Tom Bowman

Captain Rebecca Lobach was 28 and from Durham, North Carolina. She was a distinguished military graduate from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, commissioned in 2019 as an active duty aviation officer. She died along with fellow pilot Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves and crew member Staff Sergeant Ryan O'Hara.

Captain Rebecca Lobach was 28 and from Durham, North Carolina. She was a distinguished military graduate from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, commissioned in 2019 as an active duty aviation officer. She died along with fellow pilot Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves and crew member Staff Sergeant Ryan O'Hara.

Lobach's best friend, First Lieutenant Samantha Brown, an active duty field artillery soldier, described her as brilliant and dedicated, a fierce competitor. She would march 12 miles with a 45-pound pack at a pace faster than the standard for infantry soldiers. Lobach hoped to fly her Black Hawk at some point in a combat deployment and dreamed of one day becoming a doctor. Tom Bowman, NPR News.

Lobach's best friend, First Lieutenant Samantha Brown, an active duty field artillery soldier, described her as brilliant and dedicated, a fierce competitor. She would march 12 miles with a 45-pound pack at a pace faster than the standard for infantry soldiers. Lobach hoped to fly her Black Hawk at some point in a combat deployment and dreamed of one day becoming a doctor. Tom Bowman, NPR News.

Well, these programs have been seen as pretty effective in bringing more women and minorities into the ranks at all levels. President Biden chose the first woman, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, to run the Navy, as well as the first black defense secretary, Lloyd Austin. But Donald Trump and his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, have dismissed these programs as woke and divisive.

Well, these programs have been seen as pretty effective in bringing more women and minorities into the ranks at all levels. President Biden chose the first woman, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, to run the Navy, as well as the first black defense secretary, Lloyd Austin. But Donald Trump and his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, have dismissed these programs as woke and divisive.

Well, these programs have been seen as pretty effective in bringing more women and minorities into the ranks at all levels. President Biden chose the first woman, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, to run the Navy, as well as the first black defense secretary, Lloyd Austin. But Donald Trump and his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, have dismissed these programs as woke and divisive.

Another thing they question is extremist activity. My colleague Lauren Hodges and I talked about all this in our recent podcast, A Good Guy. It focused on an active duty Marine, Sergeant Josh Bate, who was in the Capitol on January 6th and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Abate told the court in a written statement that he was wrong about the election being stolen.

Another thing they question is extremist activity. My colleague Lauren Hodges and I talked about all this in our recent podcast, A Good Guy. It focused on an active duty Marine, Sergeant Josh Bate, who was in the Capitol on January 6th and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Abate told the court in a written statement that he was wrong about the election being stolen.

Another thing they question is extremist activity. My colleague Lauren Hodges and I talked about all this in our recent podcast, A Good Guy. It focused on an active duty Marine, Sergeant Josh Bate, who was in the Capitol on January 6th and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Abate told the court in a written statement that he was wrong about the election being stolen.

And by the way, a Marine panel voted to keep him in, and he's still on active duty.

And by the way, a Marine panel voted to keep him in, and he's still on active duty.

And by the way, a Marine panel voted to keep him in, and he's still on active duty.

Well, first of all, it's important to note that about one in five of those who were arrested for January 6th activities had military backgrounds, nearly all veterans. Now, Pentagon officials have long insisted that they don't have an extremism problem, that the numbers are small. You know, they really don't know because they've never collected data.

Well, first of all, it's important to note that about one in five of those who were arrested for January 6th activities had military backgrounds, nearly all veterans. Now, Pentagon officials have long insisted that they don't have an extremism problem, that the numbers are small. You know, they really don't know because they've never collected data.

Well, first of all, it's important to note that about one in five of those who were arrested for January 6th activities had military backgrounds, nearly all veterans. Now, Pentagon officials have long insisted that they don't have an extremism problem, that the numbers are small. You know, they really don't know because they've never collected data.

And the services within just within the last several months said they would collect such data. And they outlined prohibitive behavior such as joining militia groups, raising money for them or attending rallies for extremist groups.

And the services within just within the last several months said they would collect such data. And they outlined prohibitive behavior such as joining militia groups, raising money for them or attending rallies for extremist groups.

And the services within just within the last several months said they would collect such data. And they outlined prohibitive behavior such as joining militia groups, raising money for them or attending rallies for extremist groups.

Well, he has been very outspoken, not only about his opposition to DEI programs, but also efforts to better understand whether the Pentagon and the military services have an extremism problem. Here he is at his confirmation hearing when he was asked about that by Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. Let's listen.