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Top-ranking Marine general calls for removal of 'Confederate paraphernalia' on bases

Posted at 11:27 AM, Feb 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-27 12:27:21-05

A top Marine Corps general has ordered the removal of all "Confederate-related paraphernalia" form the institution's installations around the world, Military.com reports.

The news outlet says reporters reviewed the order directly, which was issued by Commandant Gen. David Berger last week. Military.com reports that the order was "prioritized for immediate execution."

It's unclear which materials other than Confederate flags will be prohibited under the new order.

The order comes after reports surfaced last year that white nationalism remained an issue in many American military institutions.

In December, two men were relieved of duty from their respective National Guard units due to their ties with a white supremacist group.

In February 2019, another National Guard soldier who was arrested on gun and drug charges was found to have written a racist manifesto. Later that month, a Military Times poll found that 22 percent of people surveyed said they had seen signs of white nationalism and racism in the military.

According to Military.com, Berger's order also called on leaders to find ways to move more women into combat jobs and asked them to review a potential policy that would allow yearlong paternity leave to female Marines and extend parental leave policies to same-sex couples.