Posted on May 10, 2016
West Point: Cadet photo was inappropriate, but not political
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The 16 black female cadets who posed for a photo with their fists raised and sparked a nationwide debate will face no punitive action, West Point officials announced Tuesday. The women will, however, receive additional counseling prior to graduating this month.
The image was taken April 26 during an “Old Corps” photo shoot, a tradition where seniors strike serious poses reminiscent of early 19th Century cadets who attended the U.S. Military Academy.
After the photo went viral online, the women faced accusations they were trying to make a political statement in uniform and were violating Defense Department rules. Some noted that raised fists are associated with Black Lives Matter, the grassroots organization that seeks to expose police brutality. Others saw it as an imitation of Beyonce's nod to the Black Panthers during her Super Bowl performance.
Many others vehemently defended the cadets, arguing the photo was nothing more than a display of triumph and pride.
ARMY TIMES
West Point leader defends female cadets in fist-raising photo
The academy opened an investigation on April 28 and interviewed the cadets involved as well as the photographer. There was no evidence these cadets intended to make a political statement, according to a memo that summarizes the inquiry's findings. The investigator also concluded there were no violations of Defense Department Directive 1344.10, which spells out the rules for service members engaging in political activities. Instead the photo was deemed a "spur of the moment" pose with the intent,as one cadet put it, to "showcase the awesome black women in our class."
Even so, the photo pose was "inappropriate," according to the major who conducted the official inquiry.
West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen agreed.
"While the inquiry did not find that these cadets violated a policy or regulation, it did determine that they demonstrated a lapse of awareness in how symbols and gestures can be misinterpreted and cause division," Caslen wrote in a letter Tuesday to the Corps of Cadets. "The impact of this photo, regardless of its intent, is evident. It is unfortunate that this perception brought attention to our Alma Mater for all the wrong reasons."
ARMY TIMES
Army investigates: Are these West Point cadets making a political statement in uniform?
Based on the inquiry, some of the cadets involved knew what they were doing could prove incendiary.
Two cadets reportedly proposed the "raised fist" stance during the shoot and two others immediately expressed concern, according to the investigator. They asked, "Are we really doing this?"
A cadet defended the photo, telling the other women, "This isn't an [equal opportunity] violation and we won't get in trouble for it." The cadet's name is redacted in the report.
There were nine photos taken during the shoot and three poses, referred to as "Serious," "Raised Fist" and "Silly" in the report.
One consequence
Prior to their graduation, all 16 cadets will receive additional instruction from the academy's Commandant, Caslen said.
"As members of the Profession of Arms, we are held to a higher standard, where our actions are constantly observed and scrutinized in the public domain," he said. "We all must understand that a symbol or gesture that one group of people may find harmless may offend others."
Caslen did note, however, that clenched-fists have been used in other ways at West Point in the past year as a display of pride for the Army and nation.
"For instance, last July, the class of 2019 spontaneously raised their fist in pride upon the playing of the Army Strong song during the Fourth of July Concert," he wrote in his letter. "Last December, on the night before the Army-Navy game, I joined hundreds of staff and graduates in raising our fist in support of the Army football team during the Army-Navy pep rally video. The time, place and manner of a symbol can also hold significant meaning and influence perception."
The investigator recommended no delays to the women's May 21 graduation, provided "they display an understanding of how their actions as Cadets and future Officers were inappropriate, at the conclusion of the instruction."
This controversy could complicate the "Old Corps" photo tradition.
"I recommend all future 'Old Corps' photographs be reviewed by the West Point public affairs office prior to release to any Cadet or outside agency," the investigator wrote in his memo.
The image was taken April 26 during an “Old Corps” photo shoot, a tradition where seniors strike serious poses reminiscent of early 19th Century cadets who attended the U.S. Military Academy.
After the photo went viral online, the women faced accusations they were trying to make a political statement in uniform and were violating Defense Department rules. Some noted that raised fists are associated with Black Lives Matter, the grassroots organization that seeks to expose police brutality. Others saw it as an imitation of Beyonce's nod to the Black Panthers during her Super Bowl performance.
Many others vehemently defended the cadets, arguing the photo was nothing more than a display of triumph and pride.
ARMY TIMES
West Point leader defends female cadets in fist-raising photo
The academy opened an investigation on April 28 and interviewed the cadets involved as well as the photographer. There was no evidence these cadets intended to make a political statement, according to a memo that summarizes the inquiry's findings. The investigator also concluded there were no violations of Defense Department Directive 1344.10, which spells out the rules for service members engaging in political activities. Instead the photo was deemed a "spur of the moment" pose with the intent,as one cadet put it, to "showcase the awesome black women in our class."
Even so, the photo pose was "inappropriate," according to the major who conducted the official inquiry.
West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen agreed.
"While the inquiry did not find that these cadets violated a policy or regulation, it did determine that they demonstrated a lapse of awareness in how symbols and gestures can be misinterpreted and cause division," Caslen wrote in a letter Tuesday to the Corps of Cadets. "The impact of this photo, regardless of its intent, is evident. It is unfortunate that this perception brought attention to our Alma Mater for all the wrong reasons."
ARMY TIMES
Army investigates: Are these West Point cadets making a political statement in uniform?
Based on the inquiry, some of the cadets involved knew what they were doing could prove incendiary.
Two cadets reportedly proposed the "raised fist" stance during the shoot and two others immediately expressed concern, according to the investigator. They asked, "Are we really doing this?"
A cadet defended the photo, telling the other women, "This isn't an [equal opportunity] violation and we won't get in trouble for it." The cadet's name is redacted in the report.
There were nine photos taken during the shoot and three poses, referred to as "Serious," "Raised Fist" and "Silly" in the report.
One consequence
Prior to their graduation, all 16 cadets will receive additional instruction from the academy's Commandant, Caslen said.
"As members of the Profession of Arms, we are held to a higher standard, where our actions are constantly observed and scrutinized in the public domain," he said. "We all must understand that a symbol or gesture that one group of people may find harmless may offend others."
Caslen did note, however, that clenched-fists have been used in other ways at West Point in the past year as a display of pride for the Army and nation.
"For instance, last July, the class of 2019 spontaneously raised their fist in pride upon the playing of the Army Strong song during the Fourth of July Concert," he wrote in his letter. "Last December, on the night before the Army-Navy game, I joined hundreds of staff and graduates in raising our fist in support of the Army football team during the Army-Navy pep rally video. The time, place and manner of a symbol can also hold significant meaning and influence perception."
The investigator recommended no delays to the women's May 21 graduation, provided "they display an understanding of how their actions as Cadets and future Officers were inappropriate, at the conclusion of the instruction."
This controversy could complicate the "Old Corps" photo tradition.
"I recommend all future 'Old Corps' photographs be reviewed by the West Point public affairs office prior to release to any Cadet or outside agency," the investigator wrote in his memo.
West Point: Cadet photo was inappropriate, but not political
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: USMA West Point (Duty Station)
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 7
Posted 8 y ago
If it had been White Male Cadets it would read like this:
"The 16 white male cadets who posed for a photo with their fists raised and sparked a nationwide debate will face punitive action and will likely be separated from the Service", West Point officials announced Tuesday. Army officials stated that the actions of these male Cadets are insensitive to others and are not in keeping with good order and discipline. Military Members are forbidden from making political statements while in uniform under the provisions of the Hatch Act.
You just GOTTA LOVE the Double Standard that exists in the Army today. Maybe one day we will be in a colorblind Army. Maybe...The Army that my 14 year old son wants to serve in will once again focus on winning wars and protecting the country and NOT with making political statements and trying to be a laboratory for Social Engineering.
"The 16 white male cadets who posed for a photo with their fists raised and sparked a nationwide debate will face punitive action and will likely be separated from the Service", West Point officials announced Tuesday. Army officials stated that the actions of these male Cadets are insensitive to others and are not in keeping with good order and discipline. Military Members are forbidden from making political statements while in uniform under the provisions of the Hatch Act.
You just GOTTA LOVE the Double Standard that exists in the Army today. Maybe one day we will be in a colorblind Army. Maybe...The Army that my 14 year old son wants to serve in will once again focus on winning wars and protecting the country and NOT with making political statements and trying to be a laboratory for Social Engineering.
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SSG Roger Ayscue
8 y
LTC (Join to see) - Sir, No disrespect but when does it end? When does the Army actually become Equal. Plus, the examples you cited are Corps Squad teams. I remember from my Plebe Year (Class of 1986, found in Academics, E-1 Damn It, should have spun Sedgwick's Spurs)From my Plebe Year, I remember that a Corps Squad team could get away with murder, and if it was Army Football, by God you could fail Rock Math and stay in Grey.
This does not change the fact that these Cadets put something ahead of the Service, ahead of their oath and violated the Hatch Act by making a political statement in Uniform. How can a white trooper, under their command feel that he will get a fair deal? That is why the Army should be colorblind, but we all know that will never be, so I am wizzing up a rope.
This does not change the fact that these Cadets put something ahead of the Service, ahead of their oath and violated the Hatch Act by making a political statement in Uniform. How can a white trooper, under their command feel that he will get a fair deal? That is why the Army should be colorblind, but we all know that will never be, so I am wizzing up a rope.
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LTC (Join to see)
8 y
SSG; I don't believe they were attempting to make a political statement, I just think they used poor judgment.
As far as Corps Squad or not, how do we know none of these cadets are corps squad or not.
I'm in the Army now and view it from the inside; I think we are a fair organization and getting better each day.
I understand how this situation can be viewed the way you do, but I (honestly) don't think that is the case.
As far as Corps Squad or not, how do we know none of these cadets are corps squad or not.
I'm in the Army now and view it from the inside; I think we are a fair organization and getting better each day.
I understand how this situation can be viewed the way you do, but I (honestly) don't think that is the case.
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SSG Roger Ayscue
>1 y
LTC (Join to see) - Sir, UNTIL and IF the US Army removes ALL photos, references to gender and race from all evaluations...Until the EO Program is represented equally across the board, Until all standards are the same and NO PROMOTION BOARDS use EO Goals....Until these things are accomplished, the US Army will still lead the way on Organizational Discrimination against White Males. Deny all you want, but the Army destroys all the evidence at the end of all centralized promotion boards and recalls the list is there are not enough of each "Protected Class" on the list. They should release the board results so that they have to show WHY an individual did not get promoted and where they stood on the list.
Transparency is the only way to prove equal opportunity. Historical discrimination is NOT an excuse for Institutional, Approved Discrimination that we have today, and with a Liberal Administration likely coming in, this will just get worse.
Transparency is the only way to prove equal opportunity. Historical discrimination is NOT an excuse for Institutional, Approved Discrimination that we have today, and with a Liberal Administration likely coming in, this will just get worse.
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Posted 8 y ago
Not surprising news SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL when I was a graduating senior at West Point we had a few pictures taken of my company which was H-3.
It was a shame that the particular picture with raised fists was sent out and became viral.
When I was USMA cadet the internet was a far off vision.
It was a shame that the particular picture with raised fists was sent out and became viral.
When I was USMA cadet the internet was a far off vision.
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Posted 8 y ago
There has never been an "old grad photo" that I have seen 1) in color vs B/W format and 2) with fists raised. NONE. Very interesting. Thanks for the post.
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LTC (Join to see)
8 y
LT; I've seen a LOT worse. The year before women were admitted to the academy, one company posed with the balls from various sports; the implication being that was the last year "with balls".
If you just graduated (which I assume you did based on rank and your knowledge of Old Corps photos) how about having more faith in the Supe to make the correct call. According to the facts we have, it looks like he did.
If you just graduated (which I assume you did based on rank and your knowledge of Old Corps photos) how about having more faith in the Supe to make the correct call. According to the facts we have, it looks like he did.
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