@chamberlainvets.bsky.social
Empowering veterans to defend democracy. Proud member of the @unite4vets.bsky.social coalition
Chamberlain CEO Chris Purdy served in the Guard, was a leader in advocating for Afghans, and has been a leader and expert voice on the NG domestic deployments.
Few can speak as comprehensively about the issues involved in the recent shootings
Your weekend listen:
cms.megaphone.fm/channel/CBS7...
Distinction. Proportionality. Military necessity. Humanity.
These are the legal guardrails that keep U.S. power disciplined, and our troops protected.
Marine combat veteran @joeplenzler.bsky.social lays out why the recent strike reporting is so alarming:
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
TCN trains veterans to speak out against political violence, strengthen their communities, and stand up for democratic norms.
On Giving Tuesday, help us build that bench of civic superstars:
www.chamberlainnetwork.us/donate
Who do you trust to hold the line when pressure rises?
One thing Chris is thankful for: Family
27.11.2025 23:57 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Family tradition: We go to the beach
Thanksgiving in the military: Had Thanksgiving in Iraq in 2011, all the chow halls were closed because the US was leaving. So we raided the supply conex for MREs and started a bonfire in the living area.
More TCN Staff Thanksgiving Favorites, Traditions, and Gratitude.
Next we have: Founder and CEO, Chris!
Favorite side: Anything potato based
Favorite pie: Pumpkin Pie
Turkey Trot family: Yes, but only me. My wife threatened to divorce me when I asked her to come on a run
What I'm thankful for:
for TCN and for the Unite for Veterans Coalition, both the people I work with every day and the members of each group. Being surrounded by so many Americans who love this country and are willing to defend it is inspiring. I'm grateful every day that I get to do this work.
Next one up!
Arabella, communications
Favorite side: Scalloped potatoes
Favorite pie: Pecan
Turkey Trot: no way!
Our thoughts are with the service members who were harmed today, and their families
We don't know what motivated this senseless act, but one thing is clear – if the National Guard had not been deployed when they weren’t needed, this would not have happened
www.chamberlainnetwork.us/the-report/s...
What are you thankful for this year:
"My family, the laughter of my children and the support of my partner, co-parent and nanny in raising those children. Vegetarian turkey. A country worth fighting for."
While on active duty in the Marines, she spent two Thanksgivings overseas - Iraq in 2009 and Kuwait in 2016 for Thanksgiving.
"I remember eating so much that I had to go lie down during my watch shift (don't worry, someone covered for me)."
Maggie's favorite thanksgiving side? "There are no sides in Thanksgiving, all parts of a perfect mixed plate"
Favorite pie: Pizza
Thanksgiving tradition: listening to Alice's Restaurant at noon every year.
Thanksgiving gives us space to notice the folks who serve in all kinds of ways — in families, neighborhoods, and communities.
This week we're sharing Thanksgiving memories and traditions from around the TCN team, and things we are grateful for this season.
First up: Marine Corps veteran Maggie
Thanksgiving at TCN:
Colonel , sir, the turkey is ready, but it seems like we forgot to put someone in charge of bringing a carving knife. No one has one, and we don't have anything to cut the turkey with. What should we do?
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:
Bottom line:
The Pentagon’s actions break long-standing democratic norms.
And they send a dangerous message to veterans and the country as a whole.
A healthy democracy requires a military that stays professional, lawful, and above politics.
And to be clear:
Nothing in the video encouraged breaking the law or disobeying lawful orders.
It simply reminded service members of their duty not to follow illegal ones.
That’s standard military ethics — not sedition.
The threat isn’t just to Sen. Kelly.
It’s to the millions of retirees still technically under military jurisdiction — and to every future veteran who wants to serve in public office without having their military status used against them.
It also risks harming the military itself.
The U.S. military’s greatest strength is its nonpartisan character.
Service members must trust that the chain of command is not being used for political payback.
Blurring that line weakens morale, discipline, and public confidence.
The law does allow retirees to be recalled to active duty.
But this is normally used for things like:
filling manpower shortages;
addressing serious crimes;
NOT punishing someone for speaking about the Constitution
Recalling a sitting U.S. Senator over speech would be unprecedented.
In the United States, we do not use the military to intimidate or punish political opponents.
That’s a bright line in our democracy — and it exists to protect all of us.
After the video, the President publicly attacked these lawmakers, calling them traitors and saying their words were “punishable by death.”
Then the Pentagon announced an investigation and raised the possibility of recalling Kelly for court-martial.
This sequence raises serious red flags.
Last week, Sen. Kelly and other veterans in Congress spoke publicly about something every service member learns in basic training:
(1) You must follow lawful orders
(2) You must refuse illegal ones
That’s black-letter military law. It’s not partisan. It’s not new.
The Pentagon has opened an investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly (a retired Navy captain) and is weighing whether to recall him into the military so he can be punished under the UCMJ.
AP has the full story here:
apnews.com/article/pent...
This is not normal — and here’s why it matters. 1/
On the investigation of Sen. Kelly:
"Weaponizing the military’s legal system against political critics ... risks eroding the trust that underpins both civilian oversight and military professionalism"
- Chris Purdy, Chamberlain Network Founder and CEO
www.chamberlainnetwork.us/the-report/t...
TCN condemns the President’s decision to answer a message about lawful orders with claims of “sedition” and calls for execution.
The President must not use his position of authority to promote political violence against those who disagree with him.
www.chamberlainnetwork.us/the-report/t...
Swastikas and nooses aren’t “potentially divisive” - they are symbols of racist and antisemitic hate, violence, and genocide. By no longer classifying them as hate symbols, the Coast Guard is doing nothing less than normalizing violent extremism.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Veterans from across the country met with members of Congress to defend the principle that troops do not belong on our streets.
Veterans spoke from experience about the risks these deployments pose both to public trust, and military readiness.
www.aclu.org/press-releas...
TCN’s Keegan Evans and Paul Johnston lay out what that oath demands of us now: stand with those in uniform, resist improper orders, and protect the nonpartisan military our democracy depends on.
Read their Veterans Day commentary:
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/11/11/g...
Excellent, accessible explainer of the National Guard cases for non-lawyers—clear, accurate, and grounded in statutory history.
If you’re trying to understand why “regular forces” matters and what’s at stake with federalizing the Guard, start here.
www.activevoice.us/p/regular-fo...
Domestic troop deployments have cost $473 million and counting—$270M in D.C., $172M in L.A., and more in Portland, Chicago, Memphis. Federal judges have ruled them illegal.
theintercept.com/2025/11/11/c...
