Berger orders CSA stuff from bases

Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger has instructed Marine leaders to remove all Confederate States of America (CSA)-related paraphernalia from the service's bases worldwide. The directive is one of several initiatives Berger said he is "prioritizing for immediate execution." In a memo, obtained by Military.com, Berger also ordered leaders to find ways to move more women into combat jobs, to review the possibility of year-long maternity leave for female Marines, and to extend parental leave policies to same-sex partners. The commandant's order came about a week after a congressional hearing on the rise of extremism in the ranks. Berger's spokesperson, did not specify what types of Confederate paraphernalia the general wants stripped from Marine bases. The debate over Confederate materials and names on military installations has swirled for years. Ten Army bases are named after CSA leaders. The Defense Department opted to leave the decision up to the individual services. Richard Kohn, a history professor at the University of North Carolina, said ridding military installations of Confederate materials is overdue to “try and create as much unity as possible and to suppress white nationalism and racism within the ranks of the military …" But, since the Marine Corps' major installations opened after the turn of the 20th century, Kohn said they're unlikely to have overt nods to Confederate leaders. A 2017 study by the Congressional Research Service found there were no Navy or Marine Corps bases named for Confederate military leaders. (Source: Military.com 02/26/20) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/02/26/top-marine-orders-confederate-paraphernalia-be-removed-all-bases.html