Why are pictures of uniformed military personnel being used to push a political agenda?

CPT Richard Riley — Sat, 10 May 2014 08:06:03 -0400

Can anyone explain to me why there are some people who believe it is a great idea to 'pose' as a uniformed military member holding a sign, placard, or banner in order to draw attention and push their political idea? The majority of those who serve or have served know that regulations prohibit these types of display -yet- every so often you run across a picture of some no-named, no-ranked, unidentifiable person 'posing' in uniform for a cause .... WHY? I just don't get it?

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made May 10 at 2014 8:35 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sat, 10 May 2014 08:35:58 -0400

I think a lot of it has to do with younger members of our Army/military that come from a generation that lack the self-discipline to do the right thing all of the time, because they come from a generation who feel self-entitled to do as they please as they were never told no, you can't do that it is wrong. A lot of them were brought up to believe that everyone is a winner and you can do as you please because after all, "it's not your fault, it's the fault of_________(fill in the blank). No personal responsibility, most were brought up to believe that their failings are the fault of an unfair system, or someone "keeping them down". It's the same situation with all of the unsavory postings that make their rounds on the social media sites. I fear for the future of our nation if things continue down the same path they seem to be headed.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2014 10:37 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 May 2014 10:37:11 -0400

Most people wearing uniforms to protests are either posers or people chaptered out almost immediately after entrance. Anyone who has anytime in uniform knows that it's not appropriate. You can have your political views, but wear civies when you're displaying them. In uniform you represent the US, and that's a lot of diversity and a lot of people who may not agree with you.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 10 at 2014 10:45 AM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sat, 10 May 2014 10:45:07 -0400

Get's people talking...like we are now. ;)

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 10 at 2014 11:58 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 10 May 2014 11:58:26 -0400

Who has time for that?

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 10 at 2014 12:41 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Sat, 10 May 2014 12:41:38 -0400

Because your honorable service is respected, rightfully, by some our nations citizens. The idiot that is hoping further his agenda does not care about you, or what is right, and only cares about his agenda. You really already knew the answer but thought there might be something more to the dirtbag and there really is not.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 10 at 2014 12:59 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Sat, 10 May 2014 12:59:58 -0400

One thing that always drove me nuts when I would see people in uniform in civilian setting that were ate up. I.E. wearing ‘V’ masks in uniform. I would always try to help the soldier by making spot correction, but my wife would get embarrassed for some reason? I remember see a young man at the grocery store, hair WAY outside of regulation, uniform looking like he had slept in it for a week, and he was acting like he didn’t even care he was such a mess! In fact, he was such a mess I realized I needed to slow down…and I remember having worked with High School kids in ROTC and Civil Air Patrol, but even these kids knew how to properly wear their uniform? This ‘soldier’ was so wrong my brain just locked up trying to figure out what was going on? As the ‘soldier’ moved to help bag groceries, I was even more confused by the clown at the register? That was when I remembered it was October 31st. I guess the point of my post…if there was a point…is that we have no idea about the context of the photo and chance are it just something that little people do because they do not know any better.

Response by SGT Warren Wilson made May 10 at 2014 1:24 PM

SGT Warren Wilson — Sat, 10 May 2014 13:24:51 -0400

Though several may not have served in the Military, there are those who are proud of their service and love of country who have "Woken Up" to the fact that many in D.C. are "Puppets" to the power behind the politics. Like the person in this picture who wants to End The Fed(eral Reserve), who pushes for more wars, in order to get more loans from the Government, to increase their profits and further enslave We The People. M.G. Smedley Butler (USMC Ret. RIP) was on to this game, and exposed it in his book "War Is A Racket", and even stopped the Fascist take over of our Government during FDR's presidency. The people here, and in other photos, do not have the "Pull" that M.G. Butler had, and seem to have to find another way of exposing the Corporations and Bankers agendas.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 11 at 2014 1:21 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sun, 11 May 2014 01:21:50 -0400

I don't even know what "end the fed" means.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 1:18 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:18:11 -0400

Like MAJ Carl Ballinger alluded to, I doubt this individual was ever in the service. If he/she was then they were probably a sub-standard one.

I heavily disagree with ANY service-member doing something like the above picture. It is unprofessional, dishonest and does a great disservice to the overall military. I don't care what side you take, it's not right.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 1:32 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:32:17 -0400

All I can say is they are a true idiot! No true self respecting service member would disgrace the American military uniform.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 10:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 22:20:17 -0500

I actually fid one of my studies on something similar to this. Astonishly enough, about 85% of the SMs do not believe in nor respect the government as a whole so regardless of the regs it wouldn't surprise me if this is an actual soldier. Why in the middle of the road during the day? That I couldn't tell you.