As America looks to rebuild its military strength, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bold efforts to purge the U.S. armed forces of divisive ideologies and unlawful vaccine mandates are gaining momentum—and grassroots support. With a new task force in motion, and organizations like STARRS (Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services) leading the charge, this movement aims to restore merit, readiness, and trust to the nation’s fighting forces.
From Woke to War-Ready: Hegseth’s Vision for the Military
On January 29, Hegseth issued a landmark memo establishing the “Restoring America’s Fighting Force Task Force”, declaring that “the most qualified individuals are placed in positions of responsibility in accordance with merit-based, color-blind policies.”
This is more than rhetoric—by June 1, 2025, the task force is scheduled to submit a final report documenting the termination of DEI-based policies across all military branches. The new directive explicitly rejects any consideration of race, sex, or ethnicity in promotion and placement decisions.
STARRS: A Watchdog Against Bureaucratic Drift
Lt. Gen. Rod Bishop (Ret.), STARRS Chairman, is leading the veteran-driven mission to permanently dismantle the ideological frameworks that took root in the military under past administrations.
“DEI is a Marxist Trojan horse that’s infected the core of our institutions,” Bishop warns. “Even as it’s removed, it will mutate and attempt to return.”
Among STARRS’s recommendations:
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“Project Sentinel” – a joint DoD-veteran initiative to ensure DEI is permanently eliminated
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“Duty, Honor, Country Commission” – a review of service academies, ensuring curricula emphasize constitutional values, integrity, and military history
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A deep dive into ROTC, war colleges, and training programs to restore the warrior ethos and eliminate political distractions
Case Files of Abuse and Fallout
STARRS’ legal arm, led by Executive VP and General Counsel Michael Rose, is currently handling 118 cases—examples of how radical DEI and vaccine mandates have harmed military members. Three stand out:
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Merit-Based Retaliation: An Air Force OSI agent rejected a race-based promotion decision in favor of a more qualified candidate—and is now being discharged for being “anti-DEI.”
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False Accusation Fallout: A conservative Coast Guard OCS candidate, falsely accused of using a racial slur, was discharged despite support from retired generals and admirals. Rose believes the true reason was political bias.
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Vaccine Retaliation: A former Navy ROTC candidate lost his scholarship for refusing the COVID-19 shot on religious grounds. He now owes $35,000 in fees and borrowed $70,000 to finish school. With no clear path to appeal, he’s stuck in a legal limbo.
These cases are described as “only the tip of the iceberg.”
Healing Vaccine Wounds: The Call for COMCAP
To address the legacy of military vaccine mandates—especially the now-rescinded COVID-19 requirement—Bishop calls for a Commission on Military COVID-19 and Anthrax Policies (COMCAP). Its goals:
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Acknowledge and remedy harm to service members
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Ensure injured personnel receive VA care for life
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Prevent illegal medical coercion from ever happening again
This commission would operate under the TERA provision of the PACT Act, treating vaccine injuries as toxic exposures worthy of full federal medical support.
A New Era: Merit, Mission, and Honor Restored
Operation Rescue isn’t just a slogan—it’s a national mission to bring the military back to its core purpose: defending the United States through readiness, meritocracy, and unity of purpose.
Through the combined forces of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, STARRS, and tens of thousands of active-duty and veteran supporters, the work is underway to rebuild trust, restore constitutional order, and eliminate ideological interference once and for all.
“This is how we prepare not just to fight—but to win the next war,” Bishop says. “And this time, the war is for the soul of our military.”