Right: Army Private First Class Spenser Rapone receiving his "Ranger Scrol" patch after completing Ranger Assessment and Selection Program in 2011. Were in Chicago. It could be anything from sympathy to his views to gutlessness to gay sex. He has deployed to Afghanistan and received a combat infantryman badge (CIB). But the men I was surrounded by took active pleasure in killing other human beings and dehumanizing people because they have different cultures or a different religion. Comparisons of claims against the evidence. Who Was Protecting the Commie West Point Graduate And Why. 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. He may at some point grow out of this phase, but the Army does not have the the luxury of allowing him the opportunity to sort out his beliefs while charged with the sacred duty of leading American Soldiers. In the pictures, he was wearing a t-shirt depicting famous socialist Che Guevara under his uniform and had also written the 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. Within the military ranks, that was prevalent. We also had the Viet Cong resisting. I didnt want to grovel before the empire, and knew itd be a show trial at best, so I submitted my resignation. Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com. We havent been so repulsed by a West Point grad since the daze of GEN David Huntoon and his boot-licking chief-of-staff, retired COL Mike NO COMBAT Colpo. WebLatest news and commentary on Spenser Rapone including photos, videos, quotations, and a biography. Spenser Rapone is under investigation after tweeting photos of himself support communism while in uniform. A former member of the 75th Ranger Regiment-turned West Point graduate and infantry officer has -for better or worse- put his far-left wing ideologies on display during his graduation from the US Military Academy in May of last year. Anyway Heffington and Rampone go into the hallway and bitch at each other some more. I have told him to get haircuts in the past, and I know other officers have,as well. John Nettleton was found guilty of obstructing justice, concealing information, falsifying records and making false statements in connection with the death of Christopher Tur. Trumps election emboldened them to act out in a way that wasnt typical before. The Pentagon budget suggests otherwise. He hears a loud argument coming from another office. Get our print magazine for just $20 a year. This was for a couple reasons. From there I began to realize the issue was a structural phenomenon that one good person cant effect change when the system is inherently wrong. When it comes to antiwar resistance theres an insistence on making it anti-Trump, or at the time, anti-Bush, rather than antiwar. According to SOFREP, Rapones fate was largely kept hush by the Army itself, only to come to public light -once again- thanks to Rapones seeming inability to keep quiet on public forum. COL. MIKE NO COMBAT COLPO, THE CHAIRBORNE RANGER. He enlisted as an infantryman out of high school in 2010, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. I soon found myself trying to resolve the contradiction of my future officership. 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. The opening I saw was the one-year anniversary of Colin Kaepernicks protest of police brutality. On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. The debate on Kaepernick started up again, with Trump denouncing him and other football players expressing solidarity. Good riddance. All Rights Reserved. Despite his growing disillusionment with the military, he applied and got in. Youre essentially guilty until proven innocent. What I saw completely stunned me. What would you tell these kids who are looking for an education, looking for a way out of poverty, about the military? You posted it with a hashtag, #VeteransforKaepernick. 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. Has Rapone broken the law by just being a Communist on active duty in the military? Communist ex-Ranger and West Pointer receiving a other than honorable discharge. He explained that he took the offending selfies at his May 2016 West Point graduation ceremony and kept them to himself until last September, when he tweeted them in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was taking heat for kneeling for the national anthem to raise awareness of racism. So I decided to enlist as an infantryman out of high school. In a good case for why military officers should stay off social media (if they want to accomplish their goals, anyway), 2LT Spenser Rapone is getting the boot from the US Army after he posted graduation photos of himself wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt under his uniform and wrote communism will win on the inside of his cap. 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. (@punkproletarian) September 25, 2017. here for reprint permission. His expulsion came after a viral tweet showing him clad in uniform, fist raised displaying a hat reading, COMMUNISM WILL WIN. I was always told growing up that the US military [], A journal of theory and strategy published by Jacobin, We Were Terrorizing Some of the Most Exploited People on Earth, Taking Back Left Parties From the Brahmins, Worth Fighting For: An Army Ranger's Journey Out of the Military and Across America, Having America Care About You Is Not Necessarily a Good Thing. Many other military personnel also tweeted in favor of Kaepernick, although most were supporting free speech, not communism. You know things have fallen far when a spoiled, elitist punk like current Army 2LT Spenser Rapone tweets pictures of himself promoting Communism, giving the clenched fist salute while in uniform, and illustrating in startling detail just how firmly the progressives have burrowed themselves into what was once a sacred institution. (Courtesy of Spenser Rapone via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Toward the end of his deployment, he learned West Point fulfills a certain quota of enlisted soldiers every year. My attorney told me that the military would win in this situation because of the way the uniform code of military justice is structured. The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Bright Mountain Media, Inc. which may be contacted atinfo@brightmountainmedia.com, tickerBMTM. There can be only one reason that his social media presence was known to other faculty members and nothing done about it. 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. Being a devout Communist in the military is not enough to bring charges, or an administrative separation, but it is good for promotion, especially in the United States Army. 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. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MAJOR ANDERSON WAS RAILROADED INTO PRISON. 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On the surface, it would seem that mere employment in the military would be incompatible with his political beliefs. Can you imagine what would go through your mind if your unit, engaged in combat against Communists (P.S. As to how to reach soldiers, you need to meet them where they are. Colonel Van T. Barfoot A MAN WORTH REMEMBERING. 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. 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. The Army kicked him out. There were no red flags of any kind.. Take a look at the photos that accompany this article, dear reader, and try not to reach for the barf bag. But its very daunting: how in the world are you supposed to say, No, Im not deploying. Thats on us to create the structures to have places for dissident soldiers and military personnel. 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. The right-wing hysteria was quickly whipped up: publications like the Daily Caller and Infowars ran stories. 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. Alex Jones challenged me to a boxing match. I didnt expect it to go viral like it did, but I thought maybe I could influence other soldiers. MilitaryCorruption.com has been watching this case closely. The Chevron Doctrine: Will the Supreme Court's Ruling Protect Liberty? Follow me on Twitter. It didnt take me long to realize that my experiences did not reflect that in the slightest. 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. He was drawn to the writings of Stan Goff, an antiwar socialist and fellow Special Forces veteran who taught at West Point, he said. Right now Im starting to wonder what the f***ing f*** is going on because Rampone should be braced at attention and saying yes, sir a lot. But we need to find a way to bring them in, create spaces for them to name their experiences, and then use their knowledge and abilities at organizing and working on a team to support emancipatory movements and socialist politics. Spenser displays his 1st Ranger Battalion combat patch while he poses for a photo with other cadets at West Point. I would encourage all soldiers who have a conscience to lay down their arms and join me and so many others who are willing to stop serving the agents of imperialism and join us in a revolutionary movement., 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. Believe it or not, there are laws against those who advocate the overthrow of the Government. 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.. A number of readers have sent us links to Gateway Pundit and LawNewz in regards to this fellow Spenser Rapone, who, as a USMA cadet posed with items supporting communism and expressed support for k He was nominated out of high school by then-US Rep. Jason Altmire in 2010. 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. 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. His expulsion came after a viral tweet showing him clad in uniform, fist raised displaying a At that time, I had some idea of what US imperialism constituted from my own experiences, but I didnt have a political education, which is crucial to understanding these things. 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. That said, we also need to do some de-programming with soldiers I myself had to go through it and its going to take a lot of patience. Toward the end of his deployment, he learned West Point fulfills a certain quota of enlisted soldiers every year. Most importantly, your donations help us to keep this website FREE and INDEPENDENT, so we can continue the fight for truth, by exposing the corrupt. Rapone was an enlisted man who served briefly in 1st Ranger Battalion, was, according to reports, booted out of that unit, applied for a West Point appointment via the Military Academy Prep School from former Democrat Congressman Jason Altmire, graduated West Point and was commissioned in 2016. 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. 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. Second, I knew if I was authentic in my worldview, I wouldnt be able to continue serving my full commitment. That was accepted, and I got issued an other than honorable discharge. Im having trouble even processing this exchange. His utter contempt for my rank and position as an Armyofficer was blatantly obvious and, to me, it indicates that CDT Rapone has a serious problem with military authority figures. 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. The next morning, one of the field-grade officers said to me, So, I hear youre a fan of Colin Kaepernick, and I thought, Oh boy, here we go. Then my chain of command pulled me aside and told me I was under investigation. Copyright 2023 PopularMilitary | All Rights Reserved. Id have to find a way out somehow. Despite his growing disillusionment about the military, he applied and got in. Right: Army Private First Class Spenser Rapone receiving his "Ranger Scrol" patch after completing Ranger Assessment and Selection Program in 2011. 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. Can Floridas gay teachers show photos? We had the misfortune of crossing paths with that politically-correct butt kisser years ago at the Army War College and Carlisle Barracks. 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. 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.. They discussed Rapones time in the military, the myths of American empire, and how to rebuild the antiwar movement. On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. In another, he raises his fist and flips over his cap to reveal the hand-scrawled message: Communism will win.. An interview with Spenser Rapone the commie cadet that got kicked out of the military for standing against US imperialism. The honor code as West Point says, a cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal nor tolerate those who do. Where this was determined to come up short was in asking a cadet a question the answer to which could lead to their being disciplined, particularly dismissed from the academy, and forcing them to choose between lying (their honor) or severe punishment. 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. Raponereceived an other than honorable discharge, the AP reported, an administrative separation reserved for misconduct. 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.. There are a lot of veterans both active duty and not that feel like I do., In this May 2016 photo provided by Spenser Rapone, Rapone raises his left fist while displaying a sign inside his hat that reads "Communism will win," after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. After Rapone, who was already a combat veteran after serving with the First Ranger Battalion in Afghanistan, posted the photos on Facebook, the Army dismissed him with an "other than honorable" discharge. On Monday, the Armys 10th Mountain Division accepted the resignation of 2nd Lt. Raponeless than a year after he posted photos of himself at his 2016 graduation, posing in a Che Guevara shirt under his uniform, along with a fist salute to underline a message written in his cap: Communism will win., The photos, which Raponeposted to social media last September, created a fierce backlash, sparked death threats and drew calls from Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to investigate Rapones online writing last fall. 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. One post dated 16 November 2015 states, Fuck this country and its false freedom. He also labels a guest lecturer for MX400 a fascist, and he even implicitly justifies the actions of ISIS and blames the United States for terrorist attacks. This site is owned and operated by Bright Mountain Media, Inc., a publicly owned company trading with the symbol. Officially, the Army said in a statement only that it conducted a full investigation and appropriate action was taken., An unrepentant Rapone summed up the fallout in yet another tweet Monday that showed him extending a middle finger at a sign at the entrance to Fort Drum, accompanied by the words, One final salute., I consider myself a revolutionary socialist, the 26-year-old Rapone told the Associated Press in a series of interviews. U.S. government destroying the dollars value through inflation. 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. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of During the interview, he expressed patriotism and looked just like a top-notch candidate. He was nominated out of high school by then-U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire in 2010. Again, his demeanor was one of utter contempt forme, and apparently for the expectation that he would conduct himself in a professional manner. Rapone previously served as an enlisted infantryman before enrolling at West Point in 2012. 149: The 'DeSantis Show of Strength, Renfield, and Hollywood: Perfect Capitalism' Edition, MSNBC Show Host Mocking Conservative Justices Speaks Right to Alito's Point, ABC News: LGBTQ+ lawmakers finding themselves fighting literally just 'to exist', WATCH: Biden's Latest Alzheimer's Moment Is Actually Very Sad, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Im one of six children from, at the time, a single-income family. Immediately, I had friends and family members reaching out to me. weve done it before), is being led into battle by a Captain or Major Rapone. May 29, 2018 Admin. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, - Rapone previously served as an enlisted infantryman before enrolling at West Point in 2012.
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