{"id":47262,"date":"2021-02-09T00:45:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T00:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/09\/secdef-stand-down-on-extremism-not-meant-to-be-panacea-says-pentagon-spokesman\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:06:20","slug":"secdef-stand-down-on-extremism-not-meant-to-be-panacea-says-pentagon-spokesman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2021\/02\/09\/secdef-stand-down-on-extremism-not-meant-to-be-panacea-says-pentagon-spokesman\/","title":{"rendered":"SECDEF stand down on extremism not meant to be panacea, says Pentagon spokesman"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Two major initiatives of the new defense secretary are advancing as the Pentagon head steers the department in his effort to tackle major personnel problems \u2014 extremism in the ranks<\/a> and sexual harassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking with reporters Monday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby acknowledged that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin\u2019s memo<\/a> to the services calling for 60-day stand down to address extremism was not designed to be a panacea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is an opportunity for leadership to listen to the men and women they lead,\u201d Kirby told reporters. \u201cThis is just a step in what the secretary believes will be very deliberate process to try and tackle this problem. He understands a one-day stand down does not solve anything. It might bring to light concerns and experience that he might not be aware of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austin issued his memo in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol, in which several veterans and some service members took part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kirby, a retired Navy rear admiral, described Austin\u2019s stand down as \u201cgetting down to the deck plates\u201d of the problem. That effort, he said, is not meant to merely be a one-way firehose of information directed at troops. Austin, he said, wants to \u201cfind out what exists out there in the force. Listening to our men and women as they share their own views and perspectives will no doubt inform whatever procedures, policies or actions the secretary puts in place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The memo, released by the department<\/a> on Feb. 5, directs commanders to select a day in the next 60 days to conduct the stand down.<\/p>\n\n\n\t