Is The U.S. Military Woke?

Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Staff Sgt. Andrea Posey)  

Lawrence J. Korb and Stephen J. Cimbala, Military.com: Is the American Military Too 'Woke'? 

A theme that keeps dominating certain corners of media commentary is the idea that the U.S. armed forces have become “woke.” 

In today's vocabulary, this implies that the American military has been overtaken by ideological imperatives that push a far-left political agenda. 

 Allegedly, U.S. enlisted personnel and officers are being subjected to compulsory exercises in groupthink that devalue the American historical experience, spread contempt for traditional American values and diminish the appeal of military service in favor of other alternatives.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: I always joke that this is not your grandfather's Army. So you tell me .... is the US military woke? I know the Pentagon's top general is saying no .... Top general fires back at ‘offensive’ criticism of military being ‘woke’ (Politico).

U.S. Female Military Recruits Are Being Forced To Shower With Transitioning Men

FOX News: Female recruit considered resigning after being forced to shower with trans women with full male genitalia  

The 18-year-old recruit's options included resigning to avoid the 'extremely uncomfortable situation'. 

EXCLUSIVE – An 18-year-old military recruit forced to shower with biological males as part of the Biden administration's transgender policies is complaining about being placed in an "extremely uncomfortable position." 

The report was first raised at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday. The girl is afraid to speak out of fear it will harm her career, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) told Fox News Digital in an interview. Her options were slim and included resigning from her early-career position. 

It was believed raising the matter in a complaint could have harmful impacts on the new recruit's military career.  

Read more ....  

Update: Shaving Ryan's Privates: Female Military Recruits Forced To Shower With, Sleep Between, Transitioning Men (Zero Hedge).  

WNU Editor: Showering with men who are transitioning coupled with racial quotas (link here), it is not a surprise to me that the US military is having a recruitment problem.

White House Defends Pentagon's Abortion Policy

 

Daily Mail: White House says it is Pentagon's 'sacred obligation' to help troops get abortions: Tears into Republicans and says U.S. military will 'lose talent' if access to the procedure is limited 

* Spokesman John Kirby on Monday defended Pentagon support for abortions 

* The policy is under fire from Sen. Tuberville who is blocking appointments 

* But Kirby said it was essential to recruiting the best personnel 

Hardline abortion restrictions in states such as Alabama are having an impact on morale in the U.S. military, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday, as he delivered an impassioned defense of Pentagon policies. 

It comes as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, blocks hundred of senior military appointments in protest. 

He says he will not back down unless the Defense Department scraps its policy offering support to service members who need to travel out of state for terminations after the Supreme Court scrapped abortion protections last year.  

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WNU Editor: The White House is reacting to this .... How Senator Tuberville blocks Pentagon promotions over abortion (CSM). 

White House Defends Pentagon's Abortion Policy 

 ‘Just the right darn thing to do for people who raise their hand:’ Kirby defends Pentagon abortion policy -- The Hill  

Restrictive abortion laws hurting US military, White House says -- Reuters  

White House on Defense Department abortion policy: 'It's the darn right thing to do' -- NYPost  

Pentagon Spokesman Calls Abortion Access a ‘Foundational Sacred Obligation’ -- National Review

Is Swearing Good For Those In The Military?

A Marine yells orders to his squad members during an Integrated Training Exercise. (Marine Corps photo)

Ken Chamberlain, Military Times: Why swearing is f**king good for you

Humans aren’t the only primates who can curse, but we’re really good at it, as anyone in the military might know.

And, it turns out, it’s good for us.

Cursing can promote teamwork and trust, and even make us more tolerant to pain, according Emma Byrne, author of the new book “Swearing is Good for You.” An interview with Byrne is available on National Geographic.

How can cursing can build teamwork and increase pain tolerance?

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I rarely swear .... and in this blog, I use the expression .... WTF! I rarely heard my father swear .... and my mother ....never. Not once. Now the GF .... that is another story.

The Newest Trend Is The 'Trump Divorce'

Photo: Former Miami Dolphin cheerleader Lynn Aronberg and her husband Palm Beach County State Attorney, Dave Aronberg, have filed for divorce after less than two years of marriage in what is called the 'Trump Divorce'

Daily Mail: Former Miami Dolphins cheerleader and Palm Beach state attorney announce they are getting divorced because of her staunch support for Trump that left her feeling 'isolated in the marriage'

* Former Miami Dolphins cheerleader Lynn Aronberg and her husband Palm Beach County State Attorney, Dave Aronberg, have filed for divorce
* Their marriage and split is being called the 'Trump Divorce
* Lynn Aronberg, 36, was said to be a 'staunch Republican and supporter of President Trump' and felt 'increasingly isolated in the marriage'
* She will receive $100,000 in 'exchange for her signature on the dotted line'

The current state of politics in America are not only dividing the nation but also splitting couples too.

Former Miami Dolphins cheerleader Lynn Aronberg and her husband Palm Beach County State Attorney, Dave Aronberg, have filed for divorce after less than two years of marriage in what is called the 'Trump Divorce.'

'Dave and Lynn Aronberg Sign Amicable Divorce Settlement Putting an End to What Some Were Calling The Trump Divorce,' a release from the law firm representing the wife.

Read more ....

Update: It looks like the "Trump Divorce" has claimed a new victim .... Report: Scaramucci’s Wife Filing For Divorce (Daily Caller).

WNU Editor: This is actually not a laughing manner. I know too many friends who have experienced a marriage break-up .... a lot of pain .... and if children are involved .... an experience that is 1000x worse. And as for the media putting the spotlight on these cases .... I am willing to bet that there were other reasons for these break-ups .... and politics was probably the least of them.

Kathy Griffin Blames President Trump And His Family For Ruining Her Life

Daily Mail: 'There's a bunch of old white guys trying to silence me!' Kathy Griffin breaks down in tears claiming Trump family ruined her life - as her lawyer scoffs at report Barron was upset over severed head video

* Kathy Griffin broke down in tears speaking about the constant attacks from the public and members of the Trump family over the past few days
* She said that she has been receiving constant death threats, which she described as detailed and specific
* Griffin also said that President Trump 'broke' her and that she does not expect her career to recover from his family's attacks
* She added that she will not back down from this fight, saying: 'I am not afraid of Donald Trump. He is a bully'
* Griffin said that the photo shoot was inspired by Megyn Kelly, and the comment Trump made to the then-Fox News host about 'blood coming out of everywhere'
* It was also confirmed at the press conference that the Secret Service is investigating Griffin over the image

Kathy Griffin accused President Donald Trump and his family of launching a campaign to destroy her life in response to the image she posted earlier this week in which she appeared to be holding the commander-in-chief's severed head.

The comedian broke down in tears as she detailed the torrent of abuse she has been receiving online, and the constant death threats which she described as detailed and specific.

She stated however that she will not back down from this fight, saying: 'I am not afraid of Donald Trump. He is a bully.'

Read more ....

Update #1: Griffin not ‘laying down’ for Trump, fears career is over (AP)
Update #2: Kathy Griffin breaks down: 'I made a horrible, horrible call … he broke me' (FOX news)

WNU Editor: I give her credit for one thing .... she wanted to be provocative .... and she certainly was. But it is obvious that she had not calculated what the backlash would be .... nor even considered the opinions and feelings of other who have suffered from such atrocities .... i.e. Daniel Pearl. The world has changed in the past few years .... we are becoming more of a global village .... and the internet is our medium. Post something on one side of the world .... it is on the other-side within hours (or sooner). What may be funny to you .... can send a completely different message somewhere else .... which is why I decided to post this story. I come from a time when political correctness was not as important as it is today .... and I will admit that I am enjoyed living in that time. But the times have changed .... and because of that .... I know only too well that we have to be thoughtful on what we say and do on the worldwide web .... this includes bloggers and comics .... especially bad comics. But blaming President Trump for her misfortune .... oh please.

Pentagon Funding Social Science That Examines Mass Civil Breakdown

The Pentagon is funding social science research to model risks of "social contagions" that could damage US strategic interests. Photograph: Jason Reed/REUTERS

Pentagon Preparing For Mass Civil Breakdown -- The Guardian

Social science is being militarised to develop 'operational tools' to target peaceful activists and protest movements

A US Department of Defense (DoD) research programme is funding universities to model the dynamics, risks and tipping points for large-scale civil unrest across the world, under the supervision of various US military agencies. The multi-million dollar programme is designed to develop immediate and long-term "warfighter-relevant insights" for senior officials and decision makers in "the defense policy community," and to inform policy implemented by "combatant commands."

Launched in 2008 – the year of the global banking crisis – the DoD 'Minerva Research Initiative' partners with universities "to improve DoD's basic understanding of the social, cultural, behavioral, and political forces that shape regions of the world of strategic importance to the US."

Read more ....

More News On The Pentagon Funding Social Science That Examines Mass Civil Breakdown

Pentagon studying protesters to prep for ‘mass civil breakdown’ -- Washington Times
Pentagon spending millions to prepare for mass civil unrest -- RT
Pentagon invests millions in exploring mass civil unrest -- Voice of Russia
The Pentagon Is Preparing for the Collapse of Society -- Matt Connolly, Policy Mic
When the Pentagon Wants to Predict Unrest, It's Time to Be Unpredictable -- Natasha Lennard, Vice
Meet The "Minerva Research Initiative" - The Pentagon's Preparation For "Mass Civil Breakdown" -- Zero Hedge

Life Of A Military Brat

Bill Hamm and daughter Mia. Family photo

Growing Up, Base to Base -- Maryann Makekau, Time

Where are you from?

For a military brat, that can be a complicated question.

The website Blog Critics highlighted an episode at the U.S. Army post at Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. A visiting magician brought a seven-year-old up on stage to assist him with an illusion. When asked “Where are you from?’, the child looked out at his parents, unsure of how to answer.

The magician might have been smarter to ask “where were you born,” had he better understood the military culture.

After several moves, my military children adopted the “I’m from all over the place” answer. Motherly pride nonwithstanding, that’s pretty astute, considering that more than 80% of the 1-million-plus military students attending public schools have moved six to nine times prior to graduating high school. The summer months are peak moving season for our nation’s military families. Nearly a third of the 600,000 annual shipments of household goods take place during that timeframe.

Read more ....

My Comment: My best friend is a "military brat" .... her dad served in Canada's armed forces for almost 30 years. Over the years she has educated me on how much this impacted her life .... moving from bases to base .... never having the time to establish long term relations or long term roots .... and now wants to make sure that her kids do not experience the life that she did. On the flip side .... I have a friend whose father served in the U.S. military .... and according to him his experiences growing up were the best in his life.

In The U.S. Military, The Unspoken Code Is That A Good Soldier Will Have An Abortion If She Becomes Pregnant While Deployed

Iraq baby: The 'unspoken rule' is that soldiers on tour will have abortions and get back to the job at hand, writes Bethany Saros

The Unspoken Code Is That A Good Soldier Will Have An Abortion -- Daily Mail

An ex-soldier has written about her ordeal of falling pregnant while on deployment in Iraq - and how by choosing to keep her baby, she went against the Armed Forces' unwritten moral code.

Bethany Saros, 27, from Apple Valley, Minnesota, described the disappointment she felt from her commanding staff when, despite using protection, she conceived while on tour.

Writing on Salon.com, the mother recalled learning the unexpected news of her pregnancy in her desert camp: 'If pregnancy tests had bells and whistles on them, mine would have alerted the entire post. I felt the blood draining out of my face as I looked down at the positive result in my hand.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Salon article is a must read for what many female soldiers experience in the military. The link is here.