military personnel are responsible for the content they publish on all personal and public internet domains, including social media platforms, biogs, websites, and applications,” the guidance states.
A previously extremist policy from 2020 merely said that “military personnel must reject participation in extremist organizations and associated cyber activities.”
Extremism may entail “advocating or engaging in unlawful force to achieve goals that are political, religious, discriminatory, or otherwise ideological in nature” and “advocating widespread unlawful discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, or sexual orientation,” among others.
Another policy, titled, ”Reporting Prohibited Activities,” explains how military officials report barred activity. Officials are to report prohibited behaviors to the DOD Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Diversity and Inclusion and Extremism in the Military, according to the document.
