Spenser Rapone | Author | Common Dreams 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. "I was still idealistic," he said. In this case, it came from Altmire, who served as a membr of Congress in Pennsylvanias 4th congressional district from 2007 to 2013. Im amember of the DSA, so Iwant to get involved with socialist politics and affect some change. The day after Iposted the pictures, my chain of command approached me, read me my rights, and told me Icould talk right now or wait for an attorney, so of course Iwaited for an attorney. Rapone is scheduled to speak in July at a Socialism 2018 conference in Chicago, where he and fellow far-lefty Rory Fanning, an ex-Army ranger, will appear together in a "War Resister in the . Last October, some old tweets of a West Point cadet in a Che Guevara shirt sparked outrage across the country. Sign up to become a Sustainer before the deadline and take advantage of our best offer ever. "We Were Terrorizing Some of the Most Exploited People on Earth" Outside of my chain of command, people were threatening and silencing me and Ihad tons of alt-right and neo-fascists sending me death threats. [8], DSA Veterans Working Group Statement on Afghanistan. You start to see why these wars are endless. He got out on the other side thought and became an anti-war activist and asocialist. Helicopters crashed in mountains, fair weather, Army says, Army Special Ops Command welcomes first female command sergeant major, Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, Army grounds helicopter fleet for force-wide safety stand down. "On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. And U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, called on the secretary of the Army to remove Rapone from the officer ranks. Theyre designed to be profitable. Of course my military career is dead in the water. Spenser Rapone, a former US Army Ranger and Infantry Officer, was kicked out of the military for posting a photo of himself at his West Point graduation ceremony with an antiwar sign under his hat . "I figured maybe I could change things from inside.". [7], Members of the Democratic Socialists of America Wholesome Meme Stash closed Facebook group, accessed November 14, 2017 included Spenser Rapone. Officially, the Army said in a statement only that it conducted a full investigation and "appropriate action was taken. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members. On Monday, the Army's 10th Mountain Division accepted the resignation of 2nd Lt. Rapone less than a year after he posted . I was still idealistic, he said. I figured maybe I could change things from inside.. They compiled all the things Ive said, the subversive things Ive said about Trump and various elected officials like General Mattis, and essentially gave me anumber of options. In an interview with In These Times, Rapone tells his story of his journey from GI Joe to an anti-war activistand why Rubio got himwrong. Rapone, a former enlisted Ranger who had completed the US Military Academy Prep School and graduated from West Point, was made famous by his own social media posts showing him regaling communism and wearing a Che . Or, Icould submit an unconditional resignation and they can give me whatever discharge they want. Rapone was an infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y. And Marco Rubio said you advocate violence againstAmerica? Toward the end of his deployment, he learned West Point fulfills a certain quota of enlisted soldiers every year. West Point Commie May Have Been Radicalized by His Mentor at the Lt. Rapone, a member of the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, first drew attention when he tweeted an image from his Twitter account, @punkproletarian, with "Communism Will Win". Fanning wrote that their conversation will be called "Resisting Within the Ranks." "Spenser is being discharged from the military with an Other Than Honorable discharge this June, in part, because [Marco] Rubio penned a panic-stricken letter to acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy demanding the branch nullify Rapone's military commission after seeing this photo," he wrote. hJHICB&Y'8erMr=31yfk|17~c}\T_* 9?V{9,'Y\%?MX}'ZI#B?9`V;&sI$nx6/ 2S&D#K2:3+5,YSa1a"7'+ZvvYnzlJScC)f$':AIR1>?"b Army Commie Cadet Gets Promoted to 1LT. Spenser is being discharged from the military with an Other Than Honorable discharge this June, in part, because [Marco] Rubio penned a panic-stricken letter to acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy demanding the branch nullify Rapones military commission after seeing this photo, he wrote. I have not been in touch with him in the years since the appointment, and I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions.. West Point released a statement after Rapone posted the photos, saying his actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army. And U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, called on the secretary of the Army to remove Rapone from the officer ranks. However, the Army has strict rules regarding the wear and appearance of Army uniforms.. ;Z*A.,Gr+UYn>SYQel:2>pUpk'+0?@t %*-m,}'~3tWhWwOVM81&:OFGy]$F%xG7*8QjVy(q\-`m'ge(|bUWn`K.O;wu^+r>;Y?^Uba-g2Ia$qYXP}mjCGNq0sy5ElUAiWe -H/r| >a~SuPc;*}{Mf.B@I}\)T|] endobj To be clear, Rapones discharge is officially based on the fact that he made political gestures while in uniformnot due to the content of said gestures. It strikes me how much, as aculture, weve praised troops since 9/11. He completed Airborne school and a rigorous Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Georgia. Emailus. He is also a teaching assistant, which gives him a platform to inflict his twisted worldview upon students who might think that if they don't go along, their grades could suffer. In another, he raises his fist and flips his cap to reveal the message: "Communism will win." The Army Times reports in 2018: Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Spenser Rapone was like acharacter who stepped out of aBruce Springsteen song. You go to football games and they bring troops out on the field. Both the United States Military Academy and his current command, the 10th Mountain Division, launched investigations into his conduct. Hosein brought Phi Alpha Theta members, including Rapone, to Orlando, Florida, for a national conference in February 2016. 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. The soldier pictured, now 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone, had been openly serving as an avowed communist supporting the downfall of the U.S. government. I have not been in touch with him in the years since the appointment, and I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions., The behavior of 2nd Lieutenant Rapone is symbolic of a larger problem in our society the epidemic of incivility in our public discourse, Altmire continued. 'Commie Cadet' Spenser Rapone Leaving Army with 'Less Than Honorable Even on nights when we didnt have kinetic engagements, we would just roll up to villages and ransack them; wed separate women and children, put bags over peoples heads, lock them up in flexcuffs. Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. We'd love to hear eyewitness 'Commie Cadet' sends vulgar message on his way out of the Army In the liberal mentality, if you get this particularly disgusting person out of office, then things will change. By Debra Heine 10:26 PM on October 05, 2017. Former Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania told The Daily Caller News Foundation that Rapones long history of extremist tweets, which include calling Mattis an evil, vile f****, is shocking, disappointing and abhorrent. Vice President Mike Pence called the class of 2019 the most diverse in West Point's history during the commencement address. I have no doubt that the U.S. Army will take appropriate action.. On January 5, 2015, he posted a Slate.com article calling for the abolishment of West Point. It will give them aplatform so they dont have to do this anymoreso they dont have to be acog in the imperialist machineanymore. https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl, My eyes are seriously about to roll out of the back of my head. Chance of precip 90%.. Many other military personnel also tweeted in favor of Kaepernick, although most were supporting free speech, not communism. Spenser Rapone | Liberal Arts | UT - Austin Can you describe the backlash you experienced afterthat? We now consider the matter closed, Hill said. Applicants to West Point must receive a nomination for their applications to be considered. Rapones social media was filled with up to hundreds of posts, messages and photos that were being circulated around the military and civilian communities. Can you describe what you were seeing in in Afghanistan with your owneyes? Rapones father, a local politician in Pennsylvania, explicitly disavowed his sons political views Tuesday in a Facebook post. With all their political gamesmanship, lawmakers forget that real human lives are often on the line. According to his bio on the website, Rapone could no longer stomach the immorality of U.S. imperialism, he spoke out against the reprehensible actions of the military in September 2017. Several years ago, I met Spenser Rapone when he was a high school student seeking an appointment to West Point, Altmire said. S5: Episode 31 - Mike Prysner & Spenser Rapone (Podcast Episode 2018) Parents Guide and Certifications from around the world. Spenser Rapone - Bio, News, Photos - Washington Times Top brass at Fort Drum accepted Rapone's resignation Monday after an earlier reprimand for "conduct unbecoming of an officer." At 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, he added. Helicopters crashed in mountains, fair weather, Army says, Army Special Ops Command welcomes first female command sergeant major, Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, Army grounds helicopter fleet for force-wide safety stand down. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. The U.S. Military Academy strives to develop leaders who internalize the academys motto of Duty, Honor, Country, and who live the Army values. Mike Prysner Family Prysner was born and brought up in the United States to his parents. Also during that time, Rapones Facebook posts grew increasingly radical and leftist. that is degrading to another person. West Point graduate who wore Che Guevara T-shirt discharged Follow him on Twitter: @punkproletarian. The former Democratic congressman who nominated communist 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone to West Point is now disavowing Rapones recent comments, which range from attacks on Secretary of Defense James Mattis to calls for political violence. My attorney told me they wanted to get apound of flesh from me, but Ididnt do anything illegal. Have a tip or story idea? Then-Lieutenant Rapone put his own continued service on the line in order to speak up in support of blacklisted ex-49ers quarterbackColin Kaepernick. In response, the Army has opened an investigation intoRapone for his social media comments. Now through Monday, sign up to become a Sustainer for just $5 a month and you'll receive your choice of one of three booksas well as an ongoing subscriptions (10 issues a year) to the print magazine. Join our brand new verified AMN Telegram channel and get important news uncensored. The United States Army is so impressed with Spenser Rapone, they decided to promote him to first lieutenant. 51 Rapone said an investigation found he went online to advocate for a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking officers. He was in the army for 26years and was in special operations. As a reader-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit, In These Times does not oppose or endorse candidates for political office. Officials also confirmed that, following his commissioning, he had failed out of Ranger school before being assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Spenser R. Rapone Graduate Student, Department of History, University of Texas at Austin 128 Inner Campus Dr. B7000, GAR 1.104, Austin, Texas 78712-1739 p. (512) 471-3261 e. srrapone@utexas.edu Education University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas Then there was the move to an all-volunteer force and thats interesting because asubstantial number of Vietnam resisters were volunteers. The Army wont say. Spenser then enlisted in the Army and deployed to Afghanistan after which point he again applied to West Point. 1.78 m). There were no red flags of any kind.". Due to privacy act restrictions, we are limited in what information we can provide, Lt. Col. Nina Hill, an Army spokeswoman, told reporters. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Nearly a year ago, the story of Army Lieutenant Spenser Rapone was a big item. He is the son of Peter Pauling and Barbara W. Tuchman. Send tips tojonah@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. He was also Muslim Lay Chaplain at West Point, Officer in Charge of the Muslim Cadet Association, and Emeritus Facility Adviser of Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society of which Rapone was a member, according to a photo. UQuIgR0-8Z4m5D_pY`ucWl A^k -f=l@u?H}^Zuj2')`gdzhg~pwwNcEATk,.sWChKggdsCxsA#/aU.8$D^x^@3k;=:V'EQzBju:&XRc]Y|}U.>$mco-/RgxyR\/KA{wz9@Y2]nSQa0baEA~Uws83tF SOI5jraML/ua;s y~D /A' l9~:' Soon after getting to West Point, Isaw that this was astructural problem across the military and that the military itself, its material relation to power, serves the capitalist class. or anything. The event is set to take place on July 5-8during thethe Socialism 2018 conference in Chicago, Illinois. He went viral after posting a photo to Twitter of himself in support of professional football player Colin Kaepernick, where Rapone is seen in his West Point uniform at graduation holding his cap that contains a piece of paper that says Communism will win.. Spenser Rapone - KeyWiki It Takes a Lifetime to Build Your Personal Brand and an - LinkedIn Rapone had also posted a second photo of himself in uniform, and he is seen wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt underneath his uniform jacket. It is against Army regulations to wear the uniform in connection with the furtherance of any political or commercial interests or when participating in public demonstrations unless authorized to do so. "He was an honors student, an athlete, a model citizen who volunteered in the community," recalled Altmire, a Democrat. Its out there now and Ithink the narrative of this is starting to shift alittle bit, which is good because people are starting to understand my experience. This time around, West Point accepted him. The military website SOFREP reiterated on Thursday that Mr. Rapone was an advocate for the long march through the institutions of power., This [philosophy] entails burrowing inside the institutions of society, including the military, and subverting them from within and ultimately setting the conditions for a communist revolution, wrote Jack Murphy, a former Army Special Operations veteran. The Navy, on the other hand, readily releases full investigations into rank-and-file sailors when their cases have become infamous. Sign up to become a Sustainer before the deadline and take advantage of our best offer ever. The so-called Commie Cadet was anything but acommunist at the start of his militarycareer. Low around 35F. I knew there could be repercussions, said Rapone, who is scheduled to speak at a socialism conference in Chicago next month. It was more about taking pleasure in going out every night and killing people with impunity. During the interview, he expressed patriotism and looked just like a top-notch candidate.
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