Your donations also help us expose FRAUD, WASTE and ABUSE, that is ethically corrosive and financially exorbitant. 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. And I was a young male in American society, so I watched a lot of Hollywood movies, a lot of TV shows. When I enlisted during the Obama era, one of the prevailing themes was the commander in chief doesnt understand what were doing. The casual racism you see in American society is intensified in the military because of the hyper-masculine environment, especially in combat arms. At, best, Cadet Rapones online ideological screeds reveal the philosophical infatuations of a precocious adolescent, rather like a school boy who cannot stop spouting off about Nietzsche, he wrote in a statement disseminated by SOFREP. 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.. I ordered him to sit up and get his legs out of the hallway, to which he replied, Well, wehave to wait here for Professor Hosein. He said this while still seated. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 and was assigned as an assistant machine gunner in Khost Province. Spenser Rapone tells how he discovered that the military he joined wasn't what Hollywood and commercials had made it out to be. 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. Many other military personnel also tweeted in favor of Kaepernick, although most were supporting free speech, not communism. All rights reserved. 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. Rapone previously served as an enlisted infantryman before enrolling at West Point in 2012. Robert E. Lee is practically a fixture on campus. On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. 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. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MEANS NOTHING TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY! Many of you have lost loved ones fighting the same totalitarian philosophy that long-haired leftist Rapone so arrogantly promotes. This sickening sycophant (be sure to read about him in our related stories box below) never even went overseas once. 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. Some multi-tour combat veterans and Mustang officers, like our 70 year-old editor-in-chief, a disabled vet and cancer survivor, is itching to get in the ring with this rat and kick his sorry ass from one turnbuckle to the other. 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. 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. While in the 1st Ranger Battalion he completed at least one deployment and Air Assault School before going over to the United States Military Academy in New York. He was nominated out of high school by then-U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire in 2010. 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. Web1. Eventually I was pulled out of the field and went through the different legal channels. We do this by continually exposing a corrupt, multi-tiered judicial system, which allows officers to escape prosecution through retirement. He completed the Ranger Assessment and Selection Process, and received an assignment to MAJOR CLARENCE ANDERSON FILES MASSIVE FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. Mr. Rapone retweeted the message. 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 glaring example of that is that many of the politicians who claim to be staunch patriots and support the troops want to privatize the VA. Aside from that, reaching active-duty soldiers? I sat on those photos the first one of Communism will win inscribed in my hat, the second one of me wearing a Che Guevara shirt underneath [my uniform] from the time I graduated in May 2016 to September 2017. 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. There were no red flags of any kind.. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of the academys Long Gray Line.. The misunderstood and persecuted young genius shouts truth to power by cobbling together ideas and quotations popping up in chat rooms or on Facebook walls, certain that his provocative and shocking proclamations will, based solely upon their vehemence and sarcasm, demonstrate both the profound sincerity and the unassailable correctness of his viewpoints. I wouldnt just be a soldier Id have to influence soldiers who were my subordinates. This launched a separate investigation back at West Point: hundreds of cadets who were even remotely associated with me were interviewed, and they were asked about their politics. Top brass at Fort Drums 10th Mountain Division 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 and US officials. Immediately, I had friends and family members reaching out to me. 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.. Why this rough, tough Army Infantry officer (he was called behind his back the chairBORNE Ranger) never even went overseas during three decades drawing a fat paycheck. In allhonesty, I was waiting for him to simply say, Yes, Sir. 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. 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. Looks like the Commie Cadet is well on his way to become the first Army General who advocates the overthrow of the American Government. 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. We had the misfortune of crossing paths with that politically-correct butt kisser years ago at the Army War College and Carlisle Barracks. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 PopularMilitary | All Rights Reserved. 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. But he wasnt accepted to West Point, so Rapone enlisted in the Army. If the latter is true, he is a coward and a hypocrite who refuses to discontinue his association with an institution that, as he sees it, is a tool of an inherently unjust, immoral, and imperialist state. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. The war resisters from Vietnam were not all draftees; a substantial portion were volunteers. Oh, it just hit me, the military probably considers Communism as a religion and is therefore protected in the military like the Muslim religion. Does anyone remember Army Major Nidal Hasan and the Foot Hood shooting November 5, 2009? WebLt. And even if youre not in combat, youre supplying the bullets, youre supplying the food, to aid in the war effort. Since then, the image has gotten a lot of attention, particularly in light of the recent NFL free speech scandal. Rapone previously served as an enlisted infantryman before enrolling at West Point in 2012. THE MARINE CORPS SHOULD BE DEEPLY ASHAMED FOR RAILROADING AN INNOCENT MAN INTO PRISON! A recently retired CIA officer remarked to SOFREP that right now our counter-intelligence is so bad that we are only catching the dumb ones, the people stupid enough to out themselves on social media or who mail classified documents to news outlets, Mr. Murphy continued. Civilians were detouring around his legs asthey tried to make it down the hallway. Then they essentially confined me to a range tower, which is a tall structure where you can oversee all the different operations happening on the rifle range. 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. It could be anything from sympathy to his views to gutlessness to gay sex. Believe it or not, there are laws against those who advocate the overthrow of the Government. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of 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. A year prior, you had taken a picture at a Cubs game holding up a sign saying, Vets for Kaepernick, and I kept that idea in my back pocket. Spenser Rapone (Twitter) Rapone was an infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y. 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. 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. Despite his growing disillusionment about the military, he applied and got in. 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. Pentagon suspends war games with South Korea after Trumps meeting with Kim. In the pictures, he was wearing a t-shirt depicting famous socialist Che Guevara under his uniform and had also written the 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. Since his social media life has come to light it was reported that he was tossed out of Ranger School for engaging in verbal altercation with the Ranger School sergeant major. Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction. Can you talk about some of the differences among active-duty soldiers under each president? Copyright 2023 PopularMilitary | All Rights Reserved. Operating under the twitter handle punkproletarian, Rapone supports various extreme left-wing ideologies, including more violent fringe groups such as Black Lives Matter and Antifa. Can you imagine what would go through your mind if your unit, engaged in combat against Communists (P.S. To tell them that theres more to your skills as a soldier than firing a weapon. Even some of the true believers who claim they enjoy it or relish it deep down, they know what theyre doing. VOLUME VI: NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU DECIDED TO ALLOW ARMY CAPTAIN JOSE MORENO TO RESIGN IN LIEU OF A COURT MARTIAL FOR AN ASSAULT ON A WOMAN AND HER CHILD. I didnt expect it to go viral like it did, but I thought maybe I could influence other soldiers. knightro2323 6 yr. ago. 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! He told the AP he tweeted the photos in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who knelt during the national anthem in protest of police brutality, which itself drew intense criticism from President Trump for perceived slights against the military. It is only possible to draw one conclusion for the fact that one of the West Point cadre took the time to write a damning statement, one that could very well have resulted in Rapones commie ass being booted from West Point, and that statement being ignored. Prior to West Point, the New Castle, PA native enlisted in the Army where he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 54th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning for basic training and infantry training in 2010. But he wasnt accepted to West Point, so Rapone enlisted in the Army. (@punkproletarian) September 25, 2017. Can you start off by telling us about your background and why you decided to join the military? Spenser Rapone was accepted to West Point in 2012, graduated in 2016 and received an other than honorable discharge in June. I apologize., A cadet telling a lieutenant colonel to FOAD? Get our print magazine for just $20 a year. His other than honorable discharge, which is highly unusual for a West Point graduate in a circumstance such as this, also may block him from many veterans benefits despite his years of service, including in combat. I tried to submit a conditional resignation, saying I wanted to leave, and asked for a general discharge. WATERTOWN, N.Y. (AP) The images Spenser Rapone posted on Twitter from his West Point graduation were intentionally shocking: In one, the cadet opens his dress uniform to expose a T-shirt with a blood-red image of socialist icon Che Guevara. Still, the troubling question remains- how many other Spenser Rapones are in military service, particularly ones who can keep their mouths shut? Butbecause Rapone had served as an enlisted soldier, he would have received an honorable discharge before becoming an officer, Christensen said. Youre essentially guilty until proven innocent. I was deployed for most of the summer of 2011. 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. He was nominated out of high school by then-US Rep. Jason Altmire in 2010. VOLUME V: ARMY DEPRAVITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS! They read me my rights and told me I had the right to an attorney. At the end of the day, the material effects of US foreign policy are largely the same [between administrations], but when Trump was elected, there was a noticeable shift. Robert Heffington, a former lieutenant colonel and West Point instructor who met Mr. Rapone, told the website that his online ideological screeds reveal the philosophical infatuations of a precocious adolescent in a best-case scenario. Deciding he could no longer stomach the immorality of US imperialism, he spoke out against the reprehensible actions of the military in September 2017. Take a look at the photos that accompany this article, dear reader, and try not to reach for the barf bag. WE PROVIDE AN UPDATE AND LESSONS LEARNED. Despite his growing disillusionment with the military, he applied and got in. Whether youre on the front lines or not, youre still complicit in the killing of other human beings and the pursuit of US foreign policy. Spenser Rapone was accepted to West Point in 2012, graduated in 2016 and received an other than honorable discharge in June. 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. Who knows? 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. 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 protects the innocent, that we fight for freedom, truth, and justice, Rapone tells Rory Fanning in the following interview. Never in over 18 years has any Soldier spoken to me or treated me withsuch extreme disrespect as CDT Rapone did on the night of 17 November. Rapone was branded the commie cadet, and his career as a newly minted officer never recovered after assignment to Fort Drum. 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. Raponereceived an other than honorable discharge, the AP reported, an administrative separation reserved for misconduct. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MAJOR ANDERSON WAS RAILROADED INTO PRISON. In another, he raises his fist and flips his cap to reveal the message: Communism will win.. The next time I see you in thisbuilding, youd better be wearing a uniform. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of An other than honorable discharge means Rapone will not be entitled to VA benefits or the GI Bill. One first class cadet in uniform stood up, admired to taking part in the argument, and apologizedfor being so loud. Spenser Rapone, who was previously enlisted with the Army Rangers and served in Afghanistan before his commissioning, told the AP he was reprimanded for conduct unbecoming of an officer. Part of it is how we term antiwar, and what that means. In short, Rapone saw himself as a subversive agent of communism, infiltrating the US military from within with intent to destroy it. Apparently not. 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. Thoughts like yours go through a lot of soldiers heads, but its the repercussions that keep them from acting on them. This site is owned and operated by Bright Mountain Media, Inc., a publicly owned company trading with the symbol. They made me stay in there for what they told me was for my own safety. 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!. 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. Heres one of our previous posts from our esteemed Editor Emeritus, WEST POINT HAS GONE TO HELL! 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. The United States Army is so impressed with Spenser Rapone, they decided to promote him to first lieutenant. Thats why he richly deserves the nickname NO COMBAT Colpo. On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. A lot of guys were getting excited at the prospect that we might go into North Korea or possibly Iran. We wouldnt tolerate that from a private, why would we tolerate it from someone who is being trained to hold a commission. There is only one reason that his insubordination was tolerated. What if several divisions of fighting Americans were taking orders from Brigadier General Rapone? There are many different social movements and organizations you could join, where you could actually aid people, and actually fight for freedom, for liberation, for emancipation. Communist ex-Ranger and West Pointer receiving a other than honorable discharge. Spenser Rapone, U.S. Army. Many other military personnel also tweeted in favor of Kaepernick, although most were supporting free speech, not communism. Now you can personalize your Truthdig experience. here for reprint permission. Toward the end of his deployment, he learned West Point fulfills a certain quota of enlisted soldiers every year. In short, Rapone saw himself as a subversive agent of communism, infiltrating the US military from within with intent to destroy it. I had to bite my tongue and wait until I was officially reprimanded, which happened in December 2017. This article was published more than4 years ago. First, to get through West Point despite my political beliefs I was almost kicked out my senior year for espousing a communist political line. I soon found myself trying to resolve the contradiction of my future officership. This May Day, get a Jacobin subscriptionfor just $1 for an entire year. 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. Trumps election emboldened them to act out in a way that wasnt typical before. But as bad as that is, theres something very different about taking a human life yourself, let alone if you dont understand what cause its serving. Ten thousand students are enrolled in the program; 55 percent are black, 40 percent are Latinx. There were no red flags of any kind.. I didnt want to grovel before the empire, and knew itd be a show trial at best, so I submitted my resignation. Playing the denouncement game toward those soldiers isnt politically viable, nor does it make much sense. 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 question hanging fire, though, has remained how did this guy get through four years at a very rigorous institution without his TAC officer and other active duty officers knowing about it. Getting out of the military is daunting, especially as an officer. 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. It is by a former Assistant Professor of History at West Point, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Robert Heffington. I did well in high school, and I might have been able to go to a state school, but I really couldnt afford it. I was still idealistic, he said. I figured maybe I could change things from inside.. 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. Despite his growing disillusionment about the military, he applied and got in. In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre pic.twitter.com/0XrW38wcCk, Commie Bebop? 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.

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