About the Study

IN ONE SENTENCE

While some modest differences emerged between military and non-military respondents, overall, findings indicated that military service and combat experience did not act as risk factors for support for and willingness to engage in political violence, or approval of extremist organizations and movements.

FINDINGS IN BRIEF

• Overall, few, modest prevalence differences emerged between military and non-military respondents.
• Military respondents were less likely than non-military respondents to view political violence as justified to “keep our borders open”
• They showed greater personal willingness to use force—either alone or by organizing others—to advance a political goal
• When military respondents believed political violence was justified, they were more likely to say they would be armed with a gun or openly carry one
• They did not differ from others in willingness to threaten or shoot someone with a gun
• Military respondents expressed higher approval of the Oath Keepers, an extremist right-wing group
• There were no significant differences between military respondents with and without combat experience

IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

This study found little evidence that military service or combat experience increases support for and willingness to engage in political violence or approval of extremist groups. Differences between military and non-military respondents were small, suggesting that concerns about widespread extremist attitudes among veterans or service members may be overstated. At the same time, individuals with military experience who do become involved in extremist violence may pose a particular threat given their training and experience, highlighting the importance of continued research to identify subgroups at heightened risk to inform targeted prevention and outreach efforts.

METHODS

Findings are from the first wave of an annual, nationally representative cohort survey, conducted in 2022. Respondents comprised  12,947 US adult members of the Ipsos KnowledgePanel.  The sample of those with military backgrounds included 2,255 respondents, 1,105 of whom reported combat experience.

Citation

Tomsich EA, Wintemute GJ. Militancy in the military: military service and support for political violence and right-wing extremism. Injury Epidemiology. 2025 Nov 26;12(1):80.

Learn More

• Read the paper in Injury Epidemiology