Posted on 10/04/2017 12:58:51 PM PDT by jazusamo
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is demanding the Army kick out the West Point graduate whose pro-communist social media posts are under investigation.
In a letter to acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, Rubio questioned how someone with the officer’s social media history received a commission and said the Army should immediately nullify the commission and pursue all available disciplinary options under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
“While I strongly believe academic institutions must respect the exchange of ideas and allow students to voice their opinions, members of the military who harbor anti-American views and express their desire to harm our country and its leaders are unfit to serve and defend our nation—and certainly should not enjoy the privilege of attending or graduating from an institution such as West Point, a taxpayer-funded military academy,” Rubio wrote.
At issue are photos 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone posted online last week from his May 2016 West Point graduation. In them, he is wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt under his uniform and has “communism will win” written under his cap.
Further social media posts from Rapone surfaced calling Defense Secretary James Mattis “evil” and “vile” and saying he will “happily dance” on the grave of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
The Army said last week is it investigating and that the posts “in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army."
Rapone is currently assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, according to Army Times . He previously enlisted as an infantryman in 2010 and served in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in 2011, but was “removed for standards” from the regiment later that year. He went to West Point the next year.
In his letter, Rubio said West Point should revoke Rapone’s degree and that he should have to pay back his tuition.
“It is extremely concerning that someone who so often expressed such hostile views towards the United States’ system of government was able to obtain a commission,” Rubio wrote in the letter publicly released Wednesday. “Rapone’s revolutionary ideas were harbored long before he was commissioned as an Army Second Lieutenant. Were West Point administrators or faculty aware of his views and behavior?”
Rubio added that he assumes the incident is “an extreme embarrassment” to West Point and the Army. He also asked what West Point is doing to ensure something like this does not happen again.
“The Army’s premier officer commissioning source must ensure an individual like Spenser Rapone is never given the opportunity to lead or serve beside American soldiers,” he said.
“You can’t trust this guy in our armed services.”
Heaven knows how many there are like him and heaven help us from all the Che-Guevarra-loving communist scu&bags in congress.
IMHO
i wonder what command this communist will be handed.
“Kicked out of the Ranger Regiment and up to West Point? Can someone ‘splain this one? Bizarre.”
I’m still waiting for the explanation of a decorated Ranger professional football player cowarding out to peer pressure and threats because he supported his country and flag the day before.
Will need a few years to complete their investigation.
I agree. It is disappointing that no action has been taken yet, on getting this guy out.
For military officers, involuntary administrative discharge action can be referred to as:
- “Administrative Discharge”
- “Administrative Separation”
- “BOI” or “Board of Inquiry”
- “Show Cause”
- “Officer Elimination”
Good! I honestly can’t imagine how they kept this guy in. He certainly didn’t make any secret of his leanings and anti-Americanism. Yet they kept and promoted him anyway.
Exhibit 1 in case to get rid of West Point, or at least transform it into a post degree OCS type commissioning program like Sandhurst. West Point only provides about 25% of officers. ROTC provides about half and OCS about a quarter. West Point is an example of government waste.
Hopefully they’ll announce one of those very soon.
I guarantee you that this guy is radioactive and no where near the troops. He is likely counting socks or inventory somewhere under supervision.
Kick him out of the service and make him pay back his education expense.
Otherwise he get’s to go around for the rest of his life saying he is a “West Point Graduate” without having ‘paid’ for it with the required service commitment.
Do not release his transcripts until paid. Make sure it reflect dishonorable discharge.
Bump!
Exactly! What the he!! is going on at the Point and the military in general?
I know he was "no go" twice on the mountain phase and dropped from the program and transferred to the 10th. How did he get in Ranger School if he was released from the 75th?
Damn you Obama and your social justice/diversity crap.
“Otherwise he get’s to go around for the rest of his life saying he is a “West Point Graduate” without having ‘paid’ for it with the required service commitment.”
If he’s a Democrat, he gets to do that anyway.
BJ Clinton is still allegedly a Rhodes Scholar, despite having withdrawn from or been kicked out of Oxford.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rhodes_Scholars
Got in during the Odumbo years. Every POS traitor has infiltrated the gubmint’ in those hellsh 8 years.
Good to know. God knows what more damage this commie bastard will do.
Shouldn’t have to ask that he be let go.. It ought to be automatic!!!!
Maybe the guy is being recruited by the intelligence agencies for counter-espionage work, as in Lee Harvey Oswald.
Rubio had no need to know!
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