STARRS held its quarterly Town Hall meeting on 9 April 2025 with special guest speakers Sam Shoemate, a retired Army intelligence analyst, and Chase Spears, a retired Army Public Affairs Officer.

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A chilling revelation unfolds as military whistleblowers expose the coordinated resistance against presidential executive orders to dismantle DEI programs within the Department of Defense. Former Army intelligence officer Sam Shumate and former Army public affairs officer Dr. Chase Spears share firsthand accounts of "malicious compliance" and deliberate subversion from within military ranks.

We discover how senior officers openly mock the chain of command while carefully constructed networks of resistance operate through the Judge Advocate General Corps and public affairs channels to undermine reform efforts. The discussion reveals troubling patterns: affinity groups functioning as resistance cells, strategic leaking to embarrass the administration, and an ideological capture so deep that DEI functions "almost as a religion" for adherents within military leadership.

Matt Lohmeier, STARRS Executive Vice President and nominee for Undersecretary of the Air Force, offers a sobering perspective on the challenges facing political appointees attempting to implement change against entrenched bureaucratic resistance. His candid reflections highlight the tremendous pressure to conform rather than speak truthfully about military challenges.

The town hall culminates with STARRS leadership outlining their adjusted mission: monitoring executive order implementation, advancing national defense reform, supporting service members harmed by vaccine mandates, and continuing vital education efforts. The message is clear—while policy changes represent progress, the deeper cultural battle for America's military institutions demands sustained vigilance and commitment.

This episode serves as both warning and call to action for all who believe our armed forces should remain focused on warfighting excellence rather than ideological experimentation. Join us in this crucial fight for the soul of our military and the security of our nation.

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

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In this episode of STARRS & Stripes, host CDR Al Palmer, USN ret, interviews retired Brigadier General Christopher Petty who draws from his distinguished 31-year Army career as a West Point graduate, combat helicopter pilot, and battalion commander in Iraq to discuss how CRT/DEI ideology has affected military readiness and what must be done to restore a warfighting focus.

Among the topics he discusses:

• West Point graduate who chose aviation after seeing helicopter pilots during Ranger School
• Discusses how DEI policies introduced under Obama's 2011 Executive Order have undermined military unit cohesion
• Explains how prioritizing demographic quotas has resulted in lowered standards and damaged the meritocracy
• Identifies China's superior industrial production capacity as America's greatest strategic vulnerability
• Argues that senior military leadership failed to show moral courage in pushing back against harmful ideological policies
• Believes the military must return to valuing warfighters who can win conflicts
• Created Battle Digest to help today's military leaders learn from historical battles

Gen. Petty is the author of "12 Battles Every American Should Know" and the creator of Battle Digest (battledigest.com) —described as "Reader's Digest for Warfare"—to explore military history in an accessible format designed for today's officers and military enthusiasts.

Subscribe to STARRS & Stripes for more critical conversations about America's military readiness and the challenges facing our armed forces in an increasingly complex global landscape.

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which monitors the elimination of the CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and promotes the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability and excellence in the military.

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America faces a maritime crisis that few citizens recognize but that threatens our national security at its core. In this eye-opening conversation, Captain Brent Ramsey, a 40-year Navy veteran and defense writer, provides urgent insights into America's diminishing naval capabilities against China's rapidly expanding fleet and strategic ambitions.

• America's status as a maritime nation with 90% of global commerce traveling by sea
• US Navy has shrunk from 600+ ships during the Reagan era to just 295 ships today China's naval force now numbers 400 combat vessels plus 180 armed Coast Guard ships
• America's shipbuilding capacity is 1/20th of China's current production capability
• Chinese technology theft costs the US approximately $600 billion annually
• US Navy recruitment shortfalls and inability to meet readiness goals
• China's stated intentions to seize Taiwan by 2027 and achieve global dominance by 2049
• Current naval funding represents just 0.5% of the federal budget
• Critical shortage of skilled tradespeople needed for shipbuilding
• Importance of revitalizing America's naval industrial base and defense capabilities

BIO: Captain Brent Ramsey (U.S. Navy, Ret.) served 30 years in the Navy and 23 years in Navy Civil Service. His assignments included Commanding Officer, Cargo Handling Battalion TWELVE, Executive Director, Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, and Mississippi Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer. He served as Senior Advisor, Center for International Maritime Security, and was Member and Secretary of the non-partisan Military Advisory Group for Congressman Mark Meadows (NC-11) for four years. He currently serves in the same capacity for Congressman Chuck Edwards. He is a Vice President with Calvert Task Group (CalvertTaskGroup.org) and on the Board of Advisors for STARRS (STARRS.US) and the Center for Military Readiness. CAPT Ramsey studied at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, and is a graduate of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Executive Management Program, the Reserve Components National Security Course, and the FEMA Emergency Preparedness Management Officers Course. He has written extensively on national defense matters since 2017.

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

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Support the Mission: Make a tax-deductible donation to STARRS.

On this episode of STARRS & Stripes, host Al Palmer talks with Judge Bruce Tucker Smith, a 21-year veteran JAG officer and former administrative law judge, who reveals how military legal services were compromised by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that prioritized ideology over combat readiness and the Constitution. Topics they discuss:

• Most JAG officers (70%) enter service directly from law schools that promote leftist ideologies
• Military lawyers failed their duty by allowing illegal racial quota systems to be implemented
• The infamous August 2022 memorandum from Air Force leadership violated anti-discrimination laws
• Military attorneys must remember their client is the service itself, not individual commanders
• Too many career-focused officers lacked courage to oppose policies that undermined readiness
• The Marines' approach of making officers Marines first and lawyers second should be emulated
• Future reforms should include reconnecting JAGs with operational military experience
• Secretary Hegseth was right to fire JAG leaders who had lost the trust of their clients
• Character and integrity in military service means putting mission before personal advancement

Join STARS in strengthening our military, restoring the warrior ethos, and ensuring transparency in national defense.

Read articles by Judge Bruce Tucker Smith:

The Woke Military: A Question of Paternity
https://starrs.us/the-woke-military-a-question-of-paternity/

Of “Independence” and “Guardrails”: The Military Left’s Lamentable Response to SecDef’s Firing of Service TJAGS
https://starrs.us/of-independence-and-guardrails-the-military-lefts-lamentable-response-to-secdefs-firing-of-service-tjags/

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

Follow STARRS:
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Support the Mission: Make a tax-deductible donation to STARRS.

STARRS & Stripes podcast host Al Palmer and guest Ron Olds, two veteran F-4 Phantom pilots during the Vietnam War, discuss how political ideologies infiltrated military academies and threatened the warrior ethos that once defined service to country, and how the STARRS organization is fighting to restore military readiness as the primary focus. Ron Olds is a 1969 graduate of the US Air Force Academy.

• Ron Olds shares his journey from a small farming town to the Air Force Academy and combat missions in Vietnam
• How a Black Lives Matter video at the Air Force Academy sparked concern about Marxist ideology infiltrating military training
• The formation of STARRS organization to combat DEI policies that were replacing combat readiness in military education
• Military readiness suffering with operational rates around 60% and maintenance crews cannibalizing parts from museums
• Recent positive changes with the new Academy superintendent restoring focus on the "warrior ethos"
• The fight against embedded DEI continuing despite progress, with concerns about civilian instructors and K-12 education
• The critical importance of commitment and family support in maintaining military strength

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

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Support the Mission: Make a tax-deductible donation to STARRS.

STARRS & Stripes host CDR Al Palmer, USN ret, interviews STARRS Board of Directors member Rodney McKinley, who served as the 15th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. McKinley shares his journey on how a childhood visit to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB ignited a spark that led to a lifelong commitment to service from enlisted airman to the highest-ranking enlisted person in the Air Force. The discussion centers on military heritage, the importance of Junior ROTC programs, accountability in leadership, and the ongoing need for public awareness of military culture and values.

• Insights on the influence of family in military recruitment
• Importance of military heritage in shaping public perception
• The role of Junior ROTC in nurturing future service members
• Reflections on maintaining standards and discipline in military culture
• Why pushing drag queen shows on Air Force bases is not a good idea
• Emphasis on mentorship and building relationships in leadership
• Advocacy for a return to meritocracy in military service
• Importance of community involvement in military history
• Analysis of current challenges in military recruitment and retention

Timestamps:

00:00:11 Inspiring Military Service and Heritage
00:12:55 Military Family Recognition and Progression
00:30:34 Maintaining Military Image and Standards
00:35:49 Military Service, Values, and Progress
00:46:27 Honoring Military History and Heroes
00:52:45 Accountability and Leadership in Military
01:06:29 Building Strong Military Community Relationships

USAF Bio:

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE RODNEY J. MCKINLEY > Air Force > Biography Display

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which monitors the elimination of the CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and promotes the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

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Support the Mission: Make a tax-deductible donation to STARRS.

STARRS & Stripes host Commander Al Palmer, USN ret, leads a thought-provoking discussion that challenges current narrative views on military diversity and readiness, featuring key insights from three retired Navy veterans LCDR Bruce Davey (a Blue Angel), Capt. Guy Higgins, and Capt. Brent Ramsey. All are members of the Calvert Task Group, an organization concerned with restoring the US Naval Academy, Navy and Marines.

Is the U.S. military's core mission being overshadowed by societal and political influences? Our guests address this pressing question, offering a critique of the current landscape shaped by diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and the potential impact on military preparedness. Brent Ramsey shares compelling observations from Calvert Task Group's new book, "Don't Give Up the Ship: Woke Politics Are Endangering Our Military and Our Nation," emphasizing the urgency to refocus on fundamental military principles in light of global threats, particularly from nations like China.

As the conversation unfolds, we highlight the power of cognitive diversity in fostering innovative military leadership. Beyond superficial measures, cognitive diversity provides a wide array of problem-solving approaches and perspectives that enhance decision-making. This episode underscores the critical need for diversity initiatives to be firmly rooted within the framework of the Constitution and personal beliefs. We explore how constitutional fidelity serves as a guiding light for military officers, promoting unity and effectiveness in service.

In a deep dive into the intersection of political influence and constitutional values, we explore the repercussions faced by a Naval Academy midshipman supporting law enforcement during Black Lives Matter advocacy. This episode examines the broader implications of societal debates on military readiness and recruitment, while also reflecting on the foundational stability provided by the U.S. Constitution. Join us as we advocate for preserving the Constitution's intended purpose and discuss the challenges of maintaining high standards and accountability within military and government institutions.

https://calverttaskgroup.org/
Book: https://a.co/d/26Y4dx9

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which monitors the elimination of the CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and promotes the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

Follow STARRS:
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Support the Mission: Make a tax-deductible donation to STARRS.

In this episode of STARRS & Stripes, host CDR Al Palmer, USN ret, talks with retired Air Force Brigadier General Christopher S. Walker, call sign "Mookie" (USAFA '88). Gen. Walker grew up in Jamaica, Queens in New York City and describes how his journey of wanting to be a pilot led him to the US Air Force Academy and a career in the Air Force.

Palmer and Walker have a great, wide-ranging discussion on many topics:

• military service breaks down stereotypes
• why it's NOT necessary to have 'leaders who look like you'
• how DEI disappears in combat when only survival matters
• the close bonds of combat
• why the military should follow the way sports teams are set up based on the best, not identity
• the military is for warfighters--not for benefits
• how DEI got into the military
• politics at the flag level
• role of civilian policymakers at the Pentagon pushing DEI
• inspiring kids to join the military through 'kick-butt' role models
• no civilian instructors at the service academies
• what are the DEI offices in the Pentagon going to do right now with the announcement of Pete Hegseth as SECDEF

BIO
Retired USAF Brig. Gen. Christopher Walker was the Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard. The West Virginia Air National Guard has over 2,100 members and consists of two flying units— the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, WV, and the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, WV. As the Assistant Adjutant General-Air and Commander, he provided command and control over all Air National Guard forces assigned to the state and is the principal advisor to the Adjutant General on all matters related to the Air National Guard (ANG).

Born in New York City, NY, General Walker began his Air Force career as a 1988 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. After Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather AFB in 1989, he served as a C-130 navigator in weather reconnaissance and tactical airlift squadrons throughout the world, including an assignment as an airdrop planner in the Balkans CAOC in Vicenza, Italy and flying in various contingencies including Operations Provide Promise, Provide Comfort, and Provide Relief. General Walker is a Master Navigator with over 5200 hours in WC-130 and C-130E/H/H3 aircraft, including over 400 combat and combat support hours.

Read more: Full Bio

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.

Join our Mailing List for our weekly newsletter on this issue.

Follow STARRS:
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Support the Mission: Make a tax-deductible donation to STARRS.