Army leaders call out extremism, other ‘corrosive behavior’

The Army’s top civilian leader on Wednesday called on the force to combat “corrosive behavior” including discrimination, extremist views and sexual harassment.

“Corrosive behavior such as discrimination, extremism and sexual harassment or assault have no place in our formations and tear at the fabric of the Army,” acting Army Secretary John Whitley said in a prerecorded message to the service.

Whitley added that combating these corrosives “can’t be a one-time spot check,” likely referring to the recently ordered Pentagon-wide “stand-down,” during which commanders must take a day to address extremism with their units.

“To maintain our combat effectiveness and remain the best Army in the world, we must live the Army values each and every day,” he added.

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, the most senior enlisted member of the service, released his own statement on Wednesday calling on leaders to broach the topic with those under them.

“Have you talked to your teams about extremism? My goal is that everyone trusts their leaders and teammates enough to have these difficult conversations and confront these issues together,” Grinston tweeted.

The messages come a week after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the stand-down in the next 60 days in an effort to tackle extremism, an issue that has long been known to exist in the ranks but was put on stark display after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol carried by supporters of former President Trump. 

Nearly 20 percent of people arrested in connection with the insurrection were found to have military ties, according to a review of court cases. 

Austin, the first Black secretary of Defense, during his nomination hearing also pledged to “fight hard to stamp out sexual assault, to rid our ranks of racists and extremists, and to create a climate where everyone fit and willing has the opportunity to serve this country with dignity.”

Whitley and Grinston’s posts also follow that of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, who a day earlier called on the fleet to oust extremism after two incidents where a noose and hate speech graffiti were found aboard ships.

“We cannot be under any illusions that extremist behaviors do not exist in our Navy,” Gilday said in a message to the fleet.