A bold statement is being made with a series of billboards aimed at military personnel, leaving many to question the legality of their orders and the role of the military in domestic affairs.
"Is this what you signed up for?" asks a billboard in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a powerful message directed at troops stationed at Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune. This campaign, led by veteran organizations About Face: Veterans Against The War and Win Without War, aims to reach out to service members who may have doubts about their current duties.
The billboards act as a gateway to a website, "Not What You Signed Up For," offering encrypted communication and expert resources, including legal advice. Harrison Mann, a former Army major, now associate director for Win Without War, explains the motivation behind the campaign. He resigned from the Defense Intelligence Agency over the use of American military support for Israel's war with Hamas.
"We want troops to know their rights and have options," Mann emphasizes.
The billboards are strategically placed, with one at Fort Bragg between two main streets leading to the base, and another at Camp Lejeune near the main gate. A third mobile billboard travels around Washington D.C., where National Guard members have been deployed since August.
The Trump administration's widespread deployment of troops in law enforcement roles has sparked controversy. Local leaders and residents have rejected these deployments, with over 2,000 National Guard troops currently in Washington D.C. and nearly 1,700 supporting ICE.
Progressive veteran groups and military legal experts express concern about troops facing orders that may go against their conscience or be deemed unlawful in the future. James M. Branum, a lawyer connected to the campaign, says younger troops are voicing their discontent, while senior troops are "biding their time."
Brittany Ramos DeBarros, organizing director for About Face, shares her personal military experience as a driving force behind the campaign. She deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 and witnessed the gap between the military's mission and reality.
"The military's purpose is to carry out violence efficiently," DeBarros states, adding that using the National Guard for domestic policing and immigration issues is "antithetical."
The Manual for Courts-Martial states that service members can defend against unlawful orders, but the pressure is on them to make the right call. A recent federal court ruling in California deemed the deployment of troops to LA illegal, violating the Posse Comitatus Act.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson criticized Win Without War, stating they are not a veteran's group and use Democratic funds for their cause.
But is it legal to encourage military members to question orders through billboards? A 2014 Supreme Court case ruled against a protester outside a military base, raising questions about free speech and military jurisdiction.
This campaign sparks a crucial conversation about the role of the military, the legality of orders, and the rights of service members. It invites discussion and debate, leaving us to ponder: What are the limits of military power, and who ultimately decides?
