How do you feel about veterans or Soldiers criticizing our President?

I have noticed most of the participants of this forum are currently in the Untied States. Maybe you have seen more than I since I have lived abroad for the past 6.5 years. Just like everyone here I swore to defend the Constitution of the United States.<br><br>Art 88 is black and white. This article effects all of us in uniform. As an Officer/NCO/CPO/Leader it is our responsibility to uphold our oath and set the example. We set the tempo and take the lead. How will generations look at us if we trash our CiC? Will they follow and do the same to the CO of the ship or Division Officer or NCO? Where will it stop? Unit cohesion is the most important thing we can teach our junior members. We all have opinions, but personal agenda's can have a negative effect on the moral of the unit. Our job is to protect the nation, our citizens, and to get the job done.<br><br>Now going back to the questions asked by SPC Buck, "should this be allowed within our ranks?" My answer is no. If you are a leader and have a spine you would squash this mutiny. While in uniform (and when out on liberty) you represent the United States of America. <br><br>Opinions are best expressed out of uniform, away from junior members, and over a liquid refreshment in my opinion.<br><br>The best way to approach this is to be professional while in uniform. If there is an issue that you feel strongly about, than write your Senator/Rep. I have written them on several occasions because of issues that I felt strongly about. Most people don't take the time to research the topics or bills that are being passed through. Others have never visited the site that monitors the Presidents Executive Orders. <br><br>"Does freedom of speech really have a part?" We all the the right to speak our mind. But, be knowledgeable of the subject prior to spouting out other peoples opinion. I have been under the impression for several years that the media plays a major influence in the agenda of many politicians. In the 80's, there were more than 36 major independent news sources. Now, 6 major sources control the content of the what you see and hear on the tv and radio. This is why research is important.<br><br>If you have an issue with policy; than write your congressman.<br>If you don't like someone; than that is your opinion. Just be prepared to take responsibility for what you say and stand for.<br>If you violate your oath and commit something against the UCMJ; shine your shoes and get your uniform ready because you will be standing in front of that green table cloth.<br>If you don't want to be a solder/sailor/marine anymore; leave your ID card on your rack and I will be there to collect it at the end of the day.<br><br>Cheers!<br><br>

People will always talk about their leaders throughout the entire chain of command. No one in a leadership position is looked upon by everyone the same. Even great leaders have their detractors.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Ask yourself this question. How has Obama tried to connect to the military? In truth most people in DC say Obama hasn't made good relationships with any group except his inner circle. That's just his personality. Bush on the other hand was a people person who cultivated a close relationship with the military (and he continues to this day).&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Since Obama hasn't connected to the military he is looked upon as a weak leader. How would you feel if your unit commander was disconnected from the people he/she was supposed to lead? You'd be right to wish for new leadership.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>People are going to say bad things about the politicians you hold in high regard. Unless they're making threats take it for what it is......an opinion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div>

I feel that as commissioned officers are held to not speaking ill of the president under the UCMJ and it is punishable by such, NCOs should also uphold that standard as a professional courtesy. &nbsp;If we, as leaders, overlook or actually speak against the president it says we, as leaders, condone the undermining of our command structure. &nbsp;At this time, we have lost the creditibility to say anything to soldiers, sailors, airmen, or marines who say things about not only the president but also the lower level commanders and NCOs. &nbsp;Many forget that he is a member of the chain of command and undermining him is to discredit the command structure at the highest level. &nbsp;

I have been out of the military for a few years now and am completely disgusted to what is happening to our troops. My personal opinion is that you must respect the office, and the decisions that come out of that oval office. However, from a personal perspective, you don't necessarily need to respect the person in the oval office. For example, I went to Iraqi Freedom and wasn't to keen on the evidence that there were WMDs over there (but how would I know). I respected Bush for a long time, but after while being overseas, I started to doubt his decision making, a little. I would follow that man to the end but didn't necessarily have to respect every decision that he had made.

Honestly it is very disrespectful.&nbsp; We take an oath for a reason when we first enlist and part of that oath states " I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."&nbsp; I do belive everyone should be entitled to their own opinion, but in certain aspects they should&nbsp;remain&nbsp;just that.&nbsp; There is no need to add to the insult what other countries do.&nbsp;There are so many people who look up to us that serve, from children to veterans, therefore you shall remain professional and if&nbsp;one feel as if they cant refrain from downtalking their commander in chief they don't deserve to wear the uniform they DECIDED to take an oath to wear.

<p>I swore an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic" and to "bear true faith and allegiance to the same." The President of the United States is the Commander in Chief and my boss.</p><p>I am also a citizen of the United States of America and can express my 'opinion' on anything, however I can not divorce my personal life from my responsibilities as a member of our military, and too often if I speak as an individual, those that know my service see it as the Army speaking, not J. Keith Purvis. (This has happened in academic, personal, private discussions, where those I am having discourse with can not accept that I only speak for myself and not the military I serve.)</p><p>Because of that, I say little in public forum about&nbsp;my government and/or chain of command except to support those decisions made.&nbsp;However, I do write letters to individuals that make up our government expressing my personal opinions on their service to the same Consititution I support and defend and especially their choices on our military.</p><p>If my personal conscience ever trumps my responsibility as a member of our military, I must resign (or retire now that I have earned that option) and no longer be a member of the military. Once I am out of the military, I am totally free to express my opnion as any self-aware, intelligent and articulate citizen of these United States.</p><p>I constantly remind myself of my oath and how my conscience fits within that. To not do so is a travesty.</p>

You swore an oath and there are regulations regarding this so why not just deal with it and keep your opinions to yourself while you wear the uniform of your respective branch. When you swore that oath you, in essence, gave away your right to express yourself and your beliefs on a lot of different topics

<p>While on active duty for 22 years I served with and worked with all branches of service. In each branch I heard enlisted and officers alike gripe, moan and grown about their NCOIC, OIC, Commanders all the way up to and including the CinC. If you disagree&nbsp; you're kidding yourself. Most military people tend to gripe about just about everything, from chow to the leadership&nbsp;within our ranks and band together to defend them when they are attacked from&nbsp;those on the outside. What gripes me more than the debate are those who drop the "I'm a professional and your're not' card, by&nbsp;denigrating those who disagree with your train of thought. I don't like this President and I earned the right to say so.&nbsp;The question asked on this link specifically challenged us to tell "How you feel about this?". If you don't like answers then check out the "How will you spend this Veterans Day?' discussion. </p><p>&nbsp;</p>

As a soldier, we hold no public opinion on politics, religion or ANYTHING whatsoever that can in any way be thought of as slanderous or defamation to the Army (or your current military service).&nbsp; Outside of uniform and without use of your service as a public stepping stool or forum, you are perfectly fine with having all the opinions in the world. The only caveat to that is to always be respectful because&nbsp;whether&nbsp;in or out of uniform at the time, we are at all times held under UCMJ.

When I rose my hand and I Swore I would obey the orders of the President of the United States of America. Before I go further It is very unprofessional to down talk about our superiors and can be punishable under UCMJ.&nbsp; Now Im not going to say that I have never talked bad about a leader, who hasn't, but never publicly.&nbsp; To conclude I have also Swore to DEFEND the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, against all enemies foreign and domestic. And this I will do.<br>