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. <> He has deployed to Afghanistan and received a combat infantryman badge (CIB). By Debra Heine 10:26 PM on October 05, 2017. Spenser Rapone, 26, became notable a bit faster than most graduates. Another figure whos had abig influence on me was Stan Goff. I was still idealistic, he said. I figured maybe I could change things from inside.. Right: Army Private First Class Spenser Rapone receiving his "Ranger Scrol" patch after completing Ranger Assessment and Selection Program in 2011. . So, theres this combination of an all-volunteer army, the post-9/11 era further instituting our religion of civic patriotism, and then the anti-war movement getting co-opted by liberal movements not interested in structural change. Last October, some old tweets of a West Point cadet in a Che Guevara shirt sparked outrage across the country. #AntiFa, he wrote, according to a picture obtained before he took down his account. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldn't afford college. (Via Twitter). The class of 2022 included 400 minority cadets, among them 186 African Americans, 104 Hispanic Americans, 99 Asian Americans and 11 Native Americans, according to West Point. A Primer for Radicals ITS GOING DOWN. He also reposted a meme from a group called Anarchist People of Color criticizing white privilege., Rapone posted on several forums in support of Chelsea Manning, the Army soldier who went to jail for leaking classified intelligence to WikiLeaks. At the time, the Army confirmed that he had previously been an enlisted soldier and a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, with one Afghanistan deployment, but that he had been removed for standards.. 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. The Navy, on the other hand, readily releases full investigations into rank-and-file sailors when their cases have become infamous. 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. The second lieutenant was given an "other than honorable" discharge June 18 after an Army investigation determined that he "went online to promote a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking officers" and thereby had engaged in "conduct unbecoming an officer." Second Lieutenant Rapones chain of command is aware of his actions and is looking into the matter. He is a man of above-average stature. Uz\`QT2#!dkscS. You start to see why these wars are endless. Inspired by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who famously took aknee to protest police violence, Rapone wore aChe Guevara T-shirt to his West Point graduation in May 2016 and turned his cap over to reveal the hand-scrawled message, Communism willwin.. 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. He didnt want all these honorifics. On March 24, 2014, Rapone posted a picture of himself and Hosein in front of the Taj Mahal. Iwas in the field at the time helping at afire range and so they took me out of the field, met with my attorney and was told Iwas under investigation. [from Resolution #34] Amplify the perspectives & insights of impacted communities through national media platforms. Latest. 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. Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. Hes an exceptional soldier, the Twitter account, @DSAVeterans, wrote. Spenser Rapone, a former second lieutenant whose "Communism Will Win" photo rocked the internet in 2017 after being featured by this publication, has received an "Other Than Honorable" discharge from the U.S. Army. In an Oct. 11 letter to the members of the USMA community, Caslen stated that 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone the Afghanistan combat infantry veteran and West Point grad captured with a Che Guevara . "He was an honors student, an athlete, a model citizen who volunteered in the community," recalled Altmire, a Democrat. Im amember of the DSA, so Iwant to get involved with socialist politics and affect some change. At that point, again, Iwanted nothing to do with the military because Ifind their rule morally reprehensible and ethically unsound, so Isubmitted my resignation. It seeks to create astateless, classless, moneyless society. But in terms of restrictions, after the Vietnam era in 78, they put it into code that any kind of military unions or organizing is explicitly forbidden. He is the son of Peter Pauling and Barbara W. Tuchman. Parents Allowed to Collect Sperm From Son Killed Skiing 'Commie Cadet' Spenser Rapone Discharged From U.S. Army West Point Marries First Active-Duty, Same-Sex Couple Compared to the 294 women. This public. As figures of public trust, members of the military must exhibit exemplary conduct, and are prohibited from engaging in certain expressions of political speech in uniform, it said. Then American society and political culture influences you because we are constantly slapped with patriotism and respecting the troops. What does that even mean? Be Proactive. But then Igot deployed to Afghanistan, and my experience overseas showed me that if anything, Iwas making adifference for those with power and wealth. He wrote this letter to the acting secretary of defense who was Ryan McCarthy. Rapone will eventually have an opportunity to petition for an upgrade in his discharge status, however, which would have a positive impact on his eligibility. 51 Those nominations usually come from senators or representatives. Although Im not apacifist, Inever called for any explicit violence. Its interesting that you say that because, really, all the whole pregame stuff at games is arecent phenomenon. A spokeswoman for the 10th Mountain Division confirmed that Rapone had started Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia near Columbus in February 2017 but did not complete the course. Spenser Rapone was a proposed featured speaker of the Socialism 2018, an annual socialist gathering sponsored by the International Socialist Organization held in Chicago, Illinois in July 2018. Photos from the graduation posted on social media earned the vitriol of many his fellow soldiers and avocal cadre of right-wing politicians and mediaeven death threats. Spenser then enlisted in the Army and deployed to Afghanistan after which point he again applied to West Point. At the time, Iwas a19-year-old private, so Ifeel like Icouldnt voice anything without being told, Shut the fuck up and execute your task. But Iguess Iwas slowly radicalizing. 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. I think theres acouple things that happened since. 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. 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. Its the worst administrative discharge. WvLUTTTkJX5SK's?:aBe".0X~m41aT`Z""%&QR6&; Use the 'Report' link on https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl, My eyes are seriously about to roll out of the back of my head. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldn't afford college. At ayoung age, youre inundated with propaganda and patriotism, and Ithought Icould make adifference joining the Army. "We were bullies in one of the poorest countries on Earth," Rapone said. From there, Ispent along time in limbo because Iwas under investigationthey were waiting for me to make another screw-up in their minds. Rapone is listed as one of the speakers for Socialism 2018, which is slated for early July in Chicago. Trump and other right wingers also still trot out Pat Tillman as asymbol. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. For me, Icouldnt shake the fact that what we were doing was wrong and morallyreprehensible. Both the United States Military Academy and his. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, West Point said in a statement released Tuesday. He enlisted in the United States Army right out of high school. Articles by this author Opinion Your Commander-in-Chief Is Lying to You: Veterans Issue Open Letter to Active Duty US Soldiers Rory Fanning. When international cadets graduate, they become officers in their respective country's armed forces. Amendment on the Red Deal and Rejecting a Green Military by Sofia Arias (NYC), Sydney Ghazarian (Los Angeles), Brian Ward (Madison), Rory Fanning (Chicago), Spenser Rapone (NYC), Joe Allen. 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. Less than a year after Rapone's 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. On Monday, Rapone tweeted another picture of himself in his West Point uniform, exposing a Che Guevara T-shirt underneath with the caption In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre.. 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.. Richard L. Rapone explained that Spenser tried to join West Point straight out of high school but was not accepted. ", "I consider myself a revolutionary socialist," the 26-year-old Rapone told The Associated Press. They're also given 60 seconds to say goodbye to their families, who they may or may not contact during Cadet Basic Training. Later, he served as an Army Ranger and was deployed to Afghanistan on special mission. He studied political theory, radicalized, and eventually turned to socialism. He was an idealistic teenager from the rural Rust Belt town of New Castle, Pennsylvania (literally the . Send us a note with the Letter to the Editor form. Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers President, 125 Years After the Pullman Uprising, We Could Be on the Verge of Another Sympathy Strike Wave, Barbara Ehrenreich on Science vs. Mysticism. How Peter Mims spent a week hiding in a warships engine room, US report shows China taking steps toward space dominance, Biden to allow Afghans to stay longer in US, sources say, Michigan expands absentee voting for military members, Some companies charge hefty fees to help vets with disability claims, Meet 12M+, the new community app for military spouses, Your next tech and incoming AI | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.2023, Home Improvement Loans What are my options? While they were going out partying and drinking, he was avery intellectual man. Those inquires are finished, the Army said in a statement Tuesday but that is all they would say. It wasnt nearly to that level before the 9/11 era and thats part of why Ispeak out. Of the people who go into the military, not many people go with acomplete political formation of the world and, unfortunately, being in that world steers them acertain way. But yet theyre still an abstraction and not not allowed to have individualopinions. 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. The Bush administration saw this football player and this guy who looked like G.I.
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