From his various online rantings and posts, it appears that CDT Rapone is an avowed Marxist, which is completely out of line with the values of this nation and its Army. We were bullies in one of the poorest countries on Earth, Rapone said. RedState member since 2004. Has Rapone broken the law by just being a Communist on active duty in the military? Id have to find a way out somehow. He added that its possible the military academy could seek repayment of the cost of Rapones education because he didnt serve the full five-year service obligation required upon graduation. ALL HE WANTS IS A FAIR JUDICIAL PROCESS. Rapone said his journey to communism grew out of his experiences as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan before he was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy. Rapone previously served as an enlisted infantryman before enrolling at West Point in 2012. Can you talk about some of the differences among active-duty soldiers under each president? But we also had a large student movement that was providing a support network, with coffeehouses and structures to welcome soldiers who were resisting back into civilian life and treating them with the respect they deserve for resisting. That was accepted, and I got issued an other than honorable discharge. Friday, June 8, 2018, Click We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat.. Instead, he was sneering at something on my uniform. U.S. government destroying the dollars value through inflation. Im from New Castle, Pennsylvania, which is a classic Rust Belt city. Even while still a cadet, Rapones online postings alarmed a West Point history professor, who wrote Rapone up, saying his online postings were red flags that cannot be ignored. Rapone was disciplined but still allowed to graduate. What kind of bizarro world is that? But you asked how we get more people to resist. But his interview with the AP shed light on how he went from a graduate of one of the most exclusive and traditional institutions on Earth to a pariah within the ranks before being mustered out. Rapone is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and is serving as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Armys 10th Mountain Division, though he is currently at Ranger School. To bookmark your favorite articles and follow your favorite authors, please, Now you can personalize your Truthdig experience. Click It could be anything from sympathy to his views to gutlessness to gay sex. Schools, roads and statues bear their names across the country. And I was a young male in American society, so I watched a lot of Hollywood movies, a lot of TV shows. Even some of the true believers who claim they enjoy it or relish it deep down, they know what theyre doing. A LOT. No one likes to deploy; no one likes to be separated from their friends and family to go inflict violence on human beings. In another, he raises his fist and flips his cap to reveal the message: Communism will win.. In November 2015, after being removed from Alpha Company 1/75 Ranger Regiment in 2011 for violating standards, Rapone was a cadet in his final year at the academy. West Point released a statement after Rapone posted the photos, saying his actions in no way reflect the values of the US Military Academy or the US Army. And US Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, called on the secretary of the Army to remove Rapone from the officer ranks. Alex Jones challenged me to a boxing match. Plus, Colin Kaepernick risked his career to support a cause. Rapones discharge will place him in a situation where he will not be entitled to VA benefits and he may have to reimburse the US Government for his time at West Point. There were fumes of idealism still left, he said, and he accepted one of the few prized slots to the academy reserved for enlisted soldiers. By many accounts, he is . But when you talk to these kids who are signed up, they can tell you very little about the last seventeen years of the war, much less the history of US imperialism around the world. Copyright 2023 PopularMilitary | All Rights Reserved. Were in Chicago. He has also been known to contribute to the left-wing think tank, The Hampton Institute. I followed hiseyes and then looked down to see what he was looking at; I then realized that he was staring at the name tag on my ACU top, as ifmemorizing my name. So I took those pictures both as my own individual act of rebellion, but also so that if there was ever an opening, I could use them for some larger, political purpose. His expulsion came after a viral tweet showing him clad in uniform, fist raised displaying a We call upon Rapones fellow soldiers in the 10th to give him a proper haircut and attitude adjustment. Note that right now Heffington has started couching the statement in a near apologetic tone. Who knows? No one likes being in the military, in the moment. It is not clear if he had the ability to attend Ranger school while serving in the Army Rangers or if he attended and failed. During the interview, he expressed patriotism and looked just like a top-notch candidate. Greg Rinckey, an attorney specializing in military law, said its rare for an officer out of West Point to receive an other-than-honorable discharge. First, when youre talking to a teenager about this subject, theres no effective argument that says, Youre too smart for this, you could do better, etc. Thats usually condescending. You can read the whole statement here. Spenser Rapone, the former second lieutenant whose Communism will win photos went viral in 2017, has received an other than honorable discharge from the Army. Lets accommodate him. Spenser Rapone is a former Army Ranger and Infantry Officer who resigned his commission in June 2018 due to his opposition to United States imperialism. All Rights Reserved. Robert E. Lee is practically a fixture on campus. Top brass at Fort Drum accepted Rapones resignation Monday after an earlier reprimand for conduct unbecoming of an officer. Rapone said an investigation found he went online to advocate for a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking officers. (Courtesy of Spenser Rapone via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The opening I saw was the one-year anniversary of Colin Kaepernicks protest of police brutality. In short, Rapone saw himself as a subversive agent of communism, infiltrating the US military from within with intent to destroy it. SPECIAL REPORT THE CASLEN COVER-UP CONTINUES MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER FAILED WEST POINT SUPER ANNOUNCED PROBE INTO COMMIE CADET SPENSER RAPONE, THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING PERFUMED PRINCE ROBERT CASLEN OUT TO PROTECT HIS [ Read More], WEST POINT HAS GONE TO HELL! While Trump himself may be more of a parody-fascist than a fascist, it was as if that election was releasing the forces of a new kind of fascism. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of the academys Long Gray Line.. Raponereceived an other than honorable discharge, the AP reported, an administrative separation reserved for misconduct. This May Day, consider getting (or gifting) a subscription at a discounted price of $1 for a yearlong digitalsubscription,and $10 for print. So I decided to enlist as an infantryman out of high school. A subsequent investigation revealed that Rapone was not only openly Communist, but believed that the US Government must be destroyed from within, his beliefs operating the lines of Communist philosopher Rudi Dutschkes strategy of the long march through the institutions.. We wouldnt tolerate that from a private, why would we tolerate it from someone who is being trained to hold a commission. Greg Rinckey, an attorney specializing in military law, said its rare for an officer out of West Point to receive an other-than-honorable discharge. That didnt faze me too much, but my family was worried, and began to get alt-right trolls trying to dox me and find their information. I apologize., This was for a couple reasons. We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat.. NATIONAL GUARD IS A HUGE CESSPOOL OF CORRUPTION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES VERY SELDOM DO THE GENERALS PULL INK IN A MAJOR NEWSPAPER FOR THEIR BRAZEN MISCONDUCT, BUT THEY DID THIS TIME. While in uniform, Spenser Rapone advocated for communism and political violence, and expressed support and sympathy for enemies of the United States, Rubio said Monday, adding, Im glad to see that they have given him an other-than-honorable discharge.. COL. MIKE NO COMBAT COLPO, THE CHAIRBORNE RANGER. 2nd Lieutenant Spenser Rapone poses in a selfie with the Communist Manifesto and his Army dress uniform last month. Also, approximately one month ago, I walked out of my office during Deans Hour to find CDT Rapone lying downperpendicular to the wall in Thayer Hall, with his legs stretching out across the hallway. This phase tends to be ephemeral, the erstwhile youthful firebrand eventually emerging from the selfadulatory fog after eye-opening encounter with equally brilliant people articulating cogent, well-supported, and entirely contrary arguments, or having gained sufficient life experience to illustrate the fundamental interpretive emptiness that renders any strictly Manichaean worldview emotional unfulfilling and analytical bankrupt. Again, Im trying to imagine what is happening here because Rapones insubordinate behavior seems to have been widely known and no one cared. Spenser Rapone, U.S. Army. We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat, he told the AP. But what happens is that because in the US our civic religion is patriotism, folks who at one time had nothing but hate for it they couldnt stand being in the field, waking up for [physical training] when they get out, theyre placed on a pedestal as a veteran. I wouldnt just be a soldier Id have to influence soldiers who were my subordinates. I was told I was in this elite unit with elite soldiers. What , VADM John Disher got the job as Chief of Naval Education and Training Command (CNET) after Airman Recruit (AR) Lee Mirecki, 19, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was drowned by Navy swim , Captain Robert J. Naughton, served his country, and suffered for his country when he was held captive for years in Hanoi during the Vietnam War. I asked CDT Rapone what made him thinkit was okay to reply to a direct question from an officer with a response like that, and he replied, Well you dont have the rightto barge into an office and interrupt a conversation you dont have anything to do with!. At Socialism 2018 I'll be sitting down with with Spenser Rapone, the US Army Ranger, Afghan-war combat vet, recent West Point graduate, and now war-resister, who sparked nation-wide fury after publicly supporting Colin Kaepernick and Socialism during his West Point graduation. Rapone, who was previously enlisted as anArmy Ranger and served in Afghanistan before attendingWest Point and becoming an officer, told the Associated Pressthat he was reprimanded for conduct unbecoming an officer, and an investigation concluded that he advocated for a socialist revolution while insulting senior military officials. He is also a teaching assistant, which gives him a platform to inflict his twisted worldview upon students who might think that if they dont go along, their grades could suffer. Less than a year after Rapones images drew a firestorm of vitriol and even death threats, the second lieutenant who became known as the commie cadet is officially out of the U.S. Army with an other-than-honorable discharge. Iadmit this made me quite angry, and I said, Make sure you spell my name right!. Left: Army 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone graduating from West Point in May of 2016. Even while still a cadet, Rapones online postings alarmed a West Point history professor, who wrote Rapone up, saying his online postings were red flags that cannot be ignored. Rapone was disciplined but still allowed to graduate. Spenser Rapone, 25, was spotted on social media supporting kneeling football players -exercising freedom of speech- with photos of him promoting communism at his graduation -displaying symbols that have traditionally suppressed free speech. In addition to classic socialist theorists such as Karl Marx, Rapone says he found inspiration in the writings of Stan Goff, a retired Special Forces master sergeant who became a socialist anti-war activist. Spenser Rapone is a former Army Ranger and Infantry Officer recently separated from the military for speaking out against its imperialist violence. Trump says North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat. As I said, this is a peculiarly West Point idea that puts the onus on the superior to not ask really uncomfortable questions. As weve seen in the recent past, ideological actors working inside the system such as Edward Snowden can do a tremendous amount of damage to national security. The narrative that a conscription army is the only thing that will produce war resisters is flawed and ahistorical. John Nettleton was found guilty of obstructing justice, concealing information, falsifying records and making false statements in connection with the death of Christopher Tur. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldnt afford college. If he does leave the Army, or if West Point ever had the guts to prosecute him under the UCMJ from the looks of their tepid, wimpy statement, dont hold your breath waiting for action he can always get a high-paid pundits spot on CNN or MSNBC bashing President Trump. He was an honors student, an athlete, a model citizen who volunteered in the community, recalled Altmire, a Democrat. NCAA basketball referee pleads guilty to molesting teen bo Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, Accused drunk driver 'strongly refused' sobriety test after crash that killed bride, Bride killed, groom seriously hurt by drunk driver just minutes after leaving reception, The best-dressed celebs at the 2023 Met Gala: Rihanna, Gisele Bndchen, more, Kim Kardashians Met Gala 2023 look sparks comparisons to Playboy cover, Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson reunite at Met Gala 9 months after breakup, Khristina Williams previews the New York Liberty's 2023 WNBA season, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Katy Perry will be temporarily replaced on 'American Idol' amid drama. We cant say with absolute certainty Mikey would be a coward if he ever got on a battlefield, but his successful efforts to avoid any shooting area for three decades gives you a good idea of what kind of combat leader he might be. Rapone said his journey to communism grew out of his experiences as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan before he was accepted into the US Military Academy. What I saw completely stunned me. In another, he raises his fist and flips over his cap to reveal the hand-scrawled message: Communism will win.. Looks like the Commie Cadet is well on his way to become the first Army General who advocates the overthrow of the So, one key is articulating antiwar in terms of the structural phenomena we witness: how war is profitable, how its designed to be endless. In response, West Point said in Septemberthat Rapones actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army., Air Force cancels $24 million contract to replace Air Force Ones refrigerators. Your donations also help us expose FRAUD, WASTE and ABUSE, that is ethically corrosive and financially exorbitant. Can you talk about the repercussions afterwards, not only from the military, but the right-wing media, your family, etc.? Any injuries sustained on duty for his prior service period could qualify for VA treatment, Christensen said, but many other benefits would berestricted unless he receives awaiver from VA. There were no red flags of any kind.. Soon after enlisting and finishing basic training, military airborne school, and ranger selection, I was deployed to Afghanistan, to Khost Province right on the Pakistan border. At best, Cadet Rapones online ideological screeds reveal the philosophical infatuations ofa precocious adolescent, rather like a high school boy who cannot stop spouting off about NietzscheAt worst, however, Cadet Rapones statements bespeak either a severe mental or psychological disorder, or a genuine commitment to values and ideals wholly at odds with those of West Point and the Army. NEW ARMY BROCHURE ABOUT SVC RIGHTS ATTEMPTS TO DECEIVE ARMY PERSONNEL BY OMITTING CRITICAL INFORMATION. We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat.. If youre able to articulate what that will do to you as a human being, and how youll be forced to live with that and thats not scare-mongering, its speaking to what they will actually have to execute as a soldier in the US military that can at least plant the seed for them to grapple with these questions.
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