Examining the Connection Between Military Service and Violent Extremism Funded by the National Institute of Justice
Our project, funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), was set in motion following major events of mass violence perpetrated by military veterans. The goal of the study is to understand why and how certain veterans and service members are susceptible to succumbing to extremist beliefs. By understanding the social psychology of veterans and active-duty members, this research will, in turn, reveal risk factors and warning signs of radicalization within the military.
It involves two studies, which focus on data analysis collected about individuals convicted of domestic terrorism from 1980 to 2002 and interviews with the friends, families, and social networks of veterans and civilians who engaged in homegrown violent extremism from 2003 to 2019. Famous events that are included in our study include the 2018 murder of Timothy Caughman and the 2009 Fort Hood massacre.
We anticipate that this research will better equip service members in their transition back to civilian life and may illuminate transition points where radicalization becomes a tangible option for certain members. This is the first study focused on military veterans funded by the NIJ.