New Defence Secretary of US orders' stand-down' to curb right-wingers in

Washington: The Biden administration feels that the rightist ideology in the defence forces is one of the bigger challenges in front of the administration. Therefore, the new Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, has ordered ‘stand-down’. As per this, the soldiers from the US defence forces will be reminded of the oath administered while joining the force, on any day, in the next 60 days. These orders were issued because of the Capitol Hill violence last month.

US Secretary of Defence has issued orders for a stand-down saying, ‘Activities going against the fundamental principles of the oath administered to soldiers from the US defence forces will not be tolerated. These also include activities related to terrorism and separatist ideologies. The soldiers from the US defence forces, civilian employees in the defence department and all those supporting the goal of the defence forces are entitled to an atmosphere free from racial discrimination, hatred and torture. ‘

Last week, the new Secretary of Defence convened a meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, and other leading defence officials. He indicated the ordering of stand-down during the meeting by stating that the number of people having a rightist ideology in the US defence forces may not be high. Still, the matter is not as simple as others feel. Spokesman John Kirby revealed the information that Secretary of Defence Austin issued the orders for stand-down on Friday.

Cases were filed against many regarding the violence at the Capitol Hill last month, and it has been revealed that 20% of these cases are related to the defence forces. These include retired officials from the air force, retired navy seals and a captain from the army. Following this incidence of violence, ten soldiers from the National Guard had been withdrawn from the unit for security at the swearing-in ceremony.

The US investigation agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Marine Corps department in the defence department have even submitted reports regarding the increasing rightist influence in the defence forces. As per the FBI’s information, the investigation is being carried out against 143 serving and retired soldiers for the influence of aggressive rightist ideology and violence. Whereas, it is said that there have been 16 cases of aggressive ideologies in the Marine Corps in the last three years.