Posted on Jan 2, 2014
CPL Paul B.
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Recently I've been hearing countless remarks, and seeing posts from soldiers and veterans alike. Down talking our commander in chief. How do you feel about this? Should this be allowed within our ranks? Does freedom of speech really play a part?<br><br>
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Edited 12 y ago
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Responses: 929
PO3 Michelle Tremblay
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It's like disrespecting our flag, I don't like it. Wether Active or Veteran, we were taught right from wrong.
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SSG Dale London
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First of all, it may be a violation of the UCMJ for an active soldier to speak critically of the President, depending on what he says and to whom. This may in some cases be extended to retirees.
Once you're back on civvie street, you're free to speak your mind but it is still pretty chickenshit to speak ill of the commander and chief. I didn't see an expiration date on my oath, did you?
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CPL Theodore Moore
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I believe the rules are clear. Members of the military are entitled to all the protections of the first amendment as long as they do it in civilian clothes and make sure that their opinions are personal, not part of the organization one serves. In uniform, one is obligated to follow all legitimate orders.
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MSG Michael Gay
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As a service member, we must respect the President and others in our Chain of Command. Service members have a patriotic duty to speak out against any and all actions of other elected and appointed officials when we know that there is corruption, malfeasance, wrongdoing or anything that is detrimental to or country. Commissioned Officers are not permitted to do such things under Article 88 of the UCMJ.
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Cpl Brett Wagner
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Who are you trying to fool? Yourself? None of you cared when Trump was attacked, even when he was in office. Remember lying little Ukrainian Alexander Semyon Vindman?
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Maj Pilot CH-53E Qualified
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Veterans can criticize as they want…they’ve earned that right. As far as active duty goes…the UCMJ says what it says, but it seems like a cowardly way for government officials including the POTUS to hide from from legitimate criticism. We haven’t had a POTUS that truly served on active duty in the operating forces forward deployed for decades. If you’re going to have the title of “Commander-in-Chief” then you really need to have “been there and done that” for credibility when it comes to sending forces into battle and potentially having some of them come home in Flag-draped coffins. My humble but strong opinion on the subject.
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SPC Dwight McCullough
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FREEDOM OF SPEECH, IS ONE OF OUR FOUNDING RIGHTS! However, what does the Uniform code Of Military justice say? It is VERY hard to have respect for politicians that want to TEAR our country and it's military down!
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2LT Ronald Simpson
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At this point, there is SO much as risk--as in our entire nation-- that I am fine with it. Of course, said soldier should be aware that he or she IS placing their career at immediate risk. But we are now at that point. We NEED those brave souls to speak up and say what needs to be said.
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SSG Parachute Rigger
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If they are out- it's as American as a bar fight. If they are "attached" than prudence is your watch word.
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SGT Mark Stone
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Interesting how many of the responses choose to criticize one president or another instead of actually responding to the original question. Here's a response to the actual question:

1) The oath we all took--officer and enlisted--was to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States" and, for enlisted, "obey the orders of the President of the United States." Doesn't say anything about not criticizing the president.

2) The right of free speech, which is most critical precisely for criticizing political leaders and others in power, is not just a right in this county, but a fundamental requirement for any democracy. (If you don't think so, consider that in Russia, criticizing Putin over his war in Ukraine is grounds for imprisonment.) The exisitence of that right in this county in this country is one of the things that makes it worth fighting for. It would be perverse to claim that being or having been in the military means you've lost that right.

3) I'd argue that if you're on active duty, there should be some limits on what you can say, particularly when in uniform, (and I believe there are, although I've been out long enough that I don't know) but that has to do primarily with decorum and not giving the country's enemies reason to think they have a potential fifth column they can rely on. As a veteran, however, you are a civilian and those limits would have no purpose other than to shut you up, so no, they don't apply to vets.
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