1. References.
a.
Title 10, United States Code, Chapter 47 (Uniform Code of Military Justice)
b.
Executive Order 14168 (Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government), 20 January 2025
c.
Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 1325.06 (Handling Protest, Extremist, and Criminal Gang Activities Among Members of the Armed Forces), 27 November 2009, incorporating Change 3, effective 9 June 2025
d.
Army Directive 2024-07 (Handling Protest, Extremist, and Criminal Gang Activities), 14 June 2024 (hereby rescinded)
e.
Army Regulation (AR) 190-24 (Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Boards and Off-Installation Liaison and Operations), 27 July 2006
f.
AR 600-20 (Army Command Policy), 6 February 2025
2. Purpose.
This directive prescribes policy and procedures for the handling of protest, extremist, and criminal activities by Soldiers.
3. Applicability.
This regulation applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard (ARNG)/Army National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve unless otherwise stated.
4. Policy.
Provisions of this directive that proscribe specific conduct are punitive, and violations may subject offenders to nonjudicial or judicial action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
a.
The glossary section of AR 600-20 is hereby amended to include the enclosed definitions.
b.
AR 600-20, paragraph 4-12, is hereby revised to read as follows:
4-12. Extremist Activities
Soldiers are prohibited from actively participating in extremist activities.
Active participation in extremist activities by Soldiers is inconsistent with the responsibilities and obligations of military service, as well as the oaths of office and enlistment.
Active participation in extremist activities can be prohibited even in some circumstances in which such activities would be constitutionally protected in a civilian setting.
Enforcement of this policy is a responsibility of every command, is vitally important to unit cohesion and morale, and is essential to the Army’s ability to accomplish its mission.
It is the commander’s responsibility to maintain good order and discipline in the unit.
Every commander has the inherent authority and responsibility to take appropriate actions to accomplish this goal.
This paragraph identifies prohibited actions by Soldiers involving extremist activities, discusses the authority of the commander to establish other prohibitions, and establishes that violations of prohibitions contained in this paragraph or those established by a commander may result in punitive or administrative action.
a. Extremist activities.
The term “extremist activities” means—
(1)
Advocating or engaging in unlawful force, unlawful violence, or other illegal means to deprive individuals of their rights under the United States Constitution or the laws of the United States, including those of any State, Commonwealth, Territory, or the District of Columbia, or any political subdivision thereof.
(2)
Advocating or engaging in unlawful force or violence to achieve goals that are political, religious, discriminatory, or ideological in nature.
(3)
Advocating, engaging in, or supporting terrorism within the United States or abroad.
(4)
Advocating, engaging in, or supporting the overthrow of the Government of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, including that of any State, Commonwealth, Territory, or the District of Columbia, by force or violence, or seeking to alter the forms of these governments by unconstitutional or other unlawful means (such as sedition).
(5)
Advocating or encouraging military, civilian, or contractor personnel within the DoD or United States Coast Guard to violate the laws of the United States, or any political subdivision thereof (including that of any State, Commonwealth, Territory, or the District of Columbia), or to disobey lawful orders or regulations for the purpose of disrupting military activities (such as subversion), or personally undertaking the same.
(6)
Advocating widespread unlawful discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), or sexual orientation.
b. Active participation.
As used in this paragraph, the term “active participation” means the following, except where such activity is within the scope of an official duty (for example, intelligence or law enforcement operations):
(1)
Advocating or engaging in the use or threat of unlawful force or violence in support of extremist activities.
(2)
Advocating for, or providing material support or resources to, individuals or organizations that promote or threaten the unlawful use of force or violence in support of extremist activities, with the intent to support such promotion or threats.
(3)
Knowingly communicating information that compromises the operational security of any military organization or mission, in support of extremist activities.
(4)
Recruiting or training others to engage in extremist activities.
(5)
Fundraising for, or making personal contributions through donations of any kind (including but not limited to the solicitation, collection, or payment of fees or dues) to, a group or organization that engages in extremist activities with the intent to support those activities.
(6)
Creating, organizing, or taking a leadership role in a group or organization that engages in or advocates for extremist activities with knowledge of those activities.
(7)
Actively demonstrating or rallying in support of extremist activities (but not merely observing such demonstrations or rallies as a spectator).
(8)
Attending a meeting or activity with the knowledge that the meeting or activity involves extremist activities with the intent to support those activities:
(a)
When the nature of the meeting or activity constitutes a breach of law and order.
(b)
When a reasonable person would determine the meeting or activity is likely to result in violence.
(c)
In violation of off-limits sanctions or other lawful orders.
(9)
Distributing literature or other promotional materials, on or off a military installation, the primary purpose and content of which is to advocate for extremist activities, with the intent to promote that advocacy.
(10)
Knowingly receiving material support or resources from a person or organization that advocates or actively participates in extremist activities with the intent to use the material support or resources in support of extremist activities.
(11)
When using a government communications system and with the intent to support extremist activities, knowingly accessing internet websites or other materials that promote or advocate extremist activities.
(12)
Knowingly displaying paraphernalia, words, or symbols in support of extremist activities or in support of groups or organizations that support extremist activities, such as flags, clothing, tattoos, and bumper stickers, whether on or off a military installation.
(13)
Engaging in electronic and cyber activities regarding extremist activities, or groups that support extremist activities—including posting, liking, sharing, re-tweeting, or otherwise distributing content—when such action is taken with the intent to promote or otherwise endorse extremist activities.
Military personnel are responsible for the content they publish on all personal and public internet domains, including social media platforms, blogs, websites, and applications.
(14)
Knowingly taking any other action in support of or engaging in extremist activities, when such conduct is prejudicial to good order and discipline or is service discrediting.
Commanders have the authority and responsibility to prohibit Soldiers from actively participating in extremist activities and any other activities that the commander determines will adversely affect readiness, good order and discipline, or morale within the command.
This includes, but is not limited to, the authority to order the removal of symbols, flags, posters, or other displays from military-controlled areas; to place areas or activities off-limits (see AR 190-24); or to order Soldiers not to participate in those activities that are contrary to good order and discipline or morale of the unit, or pose a threat to health, safety, and security of Soldiers or a military installation.
d. Command options.
The policy rules and prohibitions regarding participation in extremist activities apply to members of the Army Reserve and the ARNG regardless of whether the prohibited activity occurs while on or off orders under Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code.
As appropriate, commanders may pursue adverse administrative in addition to or in lieu of punitive action in response to a Soldier’s active participation in extremist activities.
A commander’s options for dealing with a Soldier’s violation of the prohibitions include, but are not limited to:
(1)
UCMJ action, subject to jurisdictional limitations.
(2)
Adverse administrative action which may include, but is not limited to—
(a)
Involuntary separation.
(b)
Reassignment.
(c)
Loss of security clearance.
(d)
Bar to continued service.
(e)
Other administrative or disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the commander based on the specific facts and circumstances of the particular case.
e. Command responsibility.
Any Soldier actively participating in extremist activities could threaten the good order and discipline of a unit.
As such, and in an effort to minimize the risk of future active participation in extremist activities, commanders should remain alert and should intervene early, primarily through counseling, when observing signs of future extremist activities that may not rise to the level of the prohibitions in paragraphs 4-12a and 4-12b.
The goal of early intervention is to minimize the risk of future extremist activities.
In these situations, commanders will take positive actions to educate Soldiers, putting them on notice of the potential adverse effects that participation in violation of Army policy may have on good order and discipline in the unit and on their military service.
(1)
Commanders will advise Soldiers periodically that extremist activities are inconsistent with the Army goals, beliefs, and values, as well as the oaths of office and enlistment, consistent with the following:
(a)
Instruction related to extremist organizations and activities, when presented by Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) professionals, will be conducted only by Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) graduates currently serving in authorized MEO professional billets.
(b)
The standardized plan of instruction and training slides are located on the Central Army Registry and may not be supplemented with other training material or slides.
Commanders (or their representative) will vet training, after obtaining a local legal review, prior to presentation of the training.
(2)
Commanders will also advise Soldiers that active participation in extremist activities in violation of paragraph 4-12a or 4-12b:
(a)
Will be taken into consideration when evaluating duty performance, to include appropriate remarks on evaluation reports.
(b)
Will be taken into consideration when selections for positions of leadership and responsibility or military educational opportunities are made.
(c)
Will result in a report to the appropriate security office and may have an adverse effect on security clearance eligibility.
(d)
May lead to separation from the Army.
(e)
May result in reassignment, reclassification actions, or bar to continued service actions, as appropriate.
(f)
Will result in being reported to law enforcement and/or counterintelligence authorities, and others mentioned in paragraph 4-12f, as appropriate.
(3)
Commanders should consider all available resources to assist Soldiers showing signs of potential involvement in extremist activities, such as command-directed mental health evaluations or financial counseling sessions.
(4)
Commanders will report all allegations of active participation in extremist activities to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (USACID), U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command (USACIC), servicing legal advisor or staff judge advocate, and servicing inspector general.
Reporting to USACID and the servicing legal advisor or staff judge advocate will enable support to commander inquiries and criminal investigative response.
Reporting to USACIC will enable counterintelligence investigative response where allegations are assessed to involve an international or foreign nexus.
Reporting to a servicing Army IG will enable the tracking of all alleged extremist activity across the Army.
(5)
The commander of an Army installation or other Army-controlled facility will prohibit any demonstration or activity on the installation or facility that could result in interference with or prevention of orderly accomplishment of the mission of the installation or facility or present a clear danger to loyalty, discipline, or morale of the troops.
Further, such commanders will deny requests for the use of Army-controlled facilities by individuals or groups that engage in discriminatory practices or for activities involving such practices.
(6)
Suspected participation in extremist activities may come to the attention of a commander in a number of ways, including reports through the chain of command, anonymous calls, or personal observation.
Commanders receiving such information should consult with their servicing judge advocate on how to proceed.
(7)
Commanders will ensure that a Soldier’s permanent record in the Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR) is annotated for Soldiers who receive a court-martial conviction, nonjudicial punishment, or general officer memorandum of reprimand for actively participating in extremist activities.
This requirement applies to Soldiers in all components, regardless of grade.
Commanders do not have the option to designate that these documents be filed locally or in the Restricted folder of the AMHRR.
Documents will be filed in the Performance-Disciplinary folder in the interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System (iPERMS).
f. Reporting requirements.
Commanders should remain attentive for signs of extremism involving Soldiers in their command even though the signs may not rise to the level of active participation or threaten good order and discipline, but only suggest such potential.
A commander notified of a Soldier engaging in extremist activities specified in paragraph 4-12a or 4-12b must take appropriate actions.
Commanders who receive a credible report or suspicion of extremist activities will notify the appropriate following organizations:
(1)
USACID.
(2)
Army Counterintelligence, when the report or suspicion is consistent with activities or behaviors described in paragraphs 4-12a(1) through 4-12a(5), or any of the activities or behaviors defined in AR 381-12.
(3)
Servicing security manager.
(4)
Servicing legal office.
(5)
Insider Threat Hub.
g.
Commanders will also report all allegations that a Soldier has actively participated in extremist activities to their servicing Army IG office, including follow-up information as required.
h. Training requirements.
The Commander, U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) will ensure that the policy and procedures on prohibited activities in this paragraph are included in:
- Initial active-duty training
- Pre-commissioning training
- Professional military education
- Commander training
- Other appropriate Army training programs
i. Additional reporting requirements.
The Department of the Army Inspector General will track all reported extremist activity pursuant to the requirements of Public Law 116-283, The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, dated 1 January 2021, section 554(6) (NDAA for FY 2021).
c.
The following new paragraph is hereby added to AR 600-20 (to immediately follow paragraph 4-12).
Criminal Gangs
It is inconsistent with the responsibilities of military service for Soldiers to actively participate in criminal gangs.
This paragraph identifies prohibited actions by Soldiers involving criminal gangs, discusses the authority of the commander to establish other prohibitions, and establishes that violations of prohibitions contained in this paragraph or those established by a commander may result in punitive or administrative action.
a. Criminal gangs.
Criminal gangs are organizations that advocate the planning or commission of one or more criminal offenses, by persons who share a group identity, and may share a common name, slogan, tattoos, graffiti, clothing style or color, or other shared characteristics like the use of violence and intimidation to further its criminal objectives.
b. Prohibition.
Soldiers must not actively advocate criminal gang doctrine, ideology, or causes and will reject active participation in criminal organizations and in other organizations that advocate criminal gang doctrine, ideology, or causes.
Active participation in such gangs or organizations is prohibited.
c. Active participation.
Active participation, as applied to criminal gangs, includes, but is not limited to—
(1)
Fundraising.
(2)
Demonstrating or rallying.
(3)
Recruiting, training, organizing, or leading members.
(4)
Distributing material (including posting online).
(5)
Knowingly wearing gang colors or clothing.
(6)
Having tattoos or body markings associated with such gangs or organizations.
(7)
Engaging in electronic and cyber activities or groups that support criminal gang activities—including posting, liking, sharing, re-tweeting, or otherwise distributing content—when such action is taken with the intent to promote or otherwise endorse criminal gang activity.
Military personnel are responsible for the content they publish on all personal and public internet domains, including social media platforms, blogs, websites, and applications.
(8)
When using a government communications system and with the intent to support criminal gang activities, knowingly accessing internet websites or other materials that promote or advocate criminal gang activities.
(9)
Otherwise engaging in activities in furtherance of the objective of such gangs or organizations that are detrimental to good order, discipline, or mission accomplishment or are otherwise incompatible with service in the Army.
Commanders have the authority to prohibit Soldiers from actively participating in criminal gangs or any other activities that the commander determines will adversely affect readiness, good order and discipline, or morale within the command.
This includes, but is not limited to, the authority to order the removal of symbols, flags, posters, or other displays from military-controlled areas; to place areas or activities off-limits (see AR 190-24); or to order Soldiers not to participate in those activities that are contrary to good order and discipline or morale of the unit or pose a threat to health, safety, and security of Soldiers or a military installation.
e. Command options.
The provisions of this policy regarding participation in criminal gang activities apply to members of the Army Reserve and the ARNG regardless of whether the prohibited activity occurs while on or off orders under Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code.
Commanders have the authority to employ the full range of administrative and disciplinary actions, including administrative separation or appropriate punitive action, subject to jurisdictional limitations in the UCMJ, against Soldiers who engage in activity prohibited by “Criminal gangs” subparagraphs a or b.
f. Command responsibilities.
Commanders will remain alert for signs of future prohibited criminal gang activities and are responsible for advising Soldiers periodically, consistent with paragraph 4-12e(1), that criminal gang activity is inconsistent with their oaths of office and enlistment, and Army goals, beliefs, and values.
They should intervene early, primarily through counseling, when observing such signs even though the signs may not rise to active advocacy or active participation or may not threaten good order and discipline, but only suggest such potential.
The goal of early intervention is to minimize the risk of future criminal gang activities.
A commander notified of a Soldier engaging in activities prohibited in “Criminal gangs” subparagraphs a or b will take appropriate actions.
Commanders who receive a credible report or suspicion of gang activities will notify the:
- Servicing security manager
- USACID
- Servicing legal office
Reporting to USACID and the servicing legal advisor or staff judge advocate will enable support to commander inquiries and criminal investigative response.
g.
Commanders will report all allegations that a Soldier has actively participated in criminal gang activities to their servicing Army Inspector General (IG) office, including follow-up information as required.
h. Training requirements.
The Commander, U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) will ensure that the policy and procedures on prohibited activities in this paragraph are included in:
- Initial active-duty training
- Pre-commissioning training
- Professional military education
- Commander training
- Other appropriate Army training programs
i. Additional reporting requirements.
The Department of the Army Inspector General will track all reported criminal gang activity pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.
5. Proponent.
The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) has oversight responsibility for this policy.
The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 will incorporate its provisions into AR 600-20 within 2 years of the date of this directive.
6. Duration.
This directive is rescinded on publication of the revised regulations.
Distribution
DISTRIBUTION:
- Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Commander
- U.S. Army Forces Command
- U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command
- U.S. Army Materiel Command
- U.S. Army Pacific
- U.S. Army Europe and Africa
- U.S. Army Central
- U.S. Army North
- U.S. Army South
- U.S. Army Special Operations Command
- U.S. Army Transportation Command
- U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
- U.S. Army Cyber Command
- U.S. Army Medical Command
- U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Army Audit Agency
- U.S. Army Military District of Washington
- U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
DISTRIBUTION: (CONT)
- U.S. Army Human Resources Command
- U.S. Army Corrections Command
- Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy
- Director, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
- Director, U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
- Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency
- Director, U.S. Army Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office
- Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
- Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
CF:
- Commander, Eighth Army
Definitions
Advocacy.
When made with the intent to promote or endorse extremist or criminal gang activities, affirmative statements, or actions taken to encourage action, promote an organization, or further the spread of information regarding extremist activities.
Advocacy may occur through oral, written, electronic, or nonverbal communication, including the display of images or symbols.
Liking.
The use of the “like” function on social media platforms, generally to signal endorsement or support of the “liked” content.
Liking includes the use of emojis or reactions that signal endorsement or support, or platform-specific actions, such as “favoriting,” when also implying endorsement.
Liking, in the context of the communication concerned, must imply or state endorsement, agreement, or promotion of the content.
Literature.
Printed materials, leaflets, circulars, or other written materials, including electronic or cyber content.
Material support or resources.
Any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safehouses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel (one or more individuals, to include oneself), and transportation, except medicine or religious materials.
Sharing.
In the social media, electronic, or cyber context, an action taken to replicate content from one online location to another (with or without additional comment), typically for viewing by other members of an individual’s social media network.
Sharing also includes, but is not limited to, platform-specific terms such as “re-tweeting.”
Subversion.
Actions designed to undermine the military, economic, psychological, or political strength or morale of a governing authority.
Terrorism.
The unlawful use of violence or threat of violence, often motivated by religious, political, or other ideological beliefs, to instill fear and coerce individuals, governments, or societies in pursuit of terrorist goals.
Widespread unlawful discrimination.
Extensive discrimination, including disparate treatment of individuals or groups on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), or sexual orientation that deprives such persons or groups of constitutional rights or violates Federal, state, or local laws, such as those concerning civil rights and fair housing.
It does not include discrimination that is authorized by law, military regulations, or military policies; lawful efforts to overturn, amend, or enact laws applicable to discrimination or lawful support for causes or organizations that engage in such efforts; or isolated incidents of discrimination.