By Christine Walker, Editor-in-Chief of AT EASE! Veterans Magazine
US Navy Corpsman – Desert Storm
As the editor-in-chief and owner of AT EASE! Veterans Magazine, I’ve always done what I can within reason to keep politics out of our publication.
From the beginning, however, it has been our mission to give every Veteran a voice, and I’ll be damned if we will censor, filter, or water down their message.
But now, things that never used to be political have permeated every aspect of society, and the current state of affairs in our military has become so dire that we have a duty to speak up as a publication.
Growing up, my family was not political, nor was politics ever a topic of discussion at the dinner table.
During my enlistment in the Navy, it was drilled into us that politics had no place while in uniform.
We were mission-focused, united in our duty to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Back then, I didn’t see color or gender—I saw the uniform and the rank.
Personal preferences were just that—personal—and promotions were earned through merit and hard work.
The DoD’s obsession with policing personal pronouns and celebrating sexuality won’t save our service members when they’re in combat. In fact, I fear it’s quite the opposite.
How many will die because they lack the inner fortitude to fight a tyrannical enemy or caliphate hell-bent on torture and death?
This shift in priorities will undoubtedly have dire consequences on the battlefield, potentially leading to mass casualties and a crushing defeat for US Forces.
Our recruitment and retention rates are abysmal and plummeting.
In fiscal year 2023 alone, the military services collectively missed their recruiting goals by about 41,000 recruits, a shortfall that has serious implications for our readiness to defend this nation.
The Army, for instance, has had to drastically lower its recruitment goals, slashing them by nearly 10,000 soldiers, just to meet a fraction of what is needed (Stars and Stripes).
Equally concerning are the retention rates.
According to recent reports, the Army, which has been particularly affected, is facing a retention crisis, with nearly 25% of soldiers leaving the force within the first three years of service.
Service members are leaving for a variety of reasons, including dissatisfaction with leadership, a perceived lack of support for their well-being, and concerns over the politicization of the military.
Many feel that the military’s shifting priorities are eroding the sense of purpose and camaraderie that once defined their service (Heritage).
Our active-duty service members have our respect and loyalty, and as Veterans, we’re in the trenches with them, battling against the chaos that threatens their strength.
They’re being forced to choose between their allegiance to our oath and each other or an ideology that directly opposes the principles they swore to defend.
This isn’t a passing storm—its fallout will reverberate for generations.
We stand shoulder to shoulder, fighting to preserve the values that make us powerful and ensuring our warriors stay committed to the mission.
AT EASE! Veterans Magazine, is honored to partner with STARRS in our mission to help right the ship that threatens our military’s ability to defend our country.
As veterans from every war era, the fight against Marxism and tyranny isn’t just a page in history—it’s a battle that remains etched in our souls.
The blood we’ve spilled, the brothers and sisters we’ve lost, and the lives forever changed are the sacrifices we carry with us every day. My own family can trace its origins of military service back to the Revolutionary War, so this fight is in my blood.
These sacrifices were made for something far greater than ourselves, and we are unwavering in our commitment to help restore the honor and integrity of our military branches through the voices of those who served.
The next issue of AT EASE! Veterans Magazine will feature a speech made by STARRS Chairman LTG Rod Bishop, USAF ret.
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