Military Freedom of Speech

[longknife]

Everyone knows there are some restrictions that take effect when one enters the military. For example, one cannot participate in political activities while in uniform. But, since when it is against regulations to speak up in general? Well, according to this soldier, it all started in 2009. Why does that NOT surprise me!

Where Have All The Milblogs Gone?

Perspectives June 11 2013 — By CJ Grisham

One need look no further than the current case of Army Master Sergeant Nathan Sommers to find the answer to that question.

Sommers is a member of the Army band who is currently facing Article 15 punishment for expressing his personal opinion about current events and politicians. Like most Soldiers, MSG Sommers has opinions about the state of our country and the reasons it is in disarray. But, MSG Sommers isn’t a military blogger so what does that have to do anything?

Read more @ Where Have All The Milblogs Gone? | A Soldier's Perspective

 

[Warrior102]

We loathed Clinton when I was in. As well as Jimmy Carter.
I can only imagine how the current Commander-In-Chump is viewed.

 

[Mad Scientist]

As Bill Clinton said (and I paraphrase): "It doesn't matter what they (the Military) think of me because I'm the Commander in Chief".

Plenty of Active Duty Generals who are part of the Military Industrial Complex so your fate is sealed.

And think about it: How many active duty Military are gonna' go against orders to "shut up about it"? I'm betting none.

They're trained to follow orders, not think for themselves.

 

[longknife]

We loathed Clinton when I was in. As well as Jimmy Carter.
I can only imagine how the current Commander-In-Chump is viewed.

I too served under the Peanut Farmer. I was in Austria and you cannot believe the negativity he received from the international community.

I turned my eyes every time I walked up the interior embassy stairs.

 

[SteadyMercury]

Dude you just started another thread in the same forum on the same subject:

http://www.usmessageboard.com/milit...ead-conservative-books-now-faces-charges.html

 

[Moonglow]

You stupid vets, the military has always restricted freedom of speech, as one drill instructor explained, (when I was serving), it to a whiner like the ones in here, "we protect the rights of American citizens, not exercise them." of which the soldier in question was treated to a burn out(exercising until you pass out or collapse).

 

[longknife]

Dude you just started another thread in the same forum on the same subject:

http://www.usmessageboard.com/milit...ead-conservative-books-now-faces-charges.html

I don't see how you think they're the same.

One is about the military justice system as it pertains to one soldier.

This deals with blogging IN GENERAL and not for a specific individual.

As one who follows milblogs, I can only agree with the poster as there are far fewer now than a year ago!

 

[Oldguy]

Dude you just started another thread in the same forum on the same subject:

http://www.usmessageboard.com/milit...ead-conservative-books-now-faces-charges.html

I don't see how you think they're the same.

One is about the military justice system as it pertains to one soldier.

This deals with blogging IN GENERAL and not for a specific individual.

As one who follows milblogs, I can only agree with the poster as there are far fewer now than a year ago!

It's the same guy and it's STILL a bullshit story, no matter how many times you post it.

 

[dadsgm]

Everyone knows there are some restrictions that take effect when one enters the military. For example, one cannot participate in political activities while in uniform. But, since when it is against regulations to speak up in general? Well, according to this soldier, it all started in 2009. Why does that NOT surprise me!

Where Have All The Milblogs Gone?

Perspectives June 11 2013 — By CJ Grisham

One need look no further than the current case of Army Master Sergeant Nathan Sommers to find the answer to that question.

Sommers is a member of the Army band who is currently facing Article 15 punishment for expressing his personal opinion about current events and politicians. Like most Soldiers, MSG Sommers has opinions about the state of our country and the reasons it is in disarray. But, MSG Sommers isn’t a military blogger so what does that have to do anything?

Read more @ Where Have All The Milblogs Gone? | A Soldier's Perspective

He has the right to self expression so long as he is not doing it while in uniform or on a blog, newspaper, etc where he identifies himself with or as being in the military. This is not new; I entered service in 1962, retired in 1988 and it is still the same now. The SGM

 

[whitehall]

Do you give up some of your rights as a citizen when you join the Military? You bet your ass. The UCMJ has a whole book of new regulations you better be aware of.

 

[Mr Natural]

Call your CO an asshole to see just how much freedom of speech you have.

 

[Borillar]

You stupid vets, the military has always restricted freedom of speech, as one drill instructor explained, (when I was serving), it to a whiner like the ones in here, "we protect the rights of American citizens, not exercise them." of which the soldier in question was treated to a burn out(exercising until you pass out or collapse).

Yeah, we were told something along the same lines - "you are here to protect democracy, not practice it". Of course, everybody bitched about all sorts of things, but we didn't have personal computers back then, and no internet or blogging. We would have been told to do our ******* job and shut the **** up.

 

[Toome]

Call your CO an asshole to see just how much freedom of speech you have.

You're right. That's an inflammatory term and disrespectful of the good order and conduct necessary in the military.

"Son of a *****," on the other hand has long been recognized as a heartfelt term of endearment for the commanding officer.

 

[Toome]

As Bill Clinton said (and I paraphrase): "It doesn't matter what they (the Military) think of me because I'm the Commander in Chief".

Plenty of Active Duty Generals who are part of the Military Industrial Complex so your fate is sealed.

And think about it: How many active duty Military are gonna' go against orders to "shut up about it"? I'm betting none.

They're trained to follow orders, not think for themselves.

Love it when someone thinks they know what the military is all about.

Actually, the US military encourages soldiers to think for themselves and rewards it. That's what initiative is all about. That's why the military incorporated something called "commander's intent" into its framework: so that soldiers can still apply the intent of the order even when the written words don't specifically address the situation.

This is what separates the US military from a lot of other military forces around the world. I've worked with plenty of foreign armies and was always amazed at how inflexible they were when it comes to initiative. There are many armies that have sergeants, but the US military breeds NCOs. Big difference.

It's very easy for the novice to confuse what appears as denial of rights with discipline. And it's no surprise. Discipline is a rare commodity these days. As much as I disliked having Clinton in office, there was no doubt in my mind that he was my Commander-in-Chief. Expressing my opinion privately was one thing, but no one had to explain it to me why it's damaging to the whole unit to do it publicly. It's a necessary thing if we are to have a disciplined military.

And by the way, I wasn't too thrilled about Reagan and Bush Sr. In my book, all politicians are the same. They can conjure up whatever flowery explanation necessary to justify sending in troops. In the end, it's the dog face on the ground who has to do the dirty work. In comparison, however, they made less dumb decisions than other presidents, but they still made dumb decisions.

 

[LA RAM FAN]

We loathed Clinton when I was in. As well as Jimmy Carter.
I can only imagine how the current Commander-In-Chump is viewed.

you seem to have a bias against democrats which is funny cause they are in reality the same party.Now Clinton i can totally understand,that draft dodger avoided vietnam but he was willing to send other americans to slaugheer in other countries as well.

Carter? he wasnt anywhere near as corrupt as reagan.

 

[LA RAM FAN]

As Bill Clinton said (and I paraphrase): "It doesn't matter what they (the Military) think of me because I'm the Commander in Chief".

Plenty of Active Duty Generals who are part of the Military Industrial Complex so your fate is sealed.

And think about it: How many active duty Military are gonna' go against orders to "shut up about it"? I'm betting none.

They're trained to follow orders, not think for themselves.

amen to that.

 

[Survivalist]

Think OPSEC (operational security). A wise person in the military isn't going to put his name on anything that has to do with political controversy or critique of those further up the chain of command.

Soldiers who were so stupid as to even have a Facebook page found they could not join the Special Forces.

In one of my units, they had a suggestion/comment box. I did use that once, and didn't sign my name on it. If a current military guy wants to blow off steam, use online forums like this one and keep all thought crimes and speak crimes to yourself and away from Big Brother.