Posted on May 4, 2016
Do you believe that these West Point first classman are violating the UCMJ by making a political statement while in uniform?
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DOD directive 1344.10 states:
-A member of the Armed Forces on active duty may:
4.1.1.3. Join a partisan or nonpartisan political club and attend its meetings when NOT in uniform, subject to the restrictions of subparagraph 4.1.2.4. (See DoD Instruction 1334.1 (Reference (c).)
From the article "Racism Within West Point"
http://www.inthearenafitness.com/index.php/racism-within-west-point
-A member of the Armed Forces on active duty may:
4.1.1.3. Join a partisan or nonpartisan political club and attend its meetings when NOT in uniform, subject to the restrictions of subparagraph 4.1.2.4. (See DoD Instruction 1334.1 (Reference (c).)
From the article "Racism Within West Point"
http://www.inthearenafitness.com/index.php/racism-within-west-point
Posted in these groups: 
United States Military Academy (USMA West Point)
Black Lives Matter
PoliticsUSCC
UCMJ
United States Military Academy (USMA West Point) Black Lives Matter PoliticsUSCC UCMJ
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 237
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If these cadets are indeed making a political statement with this photo then they are violating the UCMJ. However right, proper, or otherwise their cause may be, to make the statement while wearing the uniform of a USMA cadet inadvertently but inevitably implies that USMA supports that movement. As they are cadets they have no authority to make such a statement. If they way to support BLM they need to get out of uniform to do it.
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#BlackLivesMatter Smackdown in Seattle - Ben Shapiro
It's time for the NAACP to have a revelation and a revolution. A revelation into the ineffectiveness of their preoccupation with seeing everything from the "...
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2LT (Join to see)
CPT Ahmed Faried - Sir, I like those examples because they made me think and research.
1) The government subsidized housing for certain populations. In fact, the Clinton era housing initiative allowed subprime mortgage funding for lower income households and then record foreclosures.
2) Nobody wants to put private resources into urban areas when it will not result in profit and has a higher chance of being a target for crime. Government resources are handed out in urban areas. Any government entitlement is almost entirely concentrated in urban poor areas if you look at a distribution map.
3) I agree, there are unequal opportunities in education. I have to score 10 points higher on an MCAT to attend the same medical school. The test used to be out of 45 points.
4) You also need an ID to drive, go on a plane, enter a courthouse. Many other things. 90% of people below the poverty line have a colored television and air conditioning. an ID costs much less than both of those things and is far more useful.
5)ahh the slavery argument. there were 388,000 slaves in America. only 1.5% of the ancestors of white americans owned slaves. A much higher number of white americans fought against slavery. Slavery or institutional racism has not affected the opportunities of anyone from 0-50 years old today. Nothing stopped them from reading or writing. There are two options: create a fair society for everyone or try and repay those who were slighted throughout all of history. Not just the black americans either. By the time everything is back to the stone age before conquest there will be nothing left for them. The second is unrealistic and requires dissolving every country in the world. Right by conquest made every state that exists including Native American tribal lands. Why is that right to conquest morally justified but America's is not?
6) The law works in most instances. You charge a police officer and you get shot. There are racist events, but they are prosecuted. When any of these memorialized criminals died I was confused. Why would Freddy Grey be missed? he was a 16 time arrested heroin dealer. Turns out grand jury, black mayor, black police chief, and black city council of Baltimore found it to be an accident. There are more white on black crimes by 900% each year. Why are they not hate crimes?
8) youre right, I would be less likely to pick up a black man that a white man in SE wash DC. That is also because I have 1 80% lower chance of being assaulted or killed by the black man that the white man according to CDC crime stats. It does not mae me a racist for avoiding personal harm, although I know that todays world does make it seem that way.
1) The government subsidized housing for certain populations. In fact, the Clinton era housing initiative allowed subprime mortgage funding for lower income households and then record foreclosures.
2) Nobody wants to put private resources into urban areas when it will not result in profit and has a higher chance of being a target for crime. Government resources are handed out in urban areas. Any government entitlement is almost entirely concentrated in urban poor areas if you look at a distribution map.
3) I agree, there are unequal opportunities in education. I have to score 10 points higher on an MCAT to attend the same medical school. The test used to be out of 45 points.
4) You also need an ID to drive, go on a plane, enter a courthouse. Many other things. 90% of people below the poverty line have a colored television and air conditioning. an ID costs much less than both of those things and is far more useful.
5)ahh the slavery argument. there were 388,000 slaves in America. only 1.5% of the ancestors of white americans owned slaves. A much higher number of white americans fought against slavery. Slavery or institutional racism has not affected the opportunities of anyone from 0-50 years old today. Nothing stopped them from reading or writing. There are two options: create a fair society for everyone or try and repay those who were slighted throughout all of history. Not just the black americans either. By the time everything is back to the stone age before conquest there will be nothing left for them. The second is unrealistic and requires dissolving every country in the world. Right by conquest made every state that exists including Native American tribal lands. Why is that right to conquest morally justified but America's is not?
6) The law works in most instances. You charge a police officer and you get shot. There are racist events, but they are prosecuted. When any of these memorialized criminals died I was confused. Why would Freddy Grey be missed? he was a 16 time arrested heroin dealer. Turns out grand jury, black mayor, black police chief, and black city council of Baltimore found it to be an accident. There are more white on black crimes by 900% each year. Why are they not hate crimes?
8) youre right, I would be less likely to pick up a black man that a white man in SE wash DC. That is also because I have 1 80% lower chance of being assaulted or killed by the black man that the white man according to CDC crime stats. It does not mae me a racist for avoiding personal harm, although I know that todays world does make it seem that way.
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CW4 (Join to see)
2LT (Join to see) - Interesting stats, but incomplete. 388k slaves 'officially' imported prior the the ban in the early 1800's however slave ships were still docking in the states in 1860. At the time of the war, there were 5-6 million slaves in the US.
MCATs & admissions - let me know when 'legacy admissions' go away and less qualified relatives of donors stop 'earning' admissions & we can talk. When 80% of college attendees have a college graduate parent (similar for grad school), increasing the ranks of college graduates from underrepresented communities is just common sense. AND when the standardized tests are not predictive of school performance and career performance, better admissions standards are in order, but perpetuating discriminatory standards is wrong.
If you think institutional racism hasn't impacted anyone under 50, I have some OK beachfront property for you. Head out of your neighborhood and visit the schools in the 'other' part of town or the neighboring town with the 'other people'. You'll be shocked to find lots of things you're positive don't exist . . .
MCATs & admissions - let me know when 'legacy admissions' go away and less qualified relatives of donors stop 'earning' admissions & we can talk. When 80% of college attendees have a college graduate parent (similar for grad school), increasing the ranks of college graduates from underrepresented communities is just common sense. AND when the standardized tests are not predictive of school performance and career performance, better admissions standards are in order, but perpetuating discriminatory standards is wrong.
If you think institutional racism hasn't impacted anyone under 50, I have some OK beachfront property for you. Head out of your neighborhood and visit the schools in the 'other' part of town or the neighboring town with the 'other people'. You'll be shocked to find lots of things you're positive don't exist . . .
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I don't think the chain of command at West Point up to the Sect'y of Army is blind to allow these cadets to go against the UCMJ.
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CPT (Join to see)
Irish pride, white pride, black pride...again, I don't think the cadets chain of command would allow them to jeopardize their careers. If they're wrong, they suffer the consequences I.e., going against the UCMJ. If not, who the f--- cares, over!
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yes and they should be removed from the academy and punished under UCMJ each and every one of them is a disgrace to the uniform and whoever organized the event needs to go to jail.
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This really concerns me! I can't see the previous comments or I'm not smart enough to get them open, but... When I see this it makes me feel like it creates an institutional divide based off of race. When I served we were all "green" in color. I can't imagine that these cadets would be so brazen to hold that pose if a 4 star of any color, but certainly a black officer, were to witness the event. I hope that the institutional camaraderie is dissolved when they reach their units by leaders who show true candor and selfless service. Our profession is one of unity and always mission first, lest we all die along with our country. I have a love for all who wear the uniform with integrity, even those like the rest of us that needed some help along the way.
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I do believe they are making a political statement. Whether or not they should've been punished is something I don't want to decide upon. I do think their actions are inappropriate at the very least.
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Marlene Hessler
They did a disservice to West Point, the Army, and America.
Yes, America invested a good sum of money in their education. When it comes to the 'wish list' for their assignments, they should be sent to the most hellish spots on the planet to see what their education is really all about. That may be better than they deserve.
Yes, America invested a good sum of money in their education. When it comes to the 'wish list' for their assignments, they should be sent to the most hellish spots on the planet to see what their education is really all about. That may be better than they deserve.
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MSgt (Join to see)
What is political about this? Furthermore, when did the BLM movement become racist, when the media changes things around to look however they can to excite folks to pit them against one another is sickening. But what may be worse is that fact that society goes along with it on such a large scale. How many people that trash the movement have ever experienced any of that in person? I doubt any. A movement about black lives and what is felt as an injustice, that is funded by a white man btw, is considered racist? We need to check ourselves as a whole.
As far as them being leaders, why not, what is the definition of a leader? I'll help, it someone that isn't afraid to go against the grain. We have gotta so caught up in being followers, that we don't know how the recognize otherwise.
As far as them being leaders, why not, what is the definition of a leader? I'll help, it someone that isn't afraid to go against the grain. We have gotta so caught up in being followers, that we don't know how the recognize otherwise.
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"The West Point seniors whose fist-raising photo thrust them into the national spotlight have completed the mandatory instruction required to graduate, a spokesman told Army Times on Monday."
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PO1 Scott VanBoskirk
NJP and E-1 sounds good. Of course, they would have to apply for OCS if they want to be commissioned; after waiting at least 18 months, and their CO would have to recommend them (and based on the reasons they would have been denied commissioning out of WP, slim chance there) and then it would have to go up the chain of command for them to get a slot...
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SSG Robert White
How about a General Discharge and having them repay the government back for four years of a free education. Hold them to the same standard you would an enlisted person. In 23 yrs in the Army, it is my experience that officers don't lead, the command. NCO's lead. Thus NCO's are held to a higher standard. As they say in the Army S... rolls down hill. The Army will blame the lowest ranking individual and not the person in charge. Call me bitter. Having said that, I've seen officers with DUI/DWI's get promoted, where as E4's - E9's kicked out for getting a DUI/DWI (every time).
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