Do names matter?
Critical Analysis
Based on the visual above, what portion of your state is owned by the U.S. military?
Based on the visual above, what state has the largest portion of its land owned by the U.S. military?
Based on the visual above, what is the largest military site in the United States, and how does its size compare to the size of the county, parish (Louisiana) or borough (Alaska) you live in?
Based on the visual above, what conclusion do you draw about the amount of U.S. land owned by the military?
Almost all of the largest military sites fall under the Army branch, which has over 415,000 active personnel. Here’s a look at the U.S. military breakdown in terms of population:
Active Duty:
Army: 415,967
Navy: 304,118
Marine Corps: 146,728
Air Force (also includes Space Force): 273,983
Coast Guard: 38,829
Reserves: 438,645
Which has a larger population, the U.S. military or your state?
Some of the U.S. military bases are named after Confederate officers who rebelled against the United States in the Civil War and lost. Why do you think these bases (see list and location below)* were named after traitors?
Do you think the bases should be renamed?
Amid protests and unrest over the killing of George Floyd, debate continued over monuments to Confederate officers, as well as buildings and other landmarks named after them. When the U.S. Army said it was "open to a bi-partisan discussion" on renaming bases currently named after Confederate military leaders, then President Donald Trump shot down the idea. But after he left office, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to the 2021 Defense Authorization Bill which would require the Defense Department to change the names within three years. How does the scenario described above illustrate the idea of checks and balances?
New data from a Military Times poll conducted in 2019 showed more than one-third of active-duty troops polled and more than half of minority service members polled have seen examples of white nationalism or ideological-driven racism among their fellow troops. Why do you think white nationalism grew in 2019?
When it comes to all the land that the military both owns and leases globally, the figure is huge, coming out to 26.9 million acres. The Army controls 51% of the DoD’s land, followed by the Air Force’s 32%.
Military land owned by the Department of Defense can be found outside the U.S. in 8 territories and 45 foreign countries. Here’s a breakdown of where the majority of the U.S.’ foreign bases are:
Germany: 194 sites
Japan: 121 sites
South Korea: 83 sites
In places where there are ongoing conflicts, the U.S. has a few permanent forces. In regular times in Ukraine, there are 23 active duty soldiers permanently stationed. In Russia there are 41 active duty U.S. troops. However, President Joe Biden has recently announced that he will increase the U.S.’ military presence across Europe because of the war in Ukraine. Explain whether the United States should have such a large presence (footprint) in the world.
Learning Extension
Here is a list of all the military bases named after Confederate officers. Congress created The Naming Commission which recommended name changes of Confederate named bases (see list below*) to the U.S. Congress. Contact your U.S. House Member or Senators and let them know what you think of the commission’s recommendations.
Action Extension
The Naming Commission was created by Congress with the important role of recommending names that exemplify U.S. military and national values. The Congressional Commission providing naming, renaming, and removal recommendations to Congress for all Department of Defense items that commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America. Their Final Report to Congress is in the process of being submitted to congress. Contact your congressperson and let them know what you think about the commission’s recommendation.
Visual Extension*
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