Extremist Organizations & Activities

Department of Defense (DoD) policy is to provide equal opportunity and treatment for all military members and civilian employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender or national origin.

Participation in extremist organizations and activities by DoD personnel is inconsistent with the responsibilities of military service and policy.

Military personnel must not actively advocate supremacist, extremist or criminal gang doctrine, ideology or causes, including those that advance, encourage or advocate illegal discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, religion, ethnicity or national origin; or those that advance, advocate or encourage the use of force, violence or criminal activity; or otherwise deprive individuals of their civil rights.

Military personnel are prohibited from supporting extremist organizations as follows:

• Participating in public demonstrations or rallies

• Attending meetings or activities, knowing it involves an extremist cause, when on duty, in uniform, in a foreign country, if likely to result in violence, or in violation of a commander's order

• Recruiting or training members

• Fundraising

• Creating, organizing or taking a visible leadership role

• Distributing organizational literature

• Receiving financial assistance from a person or organization that advocates terrorism; the unlawful use of force or violence to undermine or disrupt US military operations; subversion; or sedition

• Browsing websites that advocate violence towards the US or DoD or that promotes terrorism while on duty and without official sanction