Leo Shane III and George R. Altman report at The Military Times:espite overwhelming support for President-elect Donald Trump among active-duty troops, one in four service members worries he may issue orders that violate military rules or traditions, according to a new Military Times/Institute for Military and Veterans Families Poll.
The responses, collected just after Trump’s surprise election night victory, come amid uncertainty of what the one-time business mogul’s Pentagon will look like, who will lead his national security strategy and whether he can fulfill his promises to boost military spending in coming years.
The poll surveyed 2,790 active-duty troops. Among those who voted, 51 percent said they supported Trump. Many expressed optimism at his election, predicting a stronger military and better quality of life for service members.
Military TimesPoll: Troops doubt next president can fix the military's top issues
More than 60 percent said they think the new president will be able to work with Congress to find a solution to defense spending caps, and 56 percent said they believe Trump will improve troops’ pay and benefits.
In addition, 54 percent of troops surveyed believe Trump will be able to address the threat posed by Islamic State militants in the Middle East
But a sizable portion of the active-duty force expressed serious concerns about the election of the unconventional, controversial Republican nominee.
More than 27 percent said that having Trump as commander in chief will negatively affect their military job or mission. Among officers, 39 percent expressed those concerns. Among women, 55 percent worry their jobs will be adversely affected.
The active duty military is about 75 percent white and 85 percent male.
