Despite these fatal flaws, there have been certain bedrock principles that have guided the public face of military operations for generations, enshrined in the Oath of Enlistment and Oath of Office. These oaths, at least one of which is taken by every servicemember, requires us to serve the US Constitution rather than any individual. And while these oaths have not prevented the many abuses of the US military, they do speak to the ideals of the people who have served within it.

At a time when the administration is purging leadership so that they "they don't exist to be roadblocks to anything that happens" and Trump has hinted at deploying troops on US soil, it is more important than ever that veterans and servicemembers remember what brought them to service. For most of us, it was a desire to serve a greater cause, and there is no greater cause than defending the vulnerable and using our power to ensure that all people in this country have their individual freedoms.

If you are a veteran and want to advise current servicemembers or you are currently serving and want to know what your options are, this is the place for you. Please fill out this survey to be added to a mailing list for organizing and advocacy opportunities, along with political education readings and discussions, to figure out a way to make sure that our sacrifices were not in vain--whatever our feelings about the effects of our service. Wherever we started, it is clear that we are in a bad place, and veterans and servicemembers have a clear opportunity to effect change. We are still figuring out what this formation will look like, but what we do know is that we are people of action with the skills and experience to do whatever needs to be done if it serves our people, and that is an authoritarian's worst nightmare. Join us.