An internal “training module” singles out a range of groups, ideologies and symbols seen as primary insider threats.
Betsy Woodruff Swan and Bryan Bender, March 27, 2021
Flags from the left-wing Antifa movement. Depictions of Pepe the Frog, the cartoon character that’s been misappropriated by racist groups. Iconography from the far-right Proud Boys, including the phrase “stand back and stand by” from former President Donald Trump.
They are all signs that extremists could be infiltrating the military, according to internal training materialsthat offer a more detailed view into the array of radical groups and ideologies the Pentagon is trying to keep out of the ranks.
“There are members of the [Department of Defense] who belong to extremist groups or actively participate in efforts to further extremist ideologies,” states a 17-page briefing obtained by POLITICO that was compiled by the DoD Insider Threat Management and Analysis Center, which is part of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.
