US military weighs recruiting campaign to honour Charlie Kirk, says report
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Conservative activist Charlie Kirk helped build the Republican Party's support among younger voters.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Pentagon officials are weighing a new recruiting campaign that would urge young people to join the military as a way to pay homage to assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, NBC News reported on Sept 18, citing two officials familiar with the plan.
The campaign would be framed as a national call to service with the slogan possibly along the lines of “Charlie has awakened a generation of warriors”, NBC reported, citing two officials.
The recruiting effort would use chapters of Mr Kirk’s conservative student group Turning Point USA and universities across the US as military recruitment centres, the officials told NBC.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Leading the effort is Mr Anthony Tata, who serves as undersecretary of defence for personnel and readiness.
The officials NBC interviewed did not know whether the campaign would ultimately happen.
The idea faces resistance from some Pentagon leaders, who have warned that such a campaign could be perceived as an attempt to capitalise on Mr Kirk’s death.
Mr Kirk, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, helped build the Republican Party’s support among younger voters.
Republicans celebrated him as a charismatic advocate for right-wing policies on race, gender, immigration, religion and gun regulation.
Mr Trump said he would award Mr Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour. REUTERS
