In Mount Olive, North Carolina, Iraq War veteran Chris Arthur, who was trained by the U.S. military in explosives and battlefield tactics, was advocating for taking up arms against police and government officials in his own country. Amid a surge of far-right extremism in the years leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Arthur posted videos on YouTube warning about a coming civil war and promoting violent actions. Despite multiple warnings about Arthur’s violent rhetoric, military and law enforcement agencies failed to act, allowing him to continue to manufacture explosives and train extremists. Arthur is among over 480 people with military backgrounds accused of ideologically driven extremist crimes from 2017 through 2023, with more than 230 arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection.
People with military backgrounds have been radicalizing at a faster rate in recent years, with their extremist plots more likely to involve weapons training or firearms. According to data from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), over 80% of extremists with military backgrounds identified with far-right, anti-government, or white supremacist ideologies. Law enforcement officials have highlighted the threat posed by domestic violent extremists, with the participation of active military and veterans adding potential for mass injury or death. Despite the increasing participation of military personnel in extremist activities, there is no force-wide system to track it, and the Pentagon has opted not to use a promising approach developed by Defense Department researchers to detect and monitor extremism.
Chris Arthur was able to operate freely in Mount Olive, stockpiling weapons, training guard dogs, and rigging his farmhouse with improvised explosives, storing them around young children. A man named Joshua Blessed, radicalized by Arthur, led police officers on a wild chase and gun battle in New York state, showcasing the potential for violence resulting from connections to extremists with military backgrounds. Despite multiple reports and warnings about Arthur’s activities, law enforcement agencies failed to take action, allowing the situation to escalate rapidly. Arthur’s apocalyptic visions and extremist actions underscore the concerning trend of military-trained individuals engaging in violent and dangerous plots.
In response to the persistent issue of extremism among individuals with military backgrounds, the new defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, ordered a force-wide “stand down” to address the problem. A Countering Extremist Activity Working Group was formed to study and recommend solutions, resulting in a revised policy specifying that anti-government or anti-democratic actions are violations of federal laws and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. While these changes are welcomed, concerns about extremism in the ranks have been prevalent for years following incidents such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Despite efforts to address the issue, the Pentagon has faced challenges in tracking extremism within the military due to the vast number of active-duty service members.
An investigative memo revealed that Defense Department researchers had developed a method to detect extremist incidents using a security clearance database, identifying incidents of white supremacy and other extremist activity over 20 years. However, this method has not been utilized, raising questions about the Pentagon’s response to extremism within the military. Federal law enforcement agencies have also faced criticism for their handling of domestic terrorism threats, as seen in assessments that inaccurately downplayed the intentions and capabilities of individuals engaged in extremist acts. The experiences of individuals like Arthur and Blessed highlight the potential consequences of military-trained extremists carrying out violent attacks, posing a significant threat to public safety and security.
Chris Arthur’s arrest and subsequent conviction shed light on the dangers posed by individuals with military backgrounds who engage in extremist activities. Despite psychological evaluations that indicated no mental illness, Arthur was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his involvement in teaching deadly tactics to an FBI informant and possessing illegal weapons. The case underscores the complex issues surrounding extremism, war trauma, and the potential for violence among military-trained individuals. While efforts have been made to address extremism in the military, challenges persist in tracking and preventing radicalization among service members, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard against domestic violent extremists.
