Eleven retired generals warned that recent and proposed National Guard deployments could “undermine” the military’s reputation as a trusted institution and harm troop morale.

“A military that is thrust into aggressive interactions with civilians in a politicized context will, over time, inevitably lose the respect and trust that it currently has among the American people,” the former generals wrote in a brief filed in a California court. “This disapproval from fellow Americans can only exacerbate feelings of isolation and low morale for the military deployed.”

The former general officers, mostly major and lieutenant generals in the Army, each have military careers spanning more than three decades, and have a range of experiences, from leading troops in combat to holding administrative po

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