Former IDF Volunteer Brian Mast Shortlisted to Lead US Army

Brian Mast, a former volunteer with the Israeli military, is reportedly under consideration to become Secretary of the Army after Dan Driscoll’s resignation.

The Florida Republican is on the shortlist for the post, according to commentator Nick Sortor, who said two U.S. officials had confirmed Mast’s candidacy.

The report has immediately put Mast’s previous service with the Israeli military at the center of the succession fight.

A Volunteer in Israeli Military

Mast previously served as a civilian volunteer with the Israeli military.

He also appeared at the U.S. Capitol in 2023 wearing an Israeli army uniform.

Sortor argued that the record should disqualify Mast from taking control of the U.S. Army’s civilian leadership.

“NOBODY wearing a foreign uniform should EVER take control of the US Army,” he wrote.

He added: “I don’t give a damn WHICH foreign Army someone volunteers in. It could be Santa Claus’ Army for all I care. That DISQUALIFIES you from leading AMERICAN forces.”

U.S. Army Veteran

Mast’s military record also includes service in the U.S. Army.

He lost both legs in an attack while serving in Afghanistan, a background that has remained central to his political profile.

His reported candidacy therefore brings two parts of his military history into direct focus: combat service with the U.S. Army and later voluntary service with the Israeli military.

He Called Palestinian Civilians 'Nazis'

Mast has been one of Congress’s most outspoken supporters of Israel and has repeatedly drawn criticism from Palestinian rights advocates.

He previously argued that humanitarian assistance entering Gaza “should be slowed down.”

Mast has also questioned the distinction between Palestinian civilians and combatants.

“I don’t think we would so lightly throw around the term ‘innocent Nazi civilians’ during World War II. It is not a far stretch to say there are very few innocent Palestinian civilians,” he said in 2023.

The remarks prompted Democratic congresswoman Sara Jacobs to lead an unsuccessful effort to formally rebuke him in the House.

Advocacy Groups Condemn Mast

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has previously attacked Mast’s record over Gaza and his statements concerning Palestinians.

“Brian Mast might be the perfect person to serve as a spokesperson for the war criminals of the Israeli government, but he has no business running congressional hearings on sensitive international issues that impact our nation’s security,” CAIR government affairs director Robert McCaw said.

Mast responded by dismissing the criticism.

“I’d be more concerned if they were supporting me. Pace yourselves and buckle up,” he wrote.

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, has described Mast as the “most cruel, heartless member of Congress.”

Hassan el-Tayyab of the Friends Committee on National Legislation has separately called him one of the “most ferociously anti-Palestinian voices” in Congress.

Scrutiny Shifts to Pentagon Role

Mast’s reported place on the Army secretary shortlist moves those disputes beyond congressional foreign policy.

If selected, he would enter the leadership of the U.S. Army after a political career defined in part by strong support for Israel and repeated clashes with critics of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

Driscoll’s resignation has now opened a succession process in which Mast’s past service with a foreign military is likely to remain one of the most closely watched elements of his candidacy.