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Hegseth: Hater Not Lover
Each day’s news brings more reports of changes being made across the military as a result of the new Secretary of Defense. Pete Hegseth has reinforced his history of transphobic comments with orders to end efforts to recruit new trans people and to stop the provision...
Disgraced Former Officer to Help Run Department of the Air Force
The efforts to reshape the leadership of the Department of Defense and the military in the image of the new president continues even as the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense waits for the Senate to vote on it. On the 21st, it was announced that...
Hegseth v. Brown (and the military?)
by Chuck Fager, Quaker House Board Member As Pete Hegseth moves through his Senate confirmation hearing process to become the Secretary of Defense, my mind is full of questions. And the top query in the stack is, obviously: Why does Hegseth despise—or is it hate—...
Continued Housing Horrors for Military Members and Families Despite Decades of Broken Promises
At the end of January and early February, there has been a flurry of reporting on issues related to the living conditions faced by active military participants. Promises are being made to the press and to Congress, but it is clear that these are long-standing issues...
Extremism Report Update
At the end of November, we reported on the continuing concerns about extremism in the military. Shortly afterwards, a new report was released that updated numbers on recent actions by veterans or active participants. In fiscal year 2023 there were nearly 200...
Extremism in the Ranks
While many of us were still digesting our Thanksgiving meals, the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota was being criticized for telling airmen not to attend the political rally of an extremist group called Turning Point Action. While it isn’t clear how official the...
Suicides Among Military Participants (Past and Present) Continued to Rise in 2022
At the end of October, the Department of Defense issued its Annual Report on Suicide in the Military for the 2022 calendar year. Since 2011 there has been a continued increase in the number of active duty deaths with the vast majority of those deaths (93.1%) seen...
Military Branches Report Big Recruiting Shortfalls
The US military ended Fiscal Year 2023 on September 30 with nearly every branch reporting large lapses in their recruiting efforts. Missing Soldiers and Sailors Navy: 7,450 missing enlisted sailors Army: 11,000 missing enlisted soldiers Air Force: 2,777 missing...
By Popular Demand — A Quaker Chuckle
Margie had her share of Quaker prudence and economy. She had worn her old bonnet so long that neighbors offered to get a new one for her. They asked if she would prefer straw or silk as a material. “Well,” Margie replied, “since you insist on giving me a bonnet, I...