Posted on Jun 7, 2020
Sgt Steven Smith
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Seen a few articles/videos of Guardsmen on post for these riots and protests. Taking a knee, engaging with peaceful protests thinks of the like. You know the kind of things not included in our general orders as things we are expexted to do while on duty. I had it understood, that servicemembers were not allowed to make any kind of statements that could be concidered political while in a light that could be seen as a statement from the service instead of the individual, unless you were in a MOS authorised to make such statements.
Posted in these groups: A0ac0c37 GuardProtest logo ProtestFerguson hands up 3118272k RiotsUcmj UCMJ
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LTC Kevin B.
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I don't see these protests as being political. I see them as being civil rights protests against how law enforcement has been treating certain segments in our society. True, politicians (and political parties) on both sides are exploiting the angst, and politicians will likely need to implement any solutions, but these aren't political protests designed to help any particular candidates (or any party in particular).
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CW4 Guy Butler
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de-escalate (diːˈɛskəˌleɪt)
vb
to reduce the level or intensity of (a crisis, etc)
de-ˌescaˈlation n

It’s kind of a thing. Atlanta seems to have it down pat:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2020/06/06/atlanta-knows-how-to-protest-with-dancing-soldiers/amp/
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
5 y
I could not read the article because I don't think I would be able to unsee M4-toting Guardsmen dancing the Macarena.
There are very few things as visually abusive as Men Above A Certain Age Wearing Undersized Speedos, but that might be one of them....
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CW4 Guy Butler
CW4 Guy Butler
5 y
1LT William Clardy What makes you think they were carrying M4s?
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
5 y
Ff5b8191
Admittedly, that may be stereotyping on my part, CW4 Guy Butler.
I just have this feeling about how popular tiny rifles have become...
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
3 y
Care to explain your down-vote, LTC Kevin B.?
I realize that my attempt to inject humor may have fallen flat, but what did I say that was offensive enough to merit a written "Boo!"?
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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There can be and are political protests. This, by all accounts is A Political. Taking a knee to show respect for humanity and the common good is fine. As long as there is a sound assessment that by being on the knee one is not delinquent in there duties. There are many who see the Guard as a threat, taking a knee goes along way to showing they are human.
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
5 y
Any public advocation for a public policy is as inherently political in nature as endorsement of a candidate for elected position, CSM Darieus ZaGara.
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Should the guard be allowed to join in the protests while at their posts? Are there orders against it?
LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited 5 y ago
This is a slippery slope as para 3-7 AR670-1 strictly prohibits uniformed participation in protests/picket lines, the Guardsmen on duty have to interact with the protesters and this may de-escalate the situation where reducing mayhem is the intent of the ARNG being mobilized in the first place.
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SP5 Retired
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Sgt Steven Smith Much better than the image left after Kent State. Tough duty, assigned to "control" American citizens. Kudos to the troops who are calming the situations with creative responses.
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SrA Ronald Moore
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While not Duty one is to do just what that Duty defines.And it’s only after that duty is over should that Guard participate.Surely this has not changed .
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SrA Ronald Moore
SrA Ronald Moore
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Mute your statement since it is not allowed otherwise, as if to say , Stay unbiased
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Sgt Steven Smith
Sgt Steven Smith
5 y
This is how i understood it. Uniform negates your right, (I hesitate to use the word) to voicing or showing your opinion.
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
5 y
As best I can recall without doing a bunch of legal research, the U.S. Supreme Court wrote something very close to your understanding into one of their opinions a half-century ago, Sgt Steven Smith.
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SGT Ruben Lozada
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Negative ghostrider SGT Smith. There's rules against protecting according to almighty AR670-1.
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SGT Ruben Lozada
SGT Ruben Lozada
3 y
Meant to type "protesting"
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SFC James Welch
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This should not even be a question. Of course not. What has happened to this Generation? This is insane!
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CAPT Kevin B.
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Edited 5 y ago
If you're ordered to take a knee or have other top cover, go for it. If not, see below.

I highly advise not doing anything that could be perceived as casting the Service in a negative light. That's Article 134 territory. You don't get to decide what that threshold is or what is OK and what is not. You also don't want to explore where that line is. There are so many ways that you can be "had" by third parties. People who decide you mucked up will define that line most favorably to them, not you. Besides that, I strongly advise your social media be devoid of anything construable as political, religious, etc. That stuff just becomes fodder for those who want to create a negative about you one way or the other. Your opinion needs to be private and your service needs to be visibly professional. Don't dream up ideas that you think might be good. It's like football. Three things can happen and two of them are bad. Learned my lesson back in the day when I was being interviewed about the McDs that was being built out on Adak. Learned that "Is there anything else you'd like to add?" is a trap. "I'd rather have a Burger King." Wound up as the quote of the day in about every national rag. My Flag just said, "Kev, you got away from one. Learn your lesson?" It's so easy to wind up on the bottom side of the pasture patty.
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Cpl Benjamin Long
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Edited 5 y ago
Local commanders can create an order limiting that activity like an off limits order... violating such an order would violate art 92 UCMJ and can be prosecuted on those grounds.
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