Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former Navy combat pilot and the son of police officers, pointedly questioned Defense Department officials about the use of American cities as potential training grounds for the National Guard. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Kelly sought clarification on President Trump's comments suggesting cities could serve as military practice areas, raising concerns about the civil-military relationship and the safety of U.S. citizens.
According to Kelly's public remarks during the hearing, he highlighted the importance of local law enforcement and questioned the appropriateness of bringing in a military response to challenges cities face. Kelly referenced Trump's remarks from a September 30th meeting with military leaders at Quantico, wherein the President said, "I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military National Guard."
In response to Kelly’s pointed questions, General Gregory M. Guillot clarified that there is no existing Department of Defense policy that endorses the use of American communities as training arenas, nor is there precedent for doing combat training in civilian areas. General Guillot asserted, "No, Senator, there is not," when asked about an established policy for such activities. He also confirmed that neither he nor NORTHCOM has been directed to designate any U.S. city as a training ground.
Kelly further pressed General Guillot on the hypothetical treatment of U.S. citizens as potential adversaries during training. To this, Guillot responded, "No, sir," eliminating any suggestion that citizens would be seen as enemies. He continued, stating that their mission is clear and includes actions like defending federal buildings, alongside emphasizing de-escalation as a primary response. Guillot committed to the oath of the military to defend the United States and its citizens, emphasizing that they do not consider civilians adversaries.
The senator's concerns relay a deep respect for the norms that separate military and civilian spheres – an unwavering belief in safeguarding the sanctity of our communities against the militarization of our daily lives. Kelly wrapped up the discussion with an appreciation of Guillot's answers, reinforcing his stance that American cities should never be turned into training grounds, nor should its residents ever be construed as the opposition.
