The Oath Keepers are a relatively new organization to the Kenai Peninsula and have already accepted a substantial amount of new members.
We spoke to Justin Giles, the Oath Keepers Alaskan representative, who told us a little bit about the organization.
Giles: “The organization aims to recruit, train and inspire active duty military and law enforcement, as well as veterans. And we just try to remind them that their oath that they individually take is to the Constitution and not to individuals of any position or within any party.”
Giles added that their duty is both in and out of the uniform, as well as in the U.S. and Internationally, and in no way are they a militia or interested in overthrowing any part of the government.
He also said they have had a great turnout for new members since starting in the area.
Giles: “We’re experiencing explosive growth, it’s just people are hungry to do something more than to just sit around and talk or sit around and work on an election.”
One of the Kenai Oath Keepers teams is headed up by David Lee, who helps coordinate meetings and recruit new members.
Lee said they are always preparing for are large natural disasters and right now the Oath Keepers are working on a short wave radio network from Kenai to Willow.
Lee: “So if something happens we would have the equipment where we could talk to people in Juneau, ya know statewide eventually. And this is our goal. In an emergency situation that is something very important.”
The Oath Keepers plan to test the short wave radio network April 19.