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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis is not okay. Airmen onboard the USS Wasp wearing patches with a likeness of Trump
Link to tweet
Airmen onboard the USS WASP wearing patches on their jumpsuits that read Make Aircrew Great Again. The patches include an image in the center in the likeness of President Trump.
Link to tweet
This is a violation of Article 134 of the UCMJ. This cant be tolerated! When I swore my oath in 1975 it was to my country, not to a potus, and nothing has changed. Wearing patches or insignia in fealty to President is no different than showing fealty to a dictator. @tedlieu
Trump's visiting the USS Wasp today and the troops stationed in Japan.
demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)but will anyone say anything?????????????
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)We'll see.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)You are ok with this?
🤖
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)If I read the comments correctly.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,653 posts)Clearly they're not as they chose to inform members of Congress who would understand the implications, are likely to be as outraged, and might be in a position to do something about it.
dameatball
(7,397 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)dameatball
(7,397 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)aircrews are wearing Trump patches so they can make some inquiries and hopefully take action. Totally confused as to how this isn't clear.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)who DOES seem to be ok with it..
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)SlogginThroughIt
(1,977 posts)uhhhh...
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Where did you get that idea? Its plain as day she is NOT OK WITH IT!
notdarkyet
(2,226 posts)Outraged comments,and reports to their commander, and we will see no patches when he stops by.
My sister was a Marine and voted for trump. She got very angry at this and wont vote for him again.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)so we shouldn't make too much of this. We may not like it, but The Donald really is POTUS. This patch isn't new either.
Link to tweet
rockfordfile
(8,702 posts)Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)Democratic president who would dare do this. Are these patches "Made in China"? Who had this brilliant idea? I wonder if Ivanka owns the patent on these vile patches?
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Look at those faces. They don't think expression of support for a visiting American president is vile.
Yes, we're all nervous about the leaps fascism is making through the Republicans. But if the patches were for a Democratic president, I'm guessing the reaction would be very different, or nonexistent.
One standard.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)"our esteemed president" BULL SHIT. No Democratic president was EVER so self aggrandizing, nor would they be. This ass is SICK. He needs a long rest, and therapy.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)the Joint Chiefs are wearing them.
Raven123
(4,829 posts)We (as a former service member) salute the Commander in Chief. We did not carry his partisan political message. I dont know but I hope you are wrong about how we would feel if the patches were partisan Democratic in nature.
JHB
(37,158 posts)pnwmom
(108,977 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)Look at those assholes ! These are the guys you will soon see with nazi/trump armbands beating Jews, blacks, middle easterners...
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)daily outrage, is all. Maybe triage them a bit, allocate more to the biggest ones, like the leap in the actual numbers of kidnapped, imprisoned and disappeared children.
procon
(15,805 posts)of a bunch of good ole boys getting together in idolizing the leader of their preferred political party. I am appalled that their officers not only allowed a breakdown in order and disapline, but also created two opposing factions that will impact the teamwork of the whole ship.
Once the ship's officers either turned a blind eye or offered their tacit support for the rank and file troops to break the law, the whole ship is compromised. Shame on the lot of them, but especially the line officers and their captain for ever allowing partisan politics to infect their ship.
I am left wondering where the loyalty of that crew and their officers would be if they were called upon to defend their country... or that President?
rwsanders
(2,596 posts)the idea that the republicans are "military friendly" is said again and again with no hint of irony.
And officers are some of the worst offenders. I've seen them post pictures of themselves during some of Trumps photo ops with the military and it isn't the posting that is the bad part, there are folks that think of our politicians as some sort of celebrity, rather than our employee (to me royalist who want a king in policy and reality); but the worst part is the idiotic grins like schoolgirl at a Bieber concert look. It is really nauseating that they have so little respect for themselves, their service, and their unit.
I had to stop an officer at the same unit who was harassing a 3rd class petty officer because he was angry she was a liberal.
I tried over the years to promote the idea that the Coast Guard needs civil rights training for the rights of the public, not for themselves, but I doubt it will ever happen.
If you want more information and it is written much better than I can do check out some of this guys writings:
https://www.truthdig.com/author/dsjursen/
procon
(15,805 posts)It gives me nightmares to think that our military has lost sight of their splendid ideals and purpose of their oaths. How many times has we seen the respected officers in foreign militaries side with some peacock strutting, tinpot dictator and shove their own country over the brink into the arms of fascism ruled by a vainglorious tyrant?
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)An air craft carrier is like a small floating city of 5000 or so. Discipline in the ranks is Rule #One. You NEVER break this rule. When you intentionally weaken even one link in the chain, you are sending a very powerful message.
And I'll tell you straight right now, anyone saying that criticism of this appalling lack of order is over-reacting, has NEVER served on a US NAVY ship, in peace time or combat.
atreides1
(16,076 posts)The majority of them appear to be white!
After all, neo-Nazis don't believe it's vile to wear Nazi flag patches, either!!!
tazkcmo
(7,300 posts)Obama, FDR, JFK...I don't care.
shraby
(21,946 posts)If they wear a patch at all, it should be a U.S. flag or an insignia of their unit.
Sapient Donkey
(1,568 posts)but I am not so sure about your statement of it being a non-issue if there were Obama patches. If that happened then it would be all over fox news and other right-wing outlets about the "obama zombies" or whatever it is they used to say. I remember them making a big deal over some kids in a classroom singing a song dedicated to Obama after he won.
We're not them, though, and I would prefer if we don't follow them down that path. That being said, if I was in charge that aircrew or any other group of people then I wouldn't want any of my people wearing anything that could be divisive and decrease effectiveness. That's whether it is Trump, Obama or anyone else. The whole keep politics out of the workplace should apply here. At the very least to keep stories like this from happening.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)liberal-socialist-commie-atheist plan for a military putsch. For the purpose of stoking fear and hostility among their idiots.
As you say, we're not them.
I agree about political patches, of course. From what I've read, decisions on allowing "morale patches" is left to company officers, and no doubt most of them do also. Certainly, they have to be very aware of all the issues. In this case, with a president visiting, I have no idea how disallowing the patches would go over, but I do know a large majority of the nation expects the president to be received respectfully and without anything that could be perceived as insult.
MFM008
(19,806 posts)NO politicking of any kind.
None. Zero. Zip.
onetexan
(13,036 posts)yuiyoshida
(41,831 posts)Hence illegal for them to wear it.
Zoonart
(11,855 posts)Who ordered the wearing of them?
Any dissenters? This is very scary stuff.
yuiyoshida
(41,831 posts)someone as you said just did this, its NOT THE UNIFORM of the day...they would need to remove them unless the Captain or Admiral ordered it.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)allow for unit patches and other similar alterations to the base uniform.
The overt political message (campaign slogan) is the problem, not wearing an unofficial patch.
flotsam
(3,268 posts)The problem is the patch is both political and partisan-in the military it is verboten to play that game.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)IF, as another poster states, this is a violation of department policy, it should be ended NOW. FUCKING NOW.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,186 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,524 posts)MontanaMama
(23,308 posts)that this is the crew of the WASP...white as white can be.
underpants
(182,778 posts)How fitting.
flotsam
(3,268 posts)Bore the brunt of the US naval aviation action in WW2. Any ship would be proud to have either of her namesakes record. CV7 was sunk by a submarine and CV18 was disabled by a japanese air attack in March 1945, returned to combat in July. CV18 served until decommissioned in 1972.
Dorn
(523 posts)rzemanfl
(29,556 posts)watoos
(7,142 posts)CaptYossarian
(6,448 posts)The WASP was the name of Ted Knight's boat that was christened in the movie "Caddyshack".
Duppers
(28,120 posts)It's a real ship.
TheBlackAdder
(28,186 posts)Raven123
(4,829 posts)It has been a while, but when I was in service, NO unofficial modifications to the uniform were allowed. These are members of the Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Navy of the USA NOT POTUS.
As for the commenter who suggests we shouldnt take it seriously, i couldnt disagree more. Time to find out who authorized political adornments to the uniforms purchased with my taxes.
Vinca
(50,269 posts)Trump is no friend of theirs. He just axed 200,000 applications for VA medical care. He would send them into a war after a spontaneous hissy fit with no planning and no real reason. They're suckers. Mindless suckers. And it pains me to say that about our military.
HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)Coincidence?
dalton99a
(81,455 posts)In March 2016, ahead of the presidential election, the Navy published guidance reminding troops of existing regulations governing political activity.
"Any activity that may be reasonably viewed as directly or indirectly associating with the DoD, or any component or personnel of the department, with a partisan political activity or is otherwise contrary to the spirit and intention of this policy guidance will be avoided," the guidance stated.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/03/01/seals-punished-flying-trump-flag-highway.html
pintobean
(18,101 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)This is in direct violation of the UCMJ. We who wear/wore the uniform are NOT fucking photo props. It is never appropriate to politicize the military.
During federal elections, we were NEVER allowed to wear any party affiliation on our uniforms.
This is wrong on every level.
djacq
(1,633 posts)[link:https://www.bileckilawgroup.com/court-martial-defense/articles-of-the-ucmj/article-106a-unauthorized-insignia|
The responsibility and accountability falls on the Captain of the USS Wasp.
Dan
(3,551 posts)Throckmorton
(3,579 posts)Be afraid, be very afraid.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)Pimping the Trump brand.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)They don't even realize the gravity of what they do.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,527 posts)The likeness is too young and skinny and square-jawed.
Crabby Appleton
(5,231 posts)The bastage
Way too skinny to be Trump; why is it that his followers can't draw him properly and have to idealize him?
inwiththenew
(972 posts)I guess no one learned a lesson from that.
Baclava
(12,047 posts)?itok=-urcOHTq
"Any activity that may be reasonably viewed as directly or indirectly associating with the DoD, or any component or personnel of the department, with a partisan political activity or is otherwise contrary to the spirit and intention of this policy guidance will be avoided," the guidance stated.
"It has been determined that those service members have violated the spirit and intent of applicable [Defense Department] regulations concerning the flying of flags and the apparent endorsement of political activities. Administrative corrective measures were taken with each individual based on their respective responsibility."
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/03/01/seals-punished-flying-trump-flag-highway.html
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)Last edited Tue May 28, 2019, 07:31 PM - Edit history (1)
Just take in that photo for a few moments. Not a damn one of them shows any reluctance. They're all beaming like they got laid for the first time.
It makes me wonder if the military would remain neutral if Trump loses in 2020 and claims fraud.
TheRealNorth
(9,478 posts)The question I have is how many of those who are not would be willing to stand up against it.
Grasswire2
(13,568 posts)I find this story outrageous.
Need to know where these patches came from. Who is sourcing them?
Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)trev
(1,480 posts)we were forbidden to wear anything on our uniforms outside of the mandated patches and awards. These airmen's behavior is disgusting and a violation of the military code.
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)I couldn't attend any political meeting in my office blues, or fatigue greens. Could not wear the uniform at all.
I would have been written up so fast my head would spin.
msongs
(67,395 posts)Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)Republicans could give a shit about them. The military buys into the Dems are weak bullshit meanwhile they are used as pawns by Republicans who dint give a shit about them. Bush and Rumsfeld sent them to war without adequate armor so that they came home in body bags or missing limbs. Fucken idiots.
Gothmog
(145,131 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)Everything that happens in on "his watch."
LiberalLovinLug
(14,173 posts)"Little" things like this, while Trump and Mitch are chipping away at other institutions all add up.
This normalization is already well under way. Every day that goes by without impeachment starting is even more entrenched normalization. Nancy and others somehow think they are operating in a 1980's reality, and that its not already a different world. Waiting for the 'right' time, as more and more pro-facist judges get appointed, and more civil rights reduced, might mean that the 'right' time never arrives. Its seeming more and more to be resembling that autocratic world that Pink Floyd was imagining on their Wall albums.
Progressive dog
(6,900 posts)while smirking for the cameras.
Skittles
(153,150 posts)WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!??!
RainCaster
(10,869 posts)They are an embarrassment to all who served our country.
Blue Owl
(50,351 posts)n/t
bluescribbler
(2,116 posts)I never saw anyone wearing an patch depicting Nixon's image on his uniform. There were many shipmates who supported him, but they knew better than that.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)zentrum
(9,865 posts).....are in fact and in intent building the conditions for a Trump dictatorship.
magicarpet
(14,145 posts).... and have a swastika patch on their left shoulder too ?
TomSlick
(11,097 posts)[link:https://www.stripes.com/navy-looking-into-make-aircrew-great-again-patches-sailors-wore-during-trump-visit-1.583498|
This seems a rather clear violation to me - by the crew members if they did not have command approval for the "morale patch" and by the commander if they did have approval.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Hulk
(6,699 posts)These ignorant butt holes are exactly why I don't parrot that empty phrase, "thank you for your service." Inevitably I'm thanking some clown that doesn't deserve it..like miss graham and his jag service. BFD