Army Insight

STARRS Vice Chairman MG Joe Arbuckle, US Army ret, has been in contact with an active-duty Army field grade officer who has provided the below insights based on his experience and opinions.

--Morale at the lower levels is overall positive, but pride in the uniform and in the greater Army is weak due to the "woke culture" being propagated at the top levels.

--Readiness has declined; the view from troops is senior leaders are “going for a 5th star” or getting positioned for a high paying job after retirement so they support wokeness.

--Too much time/attention on DEI and sex orientation; warfighting emphasis is lowered.

--Biggest problem with DEI is not the actual time dedicated to mandatory classes, etc.; the problem is the 2d and 3d order effects it has on attitudes, morale, distrust in the ranks—example: some minorities are not sure if they got promoted/selected due to race or merit, and some whites have the same doubts about minority selections, etc.

--Standards have been going down for years. In 2013 the first females introduced into combat arms often did not volunteer. At West Point this "forced branching" is still practiced to this day and most females inducted into combat arms at graduation happens regardless of their branch preferences. Some women are considering not to stay in past the first two years at the Academy to avoid the disenfranchisement they have witnessed amongst their contemporaries.

--There is a problem with new soldiers breaking hips and other fractures during routine training. Even with lower PT/physical standards it is happening due to poor bone density. Many/most are not active physically at a young age before coming into the Army so their bones have not developed resulting in being injured easily.

--Gen (R) Milley as a Field Grade and early General was good. But he changed and is not the same guy as a 4-star.

--Double standards have existed at West Point, e.g., minorities treated different than whites with discipline; woke culture influences.

--Commanders had to give troops a mandatory ppt briefing on “Violent Extremist Organizations” which highlighted “white extremist” males.

--Mandatory sex orientation and gender dysphoria PowerPoint briefings had to be given to units.

--He is aware of an investigation concerning the death of a Soldier who had been vax’d a few days prior. The investigating officer received significant kickback from all Army doctors when he asked if the death was vax related; the death was not reported in VAERS, hospital commander and staff refused to report it. 6 months later the autopsy said the soldier died due to vax.

--He witnessed a speech from BG Ty Seidule’s and felt embarrassed. His speech was full of woke culture that errored on the side of being anti-Caucasian and anti-male. His philosophy builds up one group by tearing down another.