It is uncertain whether or not Rapones career -or at least experiences at Ranger School- will be hindered upon the discovery of his activities by Army officials. An Independent, Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. 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. 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. In the pictures, he was wearing a t-shirt depicting famous socialist Che Guevara under his uniform and had also written the There can be only one reason that his social media presence was known to other faculty members and nothing done about it. Comparisons of claims against the evidence. 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 Chevron Doctrine: Will the Supreme Court's Ruling Protect Liberty? Spenser Rapone is a former Army Ranger and Infantry Officer recently separated from the military for speaking out against its imperialist violence. 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. Former infantry officer, CGSC grad and Army Operations Center alumnus. 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 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. There were no red flags of any kind.. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of Toward the end of his deployment, he learned West Point fulfills a certain quota of enlisted soldiers every year. 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. 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 US Army with an other-than-honorable discharge. The right-wing hysteria was quickly whipped up: publications like the Daily Caller and Infowars ran stories. 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. Finally, Heffington gets tired and tries to end the conversation: The conversation continued for approximately fiveminutes, and every single statement or question I had for CDT Rapone was met with a ready and very disrespectful retort. Can you talk about the repercussions afterwards, not only from the military, but the right-wing media, your family, etc.? I replied Okay, thats one person. 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. Before, soldiers would feel hesitant about saying blatantly racist or sexist things. 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. The Viet Cong and the Afghan resistance that people in these countries are resisting is the only similarity I can see between the Vietnam era and the current global war on terror. For example, its illegal to have union meetings in the military now. Its a big question, but how do you see soldiers organizing now? 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. 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. Colpo had the benefit of a free college education (USMA Class of 1978) but made sure he never went into harms way during 30 years of active duty. ACCUSED OF PLANTING CAMERAS IN RETAIL STORE DRESSING ROOMS TO WATCH TEENAGERS STRIP DOWN TO THEIR UNDIES (OR WORSE). 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. 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. Even if they decide to join, at least theyll be armed with some degree of critical thinking. 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. Now its become a social experiment. 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. 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 figured this was the least I could do if I was serious about my own beliefs. First, to get through West Point despite my political beliefs I was almost kicked out my senior year for espousing a communist political line. 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. Now, they error on the side of political correctness. 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. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of the academys Long Gray Line.. Mr. Rapone retweeted the message. 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. 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. He waits for a senior ranking cadet or one of the TAC officers to quieten it down. VOLUME IV: OIG NOW A CO-CONSPIRATOR AGAINST JANE DOE WHEN A CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER INQUIRES, OIGs OFFICE SAID JANE DOE NEVER SENT US A COMPLAINT A WEEK LATER OIG SUDDENLY FINDS MISSING COMPLAINT, BUT ALTERS THE DATE THE COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED ALL ORCHESTRATED TO PROTECT CULPABLE ARMY OFFICERS TRANSFERRING OUT THE BACKDOOR, DONATIONS ARE WISELY APPLIED, AND DEEPLY APPRECIATED, SPENSER RAPONE RECEIVES OTHER-THAN-HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE ARMY, LT. GEN. KURT SONNTAG LOWERS ARMY TRAINING STANDARDS TO RAISE GRADUATION RATES SOCIETAL DECLINE INSIDIOUSLY OOZES INTO MILITARY, WHICH IS SUBTLY ERODING AMERICAN MILITARY POWER, UNITED STATES NAVY CAPTAIN CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION, CONCEALING MATERIAL FACTS, FALSE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS, FALSIFYING OFFICIAL RECORDS NO CHARGES FOR ADULTERY AND CONDUCT UNBECOMING, VADM John S. Disher Abuse of Government Credit Cards & Converting Naval Aircraft into a Family Airline, Capt. Army officials at the Pentagon declined to comment on the details of Rapones discharge, citing privacy concerns. During the interview, he expressed patriotism and looked just like a top-notch candidate. 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. 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. You signed up and went to West Point, in part, for an education. 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. Thanks for contacting us. We wouldnt tolerate that from a private, why would we tolerate it from someone who is being trained to hold a commission. 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. Within the military ranks, that was prevalent. WE PROVIDE AN UPDATE AND LESSONS LEARNED. We also had the Viet Cong resisting. But they said no, and that I could either go to a board of inquiry, which is basically an adversarial trial one side presents their case, I present mine or I could leave unconditionally. 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? By many accounts, he is . Rory Fanning is the author of Worth Fighting For: An Army Ranger's Journey Out of the Military and Across America. The United States Army is so impressed with Spenser Rapone, they decided to promote him to first lieutenant. (Courtesy of Spenser Rapone via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Despite his growing disillusionment with the military, he applied and got in. The idea of an avowed communist subverting important military units and functions from within has the potential to be catastrophic., SEE ALSO: Spenser Rapone, West Point alumnus, riles with pro-Kaepernick Communism Will Win photo. Looks like the Commie Cadet is well on his way to become the first Army General who advocates the overthrow of the American Government. Spenser Rapone Template:TOCnestleft Spenser Rapone was a US Army officer and Democratic Socialists of America member. 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. But Army spokeswoman April Cunningham said that appropriate action was taken.. It is by a former Assistant Professor of History at West Point, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Robert Heffington. 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. 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. I proceeded to say Ijust asked a question and l want an answerwho else is yelling in here? At that point CDT Spenser Rapone (the only cadet wearingcivilian clothes), who was seated in the comer of the office, replied (while still seated) by saying, Were in a private conversationhere.. It was during Rapones 2016 USMA graduation that he posed for photos of himself wearing a Che Guevara shirt under his uniform and the message Communism Will Win pasted inside of his dress cap. I had to bite my tongue and wait until I was officially reprimanded, which happened in December 2017. 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. He was drawn to the writings of Stan Goff, an antiwar socialist and fellow Special Forces veteran who taught at West Point, he said. Someone at West Point was protecting him. Another West Point Graduate Heading to Prison. 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. SO PROUD ARE THEY OF HIS DESPICABLE BEHAVIOR, THE ARMY DECIDED TO REWARD CPT MORENO WITH AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. Already on our list? Confederate leaders Jefferson Davis and Gen. Robert E. Lee both attended the academy. Bidens misleading deficit claim earns him a Bottomless Pinocchio, Fact-checking Trumps reaction to Bidens reelection announcement. 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 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. 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. 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. But you can explain what their material relation to violence and power will be as a soldier and the harsh reality of what that means. Your donations also help us expose FRAUD, WASTE and ABUSE, that is ethically corrosive and financially exorbitant. 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. Immediately, I had friends and family members reaching out to me. U.S. government destroying the dollars value through inflation. 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. No one likes being in the military, in the moment. Yesterday, this sworn statement surfaced. We were just persecuting and terrorizing some of the most exploited people on Earth with one of the most technologically advanced militaries in history. Thoughts like yours go through a lot of soldiers heads, but its the repercussions that keep them from acting on them. A US Army officer and West Point graduate is on his way out with a less than honorable discharge* after exposing himself as a Communist who does not support the US Constitution. The alumniof the United States Military Academy at West Point spanpresidents, generals and astronauts in what its students call the Long Gray Line, a nod to the Army service academys central role in educating leaders years before they rise to prominence. Iadmit this made me quite angry, and I said, Make sure you spell my name right!. So, one key is articulating antiwar in terms of the structural phenomena we witness: how war is profitable, how its designed to be endless. 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. 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. 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. Using your honor against you is a West Point concept. Even some of the true believers who claim they enjoy it or relish it deep down, they know what theyre doing. This site is owned and operated by Bright Mountain Media, Inc., a publicly owned company trading with the symbol. 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. 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. pic.twitter.com/PP5lvIR8Pp. 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. Why are we not surprised? 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. 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. Left: Army 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone graduating from West Point in May of 2016. This article was published more than4 years ago. 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. Trumps election emboldened them to act out in a way that wasnt typical before. PUNK 2LT SPENCER RAPONE PROMOTES HIS PRO-COMMUNIST SYMPATHIES IN TWITTER DISPATCH MEMBER OF USMAS CLASS OF 2016 DISGRACES UNIFORM AND MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN DEAD NOW WITH 10TH MOUNTAIN DIV., THE SCUM ALSO SUPPORTS LEFTIST FOOTBALL PLAYER COLIN KAEPERNICK IN DISRESPECTING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM THIS DIRTBAG EVEN MAKES RETIRED COL. MIKE NO COMBAT COLPO (USMA 78) LOOK LIKE RAMBO, West Point was once a place of honor and pride. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of All content 2023 Truthdig, LLC. This May Day, consider getting (or gifting) a subscription at a discounted price of $1 for a yearlong digitalsubscription,and $10 for print. Theres no tangible objective other than to make it endless, to continue lining the pockets of Raytheon, Boeing, and so on. Spenser Rapone was accepted to West Point in 2012, graduated in 2016 and received an other than honorable discharge in June. Now you can personalize your Truthdig experience. Hes holding up a sign under his hat, and it says, Communism will win. But you sat on the photo for a while. 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.. 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. 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. I was deployed for most of the summer of 2011. In allhonesty, I was waiting for him to simply say, Yes, Sir. Hed be good at following the party line.. Spenser Rapone was accepted to West Point in 2012, graduated in 2016 and received an other than honorable discharge in June. The set up is that Heffington is in his office grading papers. 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. 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. 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. 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. I decided that was an opening to express how I feel. Im from New Castle, Pennsylvania, which is a classic Rust Belt city. 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.
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