A former Navy SEAL, who claims to have killed Osama bin Laden, slammed one branch’s strategy of using an active service drag queen to convince people to join the military.
Rob O’Neill, who appeared on “Varney & Co.” Monday, revealed whether he believes the new tactic will bring in more recruits to the military.
“No, this is not going to boost recruitment. It’s going to do the opposite because we don’t join the military to express ourselves,” he said. “All we have in common is that we’re all afraid that we get our heads shaved, then we’re part of a team, and our job as a military is alliance, solidarity, forward defense, and deterrence. And a deterrent is a way you avoid conflict by projecting strength.”
O’Neil also emphasized the importance of having strong men and women who are the best for the job.
“I’m all about freedom. You do what you want behind closed doors, or on your own time, but we need to have submarines with nuclear capability, aircraft carriers, men and women who fly jets, and the best infantry in the world, which is the United States Marine Corps,” he added.
O’Neil further stated he believes “our military needs to be ferocious, not fabulous.”
His comments came after the U.S. Navy enlisted “drag queen influencer” Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley as their “digital ambassador” in November 2022.
Kelley, who goes by the stage name “Harpy Daniels,” announced the news in a video on his social media platforms.
He referred to himself as “an advocate for the LGBTQ community in the military.”
“I am Joshua Kelley, currently 2nd class petty officer in the U.S. Navy. I identify as Non-Binary and this has been an unbelievable experience since I’ve joined the Navy,” he wrote in the caption.
He concluded his statement, writing, “Come follow me on this journey and see where we go next. Thank you to the Navy for giving me this opportunity!”
In June 2022, Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas Spoehr of the Heritage Foundation spoke with NBC News, about the decline of people willing to join the military.
“This is the start of a long drought for military recruiting,” he said.
He added, “2022 is the year we question the sustainability of the all-volunteer force.”