Officials also confirmed that, following his commissioning, he had failed out of Ranger school before being assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. On Monday, Rapone tweeted another picture of himself in his West Point uniform, exposing a Che Guevara T-shirt underneath with the caption In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre.. He lost his career for speaking truth to power. He ultimately resigned his commission, and was separated from the Army in June 2018 with an Other Than Honorable discharge., Spenser Rapones bio on Socialism 2018 (Socialism 2018 Website), Fanning wrote that their conversation will be called Resisting Within the Ranks.. Eventually, however, after becoming increasingly disillusioned with U.S. imperialism abroad, Rapone resigned his commission and was separated from the Army in early June. Second Lieutenant Rapones chain of command is aware of his actions and is looking into the matter. If this was Ukraine the mainstream media would be shrieking day and night about human rights and international law. He wanted to enlist and do his time. Iwas in the field at the time helping at afire range and so they took me out of the field, met with my attorney and was told Iwas under investigation. The term communism itself seemed to engender acertain response from Rubio. In an Oct. 11 letter to the members of the USMA community, Caslen stated that 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone the Afghanistan combat infantry veteran and West Point grad captured with a Che Guevara . Richard L. Rapone explained that Spenser tried to join West Point straight out of high school but was not accepted. The former West Point cadet who called himself Commie Beebop on Twitter rejoined civilian life without an honorable discharge. In regards to my son Spenser Rapone, I disavow his political views and overall politics. At West Point, Irealized Imight be asocialist. Rapone was an infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y. So, Istarted reading theory. "I was still idealistic," he said. UQuIgR0-8Z4m5D_pY`ucWl A^k -f=l@u?H}^Zuj2')`gdzhg~pwwNcEATk,.sWChKggdsCxsA#/aU.8$D^x^@3k;=:V'EQzBju:&XRc]Y|}U.>$mco-/RgxyR\/KA{wz9@Y2]nSQa0baEA~Uws83tF SOI5jraML/ua;s y~D /A' l9~:' The Bush administration saw this football player and this guy who looked like G.I. He is also a teaching assistant, which gives him a platform to inflict his twisted worldview upon students who might think that if they don't go along, their grades could suffer. Helicopters crashed in mountains, fair weather, Army says, Army Special Ops Command welcomes first female command sergeant major, Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, Army grounds helicopter fleet for force-wide safety stand down. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldn't afford college. Deciding he could no longer stomach the immorality of US imperialism, he spoke out against the reprehensible actions of the military in September 2017. The Army confirmed that Rapone graduated from West Point in 2016 and is now serving as a second lieutenant with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, New York. Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers President, 125 Years After the Pullman Uprising, We Could Be on the Verge of Another Sympathy Strike Wave, Barbara Ehrenreich on Science vs. Mysticism. On Monday, the Army's 10th Mountain Division accepted the resignation of 2nd Lt. Rapone less than a year after he posted . Prospective Students; Undergraduate Students; Graduate Studies Can you describe what you were seeing in in Afghanistan with your owneyes? At that point, again, Iwanted nothing to do with the military because Ifind their rule morally reprehensible and ethically unsound, so Isubmitted my resignation. Or, Icould submit an unconditional resignation and they can give me whatever discharge they want. Its a call for action beyond the scope of the US colonial state. So theres thataspect. But in terms of restrictions, after the Vietnam era in 78, they put it into code that any kind of military unions or organizing is explicitly forbidden. The DSAs Veterans Working Group, of which Rapone is a member, also offered support to him in a statement. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldn't afford college. "I would encourage all soldiers who have a conscience to lay down their arms and join me and so many others who are willing to stop serving the agents of imperialism and join us in a revolutionary movement. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldn't afford college. Today, his Twitter account is again public. And those views only hardened during his studies of history as one of the academy's "Long Gray Line.". Iwas ahistory major, and Istudied Middle Eastern history specifically. x. Are walking blood banks coming to a field hospital near you? The Superintendent of West Point Military Academy, Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr., released a letter on Wednesday. Prysner stands at a height of 5 ft 11 in (Approx. "Of course my military career is dead in the water. At the time, he was an outstanding, well-rounded student who came from a good family. His Facebook, where he goes under Giuseppe Impastato, was private. Then, Iwant to get active. Top brass at Fort Drum accepted Rapone's resignation Monday after an earlier reprimand for "conduct unbecoming of an officer." Officially, the Army said in a statement only that it conducted a full investigation and "appropriate action was taken. Mr. Rapone used the social media platform on Wednesday to promote an upcoming Socialism 2018 talk in Chicago titled War Resister in the Ranks., At Socialism 2018 Ill be sitting down with with[sic] Spenser Rapone, the US Army Ranger, Afghan-war combat vet, recent West Point graduate, and now war-resister, who sparked nation-wide fury after publicly supporting Colin Kaepernick and Socialism during his West Point graduation, Rory Fanning, also an ex-Ranger, tweeted Wednesday. As of Friday, his account was public again. Yes, Rory Fanning Ive had correspondence with for awhile. The second lieutenant was given an "other than honorable" discharge June 18 after an Army investigation determined that he "went online to promote a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking officers" and thereby had engaged in "conduct unbecoming an officer." At worst, however, Cadet Rapones statements bespeak either a severe mental or psychological disorder, or a genuine commitment to values and ideals wholly at odds with those of West Point and the Army, he added. Copyright 2023 by the Institute for Public Affairs (EIN: 94-2889692). The last 15years have shown otherwise. We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat.. Toward the end of his deployment, he learned West Point fulfills a certain quota of enlisted soldiers every year. endobj Ex-Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, who served from 2007 to 2013, said that Second Lt. Spenser Rapone let him down. Be Truthful. Hes also tweeted out that hell happily dance on GOP Sen. John McCains grave. The biggest thing about Pat Tillman was that he didnt want to be put in abox. But he wasnt accepted to West Point, so Rapone enlisted in the Army. Also during that time, Rapones Facebook posts grew increasingly radical and leftist. Spenser Rapone was a US Army officer and Democratic Socialists of America member. 1 0 obj Mar 29 Damascus is under attack. The saga of communist sympathizing Second Lieutenant Spenser Rapone keeps on going, and with every turn it looks worse for Rapone. person will not be tolerated. Movies. Latest news and commentary on Spenser Rapone including photos, videos, quotations, and a biography. As weve seen in the recent past, ideological actors working inside the system such as Edward Snowden can do a tremendous amount of damage to national security. The soldier pictured, now 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone, had been openly serving as an avowed communist supporting the downfall of the U.S. government. I knew there could be repercussions, said Rapone, who is scheduled to speak at a socialism conference in Chicago next month. Back in 2018, images of Spenser Rapone at his West Point graduation went viral. Rapones father, a local politician in Pennsylvania, explicitly disavowed his sons political views Tuesday in a Facebook post. ", "I consider myself a revolutionary socialist," the 26-year-old Rapone told The Associated Press. An investigation into Rapones behavior quickly commenced and he was placed on a monitoring regimesaid to be for his own safety. Spenser Rapone is a former officer in the U.S. Army and the co-host of the EyesLeft podcast. We'd love to hear eyewitness New cadets hold and read booklets called 'Cadet Knowledge' during Reception Day at the United States Military Academy at West Point, June 27, 2016, in West Point, New York. The more important thing is that alot of other veterans and active duty personnel have had similar experiences to me and have come to similar conclusions, if not the same, and Ihope that by speaking out. Due to the form of discharge received, Rapone may be ineligible for VA benefits or the GI Bill. Spenser Rapone was like acharacter who stepped out of aBruce Springsteen song. Photos from the graduation posted on social media earned the vitriol of many his fellow soldiers and avocal cadre of right-wing politicians and mediaeven death threats. Obviously this didnt go to court martial. On March 23, 2014, Rapone posted about anti-corporatism and racism. For sure, Pat was abig influence on me. Due to privacy act restrictions, we are limited in what information we can provide, Lt. Col. Nina Hill, an Army spokeswoman, told reporters. Its my belief when he returned back from Afghanistan there was a notable difference in his political views, Richard L. Rapone said. But the service declined to disclose what investigators found, how Rapone had been disciplined, or even if he has been allowed to stay in the service. 2 0 obj Spenser Rapone, the former second lieutenant whose Communism will win photos went viral in 2017, has received an other than honorable discharge from the Army. Money Minute, What's next for experimental AI projects in the C4ISR sphere. I have no doubt that the U.S. Army will take appropriate action, Altmire said. Rapone will eventually have an opportunity to petition for an upgrade in his discharge status, however, which would have a positive impact on his eligibility. "On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. Ithink it shows some peoples priority. In another, he raises his fist and flips his cap to reveal the message: Communism will win.. Follow him on Twitter: @punkproletarian. Have a tip or story idea? You start to see why these wars are endless. New room decor until its flying proudly in the streets. West Point released a statement after Rapone posted the photos, saying his actions "in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. They compiled all the things Ive said, the subversive things Ive said about Trump and various elected officials like General Mattis, and essentially gave me anumber of options. On Monday, the United States Military Academy welcomed more than 1,190 candidates for Reception Day. "I figured maybe I could change things from inside.". He added that it's possible the military academy could seek repayment of the cost of Rapone's education because he didn't serve the full five-year service obligation required upon graduation. |?RzNB*0t[%vTvRHhii\&4PGO>]~:.1b"* 97by7=w|i>edjR9@6$Ol~9U`: onj "8W(:!,w0e0eIvsRdR5y6odwq,lAQ6Az!F Xig'" aNJFNED$Z9CYOzjc!=;{21m%veb0Nf[,|lj{(/ Its interesting that you say that because, really, all the whole pregame stuff at games is arecent phenomenon. that is degrading to another person. Soon after getting to West Point, I saw that this was a structural problem across the military and that the military itself, its material relation to power, serves the capitalist class. Hoseins bio on the West Point website lists Rapone as one of two cadets he last advised at West Point. The class of 2023 saw about a four percent increase in minority representation. 2023 by the Institute for Public Affairs (EIN: 94-2889692). You go in with acertain vision in your head of what being in the military is and then you see the reality of it. Resolution to DSA National Convention Atlanta Georgia July 2019. Now through Monday, sign up to become a Sustainer for just $5 a month and you'll receive your choice of one of three booksas well as an ongoing subscriptions (10 issues a year) to the print magazine. Go to the main page of ISO Socialism Conference Democratic Socialists of America Veterans Working Group, Democratic Socialists of America Wholesome Meme Stash, DL DSA Veterans Working Group Statement on Afghanistan Posted by Dsa on 08.22.17, https://www.facebook.com/groups/DSAWholesomeMemes/, https://keywiki.org/index.php?title=Spenser_Rapone&oldid=519567, GNU Free Documentation License 1.3 or later. Contents 1 Austin academic 2 DSA resolution on Red Deal 3 Socialism 2018 4 Radical soldier 5 DSA solidarity 6 DSA Veterans Closed Facebook Group 7 DSA Veterans Working Group Statement on Afghanistan 8 Altmire support 9 Socialist Punk Caucus West Point's newest class has increased minority representation and the percentage of female new cadets remained consistent with previous years. Rapones social media was filled with up to hundreds of posts, messages and photos that were being circulated around the military and civilian communities. It strikes me how much, as aculture, weve praised troops since 9/11. As part of this effort, this Convention will endorse the Red Deal, launched by comrades in The Red Nation, a radical anti-capitalist Indigenous liberation group, and its principles on the fight for non-reformist reforms. U.S. Army spokesperson Valerie Mongello stressed this point to American Military News, noting, Both the Department of Defense and the Army have long-standing policies encouraging Soldiers to participate in the democratic process. However, the Army has strict rules regarding the wear and appearance of Army uniforms.. Many other military personnel also tweeted in favor of Kaepernick, although most were supporting free speech, not communism. On August 7, Rapone posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself in his Army uniform wearing a Democratic Socialists of America Membership card that says, official socialist organizer.. Aside from his recent West Point graduation, Rapone was an infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. Now through Monday, sign up to become a Sustainer for just $5 a month and you'll receive your choice of one of three booksas well as an ongoing subscriptions (10 issues a year) to the print magazine. Mike Prysner Family Prysner was born and brought up in the United States to his parents. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Let there be no doubt that we have unequivocal solidarity with and pride in Spenser. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Toward the end of his deployment, he learned West Point fulfills a certain quota of enlisted soldiers every year. After amission, wed have adebrief and, if something particularly violent would happen, officers would say something like, That was kickass! They said if we didnt like it, we were in the wrong place. Spenser Rapone, the former Army second lieutenant whose "Communism will win" photos went viral in 2017, has received an "other than honorable" discharge. As a Facebook friend since 2014, Hosein would have been aware of Rapones Facebook postings between 2014 and when he graduated in 2016. There were no red flags of any kind.". On January 5, 2015, he posted a Slate.com article calling for the abolishment of West Point. Its a program for Indigenous liberation, life, and landan affirmation that colonialism and capitalism must be overturned for this planet to be habitable for human and other-than-human relatives to live dignified lives. At the end of this Convention, the GNDCC will be tasked with initiating a more direct working relationship between DSA and The Red Nation. Greg Rinckey, an attorney specializing in military law, said it's rare for an officer out of West Point to receive an other-than-honorable discharge. After the initial photo was posted and achieved some measure of viralityand elicited quite a bit of outrage and confusionRapone laid any confusion to rest and further incited his far-right critics by posting another photo of himself wearing aChe Guevarat-shirt underneath his half-buttoned uniform. Even the army chaplain would give us these kinds of speeches. Outside of my chain of command, people were threatening and silencing me and Ihad tons of alt-right and neo-fascists sending me death threats. Rapone, whose Twitter handle is punkproletarian, recently retweeted posts from Rory Fanning, an ex-Army Ranger who says he will be interviewing Rapone at the conference Socialism 2018., At Socialism 2018 Ill be sitting down with with Spenser Rapone, the US Army Ranger, Afghan-war combat vet, recent West Point graduate, and now war-resister, who sparked nation-wide fury after publicly supporting Colin Kaepernick and Socialism during his West Point graduation. Soon after getting to West Point, Isaw that this was astructural problem across the military and that the military itself, its material relation to power, serves the capitalist class. Hes an exceptional soldier, the Twitter account, @DSAVeterans, wrote. Then American society and political culture influences you because we are constantly slapped with patriotism and respecting the troops. What does that even mean? Rapone has admitted being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has even posted pictures showing his membership card alongside his military name patch. But Trump is just asymptom of alarger disease. From there, Ispent along time in limbo because Iwas under investigationthey were waiting for me to make another screw-up in their minds. During the interview, he expressed patriotism and looked just like a top-notch candidate. Those nominations usually come from senators or representatives. One picture showed him in uniform, opening his shirt to show an of Che Guevara. Menu. Spenser Rapone is our comrade and we fully support, defend, and encourage him to take whatever steps he sees necessary to express his political beliefs and continue to organize towards a socialist future, the group said. Menu. Id have to do ashow cause board, which is essentially me convincing them why Ishould stay in themilitary. Rapones activism while in uniform appears to be much broader than those two photos. He ultimately resigned his commission, and was separated from the Army in June 2018 with an Other Than Honorable discharge.. Despite his growing disillusionment about the military, he applied and got in. Its the worst administrative discharge. During the Vietnam era, there were various things happening for working-class soldiers and soldiers of color and it was all veryvibrant. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 and was assigned as an assistant machine gunner in Khost Province. This public. Parents Allowed to Collect Sperm From Son Killed Skiing 'Commie Cadet' Spenser Rapone Discharged From U.S. Army West Point Marries First Active-Duty, Same-Sex Couple Compared to the 294 women. Similar to me, after he did his training and found himself overseas, he realized the harsh reality of what the American military was and formed his own opinions. His father, a local official for Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, issued his own statement, disavowing his sons political views. Sen. Marco Rubio caught wind of Rapones protest and demanded that the Army boot him from the service. 3 0 obj "We have averaged 290 female cadets, or 23.3 percent of the class, over the last four years and continue to strive to increase the diversity through programs like Leadership Ethics and Diversity in STEM workshops and others.".