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Yesterday I found Rapone's entry here on Rally Point and it said he is now a 1LT and had the photo of him flashing the "Communist Manifesto" with his uniform hanging in the background. He is notorious for his photos in uniform at West Point, also below. Both West Point and the 10th Mountain Div where he is stationed said they would investigate. Well, they did and he is still moving up the chain. He was admitted to West Point after being kicked out of Ranger School for insubordination to the Command Sergeant Major, caused problems in the Academy according to at least one professor, was public with his communist ideas and was still commissioned and sent to lead soldiers. What has happened to our Army? Has anyone in the 10th Mountain Div had contact with this guy?
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 19
There's no place for this nonsense in the Army. He shouldn't have ever made it to West Point, let alone be allowed to graduate.
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My guess, his current leadership investigated; determined his social media reflects poor character but not a violation of UCMJ, and he has yet to violate the oath he took when sworn into office. Is his personal political ideology impacting his ability to execute his duties and orders of his commanders? Is he trying to convert his peers and subordinates to his ideals? My guess is he has a restricted Letter of Reprimand and negative OER(s) for any inappropriate photos that may hurt his chances to make CPT; but lets send his butt to Afghanistan and see if he lives up to his oath or turn coward.
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MAJ James Woods
MAJ John Douglas - Really? Did Nidal Hassan post Radical Islamic images or messages prior to his actions? Did he tell subordinates and peers of his sudden anti-American feelings before he did what he did? Are you implying he was already an Islamic Extremists when he entered the Army as a LT and he waited years before striking? Were there indicators that Hassan was an insider threat that the chain of command ignored?
Sorry but your "He likely is getting the same treatment Nidal Hassan got." isn't based on any form of rationale at all.
Sorry but your "He likely is getting the same treatment Nidal Hassan got." isn't based on any form of rationale at all.
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MAJ John Douglas
MAJ James Woods - He absolutely did at Command and General Staff College to the point that his classmates complained but the fix was in and no one lifted a finger to stop his rants.
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They only reason I personally believe he hasn't been drummed out of the service, is that he is a 'ring knocker' and the 'powers to be' don't like to throw out 'ring knockers' .
If he would have been a 'kiwi school' OCS graduate, I am sure he would have already lost his commission and possibly been discharged conditionally.
What is sad, those of us who actually know the history of communism and our Constitutional Republic, knows that the two are like mixing oil with water.
I am surprised that the commanders, instructors and the commandant of the academy didn't deal with him while he was still a student and find out why he feels that communism is so great, while we all know that it has never truly worked and never will work.
If he would have been a 'kiwi school' OCS graduate, I am sure he would have already lost his commission and possibly been discharged conditionally.
What is sad, those of us who actually know the history of communism and our Constitutional Republic, knows that the two are like mixing oil with water.
I am surprised that the commanders, instructors and the commandant of the academy didn't deal with him while he was still a student and find out why he feels that communism is so great, while we all know that it has never truly worked and never will work.
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MAJ John Douglas
He is still in the Army for the same reasons Nidal Hassan was known to be trouble but promoted along anyway. This guy was trouble before, during and after West Point and they still pushed him along. The moral rot in the military is stunning.
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MSG William Hesser
MAJ John Douglas - Guess I am from the 'old school'. The promotion to get them up and out of the way always has the problem of coming back to bite you in the butt. The system of 'screw up move up' attitude only weakens the unit.
It is best to lateral them to get them out of the system and out of the way in order to keep them from causing any real problems.
Problem is, too many officers are afraid of their own OER's and don't want any breaks in the 'picket fence' evaluation in their own careers.
I have seen it both ways and found that to 'grab the bull by the horns' and directly deal with it before it gets out of hand is the best for the whole unit.
It is best to lateral them to get them out of the system and out of the way in order to keep them from causing any real problems.
Problem is, too many officers are afraid of their own OER's and don't want any breaks in the 'picket fence' evaluation in their own careers.
I have seen it both ways and found that to 'grab the bull by the horns' and directly deal with it before it gets out of hand is the best for the whole unit.
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I grew up and served during the cold war. One thing everyone needs to understand is the communist manifesto. Read Alinski's rules for radicals. Or the writings of Albert Pike. Study the history of progressivism. It is all about the rot from within. This is the reason they want to disarm the population. When my twin sons (Marine and Army) told me they had a teacher in 11th grade that taught socialism is GOOD, I made the connection. It is all about tearing down the fabric of our nation. Study up on Cloward-Piven. If you pay attention with "Eye's to see and Ear's to hear" AND know their (communist's) history, you can see where it is leading.
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MAJ John Douglas
You are absolutely on target SGT Wise (fitting name). Know the book Rules for Radicals and nothing you see will be a surprise now days. What is surprising is how far the military will bend over now to accommodate the most radical ideas so long as they are politically correct.
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MAJ John Douglas
Unfortunately, in this era of extreme political correctness, nothing like this surprises me.
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SSG Kevin McCulley
Officers always look out for each other, even to the degradation of standards and discipline
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SSG Kevin McCulley
MAJ John Douglas and morally weak officers. There was a time chiefs of staff would threaten to resign
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There are a few reasons on him
1. When he punked the leadership at West Point to where they were too damn scared to act then (a LTC no less) why act now?
2. Maybe...just maybe he changed his attitude when he got to his unit? Nothing wrong with posting your views on damn near anything as long as he's not in uniform. I can see his uniform in the background, but he's not in it. Maybe he once was a "good" SPC?
3. He is a product of the current military/political climate. It's ok to throw around you're left or right in and out of uniform, but since he took that to the next level of stupidity, how can you get him without him getting a chunk of your ass in the process? You could find the smallest thing to send him packing, but with his "celebrity", anything done that is questionable to him to force him out will be met in court, and no one wants to see that play out.
When he told that LTC where to go, and others also with no punitive actions taken, it's no longer the SM's fault. Those "leaders" and admin folks who took his berating and blatant disrespect are. The Army and West Point lost a LOT of credibility when you saw letters where a grown ass LTC is whining about how a Cadet repeatedly disrespected him, the Honor Code, and the Values. That LTC should just retire after that. So should anyone else who allowed this to continue.
If the Army's seriously looking for a way to get him out, either wait for him to make a monumental screw up where it cannot be seen as a "force out" situation, OR let him make CPT, doesn't get a command, just different staff positions while passing him over twice for MAJ. I could be wrong, but if you're passed over twice, you're going home or can be given an enlisted equilivient to possibly continue his career in. This 1LT didn't compromise HIS standards, nor the standards of the Army. The Army ITSELF compromised their own standards and values to give this 1LT a voice that would be great in the civilian world. Not in the Armed Forces.
1. When he punked the leadership at West Point to where they were too damn scared to act then (a LTC no less) why act now?
2. Maybe...just maybe he changed his attitude when he got to his unit? Nothing wrong with posting your views on damn near anything as long as he's not in uniform. I can see his uniform in the background, but he's not in it. Maybe he once was a "good" SPC?
3. He is a product of the current military/political climate. It's ok to throw around you're left or right in and out of uniform, but since he took that to the next level of stupidity, how can you get him without him getting a chunk of your ass in the process? You could find the smallest thing to send him packing, but with his "celebrity", anything done that is questionable to him to force him out will be met in court, and no one wants to see that play out.
When he told that LTC where to go, and others also with no punitive actions taken, it's no longer the SM's fault. Those "leaders" and admin folks who took his berating and blatant disrespect are. The Army and West Point lost a LOT of credibility when you saw letters where a grown ass LTC is whining about how a Cadet repeatedly disrespected him, the Honor Code, and the Values. That LTC should just retire after that. So should anyone else who allowed this to continue.
If the Army's seriously looking for a way to get him out, either wait for him to make a monumental screw up where it cannot be seen as a "force out" situation, OR let him make CPT, doesn't get a command, just different staff positions while passing him over twice for MAJ. I could be wrong, but if you're passed over twice, you're going home or can be given an enlisted equilivient to possibly continue his career in. This 1LT didn't compromise HIS standards, nor the standards of the Army. The Army ITSELF compromised their own standards and values to give this 1LT a voice that would be great in the civilian world. Not in the Armed Forces.
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MAJ John Douglas
This maybe good SPC was thrown out of Ranger School for insubordination to the CSM before he ever went to West Point.
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SSG Warren Swan
When I said "good" it wasn't meant as Good. Can't always show sarcasm in text. He should NEVER have gotten past that CSM. He should've had a "free ride" to the Foreign Legion being his career here should've been toast right there.
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Interesting that Professor Rasheed Hosein (the West Point History Professor and mentor to Mr. Rapone) last job was as an Asset Protection Specialist at BJ's Wholesale Club in New York. It appears that he started this job while on administrative leave from West Point.
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