Do you believe that these West Point first classman are violating the UCMJ by making a political statement while in uniform?

When are they getting their walking papers? I sure as hell don't want them in my unit.

Yes.

Make them write an essay on why they think they are exempt from 1344.10. It should be interesting reading. Then thank them for their interest in West Point and then dismiss them.

I am frankly embarrassed by all the officers blindly ignoring what these cadets did and cheering them on... Has the service sunk so low that this pandering, might in the minds of these officers, actually help them get promoted?

Kick them all out..... They knew what they are doing...It is a challenge to the leadership of the military that can not be allowed to fester and poison the army....

I think their action merits punishment. In the late 1960s, we were just in uniform and were soldiers. No politics like this -- and, given what the raised fist means when flown by blacks, it seems political to me. Their judgment stinks. Collectively, numbnuts. Personally, get them out of the service.

it is a blatant and obvious political statement and it does several things:
1. Disrespect and dishonor of the uniform and those who fought to make the armed forces and the academies what they are to day.
2. it violates the regulations and academy rules and policies.
3. it sends a political statement which misrepresents the academies and the armed forces.
4. it makes us all look bad because that's not why we serve or have served our country because what they did is a political statement not the defense of Constitution or Constitutional rights.
5. As cadets they swore an oath and promised to follow the honor code.

Agree with LTC Stephen F. views of the photo which explains why I for one was greatly taken back by it. As someone said 'perception is reality' and being a survivor of the horrible racial strife in the US which spilled over into the armed services back in the same time frame, an image like that gives me the creeps to see raised again in this day and age. The 'old corps' photos of past years always brought a sense of unity, loyalty, and pride among the Corps of Cadets. The below photos is taken from the same article as the one above and I feel more aptly displays the virtues sought to be displayed in traditional photos.

COL Sam Russell there has been a lot of discussion about this photo. My West Point class forum has discussing it for a few days. Earlier I responded to a post after my classmate Brenda Sue Fulton who currently chairs the U.S. Military Academy’s Board of Visitors weighed into the fray "The controversial photo of 16 black female cadets raising their fists was just one of dozens of images the women took as part of a long-held West Point tradition, according to Brenda Sue Fulton."
As far as a claim that this is an old corps photo, the only things old corps about it is the location in front of one of the older buildings and the crossed sabers which are not included in this version of the picture.
The raised fists were something associated with the black power movement of the 1960s and then became more radicalized when the Black panthers adopted that pose. The full dress gray uniform was modified by 1976 when I entered the US Military Academy as part of the class of 1980 which was the first to include women - so uniforms had to be modified.
There has been a lot of discussion about this picture among my classmates with some jokingly indicating it honors Michael Jackson.
USMA cadets like others in military uniform are prohibited from making political statements in the uniform of the US military or attending political events in uniform unless on official duty such as MPs, SPs, etc. Prohibited statements include what we do while in uniform. The Nazi salute is an example of something which brings discredit upon the military if somebody performs it in public.
Thanks for mentioning me CPT L S

When wearing the uniform of the Armed Forces you no longer have the right to do anything that may be percieved as political in nature. Unfortunately, many have been to political rallies, supported one candidate over another or been seen shaking hands with candidates while in uniform. This policy has not been enforced with a strong enough fervor in the past but that does not excuse these cadets and their behavior. If they choose to serve after their initial obligation it is best they learn now that there are consequences for even the percieved wrongs, no matter what the original intent.

I would counsel (might be to strong a word, maybe openly and honestly talk to) these young leaders in development on how perceptions can become reality, fairly or not, and that actions can have significant consequences especially when using social media, as can be seen by the uproar that occurred over the photo. I would also ask them their thoughts on having soldiers they will lead do something similar in nature especially if that something could be found offensive by some. This is a good chance to instill the lesson that as a leader you can not enforce discipline or establish a rule if you first are not bound by that discipline or rule.

I would also have a discussion with them about what the raised fist symbol means to different people around the world and how it will be difficult for them to separate their feelings as black women to various subjects and their duties as members of the US military especially as an officer in the military.

Another good discussion point is how it is ok to support various groups to include Black Lives Matter in your personal time but as soon as you are on duty this is inappropriate (I know you are always supposed to be on duty but let's be honest, what you do in the comfort of your house is your business unless it is a violation of national security, talking to you spies). How will your soldiers, especially non-black soldiers, feel and act if they saw that you publicly and in uniform supported Black Lives Matters? Would they be supportive? Would they be offended? Would they feel that you will now discriminate against them even if there is zero evidence that you would discriminate? I would then flip the discussion to how would they feel and how would they react to a company CAPT who has a confederate flag on his/her truck in the parking lot.

Bottom line, I would take this as an opportunity to make this a learning point about perceptions and how they can affect your relationships with your troops.