Former F/A-18 fighter pilots have expressed shock at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to divulge information about upcoming air strikes this month through a commercial texting app group chat. “It’s shocking,” stated Richard Westmoreland, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel with experience in similar missions over Iraq and the former Yugoslavia. Guy Ravey, who served in the Marines from 1997 to 2017 and completed three combat missions in Iraq, also condemned Hegseth’s actions, calling it a significant breach of protocol. Following Hegseth’s disclosures of key details regarding a planned strike on the Houthi militant movement in Yemen on March 15, criticism has mounted against him. The leaked messages, made public by Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic magazine on March 24, indicated that Hegseth shared sensitive information about the timing and weaponry involved in the operation.
Despite claims from Hegseth and other chat members, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, that no classified information was shared, The Atlantic later revealed specific details from Hegseth’s messages, including the timing of the strikes and the involvement of F/A-18 Hornet attack jets. The former fighter pilots strongly disagreed with Hegseth’s actions, citing the reckless nature of sharing such information. Amy McGrath, a former Marine pilot with combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, emphasized the vulnerability of pilots during launch times, expressing concern for the safety of military personnel. According to the pilots, the information shared by Hegseth is likely classified as secret or top secret and should not be disclosed outside secure channels.
Further scrutiny and calls for investigation have been raised by lawmakers, as concerns regarding the security implications of Hegseth’s actions continue to grow. The retired pilots highlighted the seriousness of sharing operational details through unsecure means, emphasizing the need to protect classified information to ensure the safety and success of military missions.
Former pilots are concerned about a security breach involving Signal texts from a secure Defense Department messaging system. The breach has raised alarms due to the potential operational security issue it poses. Former Navy pilot Matt Holcomb, who served in the Middle East and Pacific, expressed disbelief at the lack of verification regarding the chat participants. He emphasized the critical importance of reporting any information breach promptly.
The leaked information has serious implications, especially for pilots on missions, as it could compromise operations and endanger their safety. The breach, if it had given Houthi targets advance notice, could have allowed them to prepare air defenses, increasing the risk of pilots being shot down during the strike mission.
Former pilots highlighted the increased danger faced by pilots carrying out Houthi strikes, as the group has enhanced its air defense capabilities with Iranian support. The breach could have enabled Houthi targets to evade strikes or even attack U.S. troops.
Mishandling classified information is a serious offense with legal consequences under the Espionage Act. Any breach of classified information within the military can result in dismissal and potentially lead to criminal charges. Proper handling and safeguarding of classified material are fundamental aspects of military training to prevent such breaches.
