An incident at Fort Benning, Georgia, has sparked controversy and an investigation within the U.S. Army. Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell, an infantry drill sergeant with B Company, 2-19th Infantry Battalion, 198th Infantry Training Brigade, is at the center of this inquiry after a video surfaced online. The footage depicted soldiers performing push-ups and burpees under a banner that proclaimed, “This is Ultra MAGA Country,” a clear political statement in support of former President Donald Trump.
The original video emerged from the now-deleted TikTok account @11chuckduece, attracting attention for its contentious blend of military exercise and political messaging. A follow-up video captioned “Cry about it” was also uploaded before it, too, disappeared from the platform. The repercussions for Sgt. Mitchell and the soldiers involved remain uncertain as the Army has not disclosed his status during the ongoing investigation.
The U.S. Army maintains strict guidelines prohibiting partisan political displays and activities on federal property and by uniformed personnel. These regulations, intended to preserve the apolitical stance of the military, appear to have been contravened in this instance. Jennifer Gunn, an Army spokesperson, stated that the incident would be reviewed in accordance with military regulations. Joe Cole, Garrison Public Affairs Director, has indicated that the investigation may be extensive, underscoring the Army's commitment to a politically neutral environment.
These rules are not without precedent. The U.S. Department of Defense has long-established protocols to maintain the nonpartisan nature of the military, including barring political flags or memorabilia in federal buildings and restricting political activity while in uniform. These recent events are reminiscent of another politically charged incident where troops at Fort Bragg booed political figures during a speech by President Trump, which also potentially breached Department of Defense protocols emphasizing political neutrality.
Internal messages from the 82nd Airborne Division, involved in Trump's visit, suggested selection criteria for the soldiers based on physical appearance and political views, eliciting criticism for what some perceive as a politicization of the military. Despite the guidelines outlined in the Army's field manual, the actions of the soldiers at Fort Bragg have raised questions about political expression in uniform.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell has dismissed accusations of misconduct, focusing particularly on the reaction to the media, and has suggested that no punitive measures would ensue due to the context of the commander-in-chief's presence. Nonetheless, the overall impact of these events on the public perception of the Army's trustworthiness and its adherence to nonpartisan values is still being assessed.
As the investigation continues, the military community and the public alike await clarity on the implications of these incidents and the measures that will be taken to uphold the integrity of the U.S. Army's nonpartisan tradition.
