Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Military Background and Policy Impact

Published: October 8, 2024

COMMENT

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, has spent years in office as a politician. Before serving the people of New York, AOC was also in the hospitality industry and has a noted past of promoting activism for marginalized groups. However, it’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's military service that continues to be debated among voters in the military community, as her experience, or lack thereof, could affect policies that affect people defending our nation. Here’s a closer look at her service record.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Military Service Background

While she has been heavily involved in fighting for American rights and politics for years, AOC is not a Veteran. The Boston University alum has previously worked as an intern for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy as well as on the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders before joining Congress in 2019. Since then, her focus has been on her constituents in New York, along with various causes affecting lower and middle-class Americans with a particular focus on minority groups.

Nobody Prepared You for Military Life

But we can help. Join over 100k spouses already getting the advice, resources, and military tea they need to thrive.

Fewer Politicians are Veterans

The 2024 election will have fewer Veterans on the ballet than in 2022. One of the many examples that show that a lack of military experience isn’t as uncommon among politicians as it once was. A decrease in Veteran participation in politics is an ongoing trend still felt in the makeup of modern offices today. Veteran politicians in Congress during the 1970s were over 70%; however, the 118th Congress only had 18% of the politicians with previous experience as a service member. Several factors contributed to this trend, including stiffer competition from the private sector, a lack of interest in younger generations, a shift to an all-volunteer military, and more. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s military service is a factor some voters look at in terms of trust; however, while being a Veteran can provide unique insight into a number of topics, it’s not the only mindset that can help provide positive growth for our nation.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Impact on Military Policy

To say that AOC is a strong supporter of our nation’s expansive military budget, couldn’t be farther from the truth. Every single time, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the purpose of protecting the amount of money the military spends on itself. AOC would rather diversify some of this funding to other causes, including housing and education. Furthermore, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been outspoken about avoiding American interventionism in foreign conflicts and eliminating forever wars. When it comes to Veterans, AOC has been a supporter of the community in the following ways:

Supporting the PACT Act.
She is working to provide more resources for PTSD treatment through the use of psychedelics.
AOC is against privatizing the VA and has stood with the VA medical staff against such efforts.

Sources: Foreign Policy, AOC. Accessed October 2024. https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/legislation/foreign-policy Veterans Affairs, AOC. Accessed October 2024. https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/legislation/veterans-affairs