Troops Wearing ‘Make Aircrew Great Again’ Patch Triggers Outrage from Left

[jimnyc]

First, I wanted to ask our service folks about these patches. While I'm confident they probably are against regs, how harshly is something like this punished? And how are these guys in this story doing so with so many of them?

@CSM @Gunny @High_Plains_Drifter @icansayit @darin

(not exluding many on purpose, just grabbed a few names from the current list at bottom of board to get a few vets in here.

Doesn't change how the left responds, whether against regs or not. Not long before they call them baby killers for wearing something like this.

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Troops Wearing ‘Make Aircrew Great Again’ Patch Triggers Outrage from Left

Mass outrage on the left ensued after photos emerged of United States sailors aboard the USS Wasp wearing “Make Aircrew Great Again” patches with President Trump’s likeness on them.

The images were first reported by White House reporters traveling with the president on his trip to Japan, where he stopped at a U.S. military base in Yokosuka:



After the photos surfaced online, leftist commentators and pundits began calling for the airmen to be punished, claiming they had violated the U.S. Military Code of Justice (UMCJ) for engaging in political activity while in uniform.

One man who calls himself a “liberal provocateur” tried to alert their commander:



He had also called them wearing the patch “fascism,” and asked if they had “armbands, too”:



Another leftist dug up photos to confirm whether the patches were actually real, and found they have been worn since at least September 2017:



One professor worried that the military was not loyal to civilian control and the Constitution, and was now “part of a presidential personality cult”:



Rest - https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2...-outrage-left/

[Elessar]

Questionable...especially if on a flight suit.

If on an outer coat or jacket, no problem I can see there.

Someone complaining that the patches are UCMJ violations are grasping at straws,
in my opinion. It would be up to the Command to make that decision.

Air Station Humboldt Bay used to have a Greatful Dead symbol on a patch,
but that was not promoting weed or smack.

[jimnyc]

Thanks for the answer! Figures the one person on the list I missed comes in and answers.

[Elessar]

Thanks for the answer! Figures the one person on the list I missed comes in and answers.

I do anxiously await the opinions from the list you made, though.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

If they were approved by the brass, then they're fine. But if they sewed them on without approval, they're out of USMJ 3510, which the punishment could just be told to take them off.

At least that's the way it would have been 32 years ago last time I was active duty.

But the fact that they pissed off the left is worth it's weight in GOLD.

[darin]

Two things - wearing non-authorized uniform accessories is not UCMJ stuff - it's whatever the Navy Regulation on wear-and-appearance of the uniform in. NAVPERS or something? In the Army is AR670-1. Now, what the folks are bitching about MAY be the Hatch Act - which prohibits 'politicking' while in uniform. Thus, Soldiers (using that term loosely to cover all branches) and even DoD Civilians cannot while on govt time and using govt resources from supporting or promoting or campaigning for a political post or election. Those folks CAN voice their opinions when asked candidly. The right of Freedom of Speech is not to be abridged. There is a line and every year, every Federal Employee should and likely is briefed - that includes Military folk.

To the issue of the patches: Servicemen and Servicewomen have a long-standing tradition of adopting cartoonish mascots or sayings to inspire morale and stuff. I am not a JAG officer nor a constitutional law or even military regulations specialist. However - with approval of their chain of command, the Servicefolk in question have broken no laws or rules. Short of somebody arguing the words "Make (anything) great again" is forever tantamount to endorsing President Trump, there's not foul here. If somebody were to make that claim, I'd consider also more-commonly-used and over-used words and phrases from politicians as tantamount to endorsement. Phrases such as "I" and "me" and "With your help" and "make america normal again"

Further - the comment:

"the military must be loyal to civilian control..."

That's stupid. It's actually obvious the Military members in question are supporting their Civilian controller.

[CSM]

What Darin said....

AR 670-1 is the regulation covering the wear of the uniform (for Army) that applies here. UCMJ only would apply if command decided to prosecute the individuals (highly unlikely in this case) for violation of an order to remove unauthorized insignia. Even then it would more than likely result in non-judicial punishment such as an Article 15 which means possible loss of pay for a short period and reduction in rank (worst case).

[Gunny]

Not much different in the Marine Corps. Every unit has a "patch"/logo/insignia for unit pride/morale. While each Marine unit has such (my avatar being one for the 7th Marine Regiment), Marines do not wear them on the uniform. Until the First Gulf War, we didn't even wear name tapes but some whiny-ass MSM types couldn't identify anyone by name and cried about it. We wore only rank insignia (with the usual exceptions to the rule like special duty assignments that required a name tag). That's our name. Marine.

The unit logo has been around forever and is proscribed by command. It is usually incorporated into the unit flag. The Army & Air Force have them on their uniforms as I recall and call them unit crests.. We do not. I don't recall that the Navy wears them on their uniform either. We have a flag, coffee mugs (a must ), tee shirts, stickers and other such trash with bearing the unit logo.

Fuck these pussies looking to be offended over nothing. Let them cry.

However, bet money the commander is pressured to change it even though as Darin pointed out, it's a benign statement.

[CSM]

Not much different in the Marine Corps. Every unit has a "patch"/logo/insignia for unit pride/morale. While each Marine unit has such (my avatar being one for the 7th Marine Brigade), Marines do not wear them on the uniform. Until the First Gulf War, we didn't even wear name tapes but some whiny-ass MSM types couldn't identify anyone by name and cried about it. We wore only rank insignia (with the usual exceptions to the rule like special duty assignments that required a name tag). That's our name. Marine.

The unit logo has been around forever and is proscribed by command. It is usually incorporated into the unit flag. The Army & Air Force have them on their uniforms as I recall and call them unit crests.. We do not. I don't recall that the Navy wears them on their uniform either. We have a flag, coffee mugs (a must ), tee shirts, stickers and other such trash with bearing the unit logo.

Fuck these pussies looking to be offended over nothing. Let them cry.

However, bet money the commander is pressured to change it even though as Darin pointed out, it's a benign statement.

The Army has unit patches (worn on the everyday uniform as well as dress uniform) and unit crests which are worn on the dress uniform only. They even have a patch for retirees...lol

[High_Plains_Drifter]

I heard for 8 years that our uniform and it's appearance was covered under "35-10." I guess my memory skipped a beat here thinking it was under the UCMJ. Evidently it was an AFR, Air Force Regulation, but even that has changed now, but it was 35-10...

https://www.quora.com/What-year-did-...eir-regulation

[Gunny]

The Army has unit patches (worn on the everyday uniform as well as dress uniform) and unit crests which are worn on the dress uniform only. They even have a patch for retirees...lol

That driving award that looks like a pewter wheel, well, because it IS a pewter wheel, was the one Army award that just busted me up. I couldn't keep a straight face

[CSM]

That driving award that looks like a pewter wheel, well, because it IS a pewter wheel, was the one Army award that just busted me up. I couldn't keep a straight face

Everyone gets a trophy! I always thought the marksmanship badges were bullshit too.

[pete311]

It's very simple. The military should not be politicized. They defend all Americans, not just Trump supporters.

[STTAB]

First, I wanted to ask our service folks about these patches. While I'm confident they probably are against regs, how harshly is something like this punished? And how are these guys in this story doing so with so many of them?

@CSM @Gunny @High_Plains_Drifter @icansayit @darin

(not exluding many on purpose, just grabbed a few names from the current list at bottom of board to get a few vets in here.

Doesn't change how the left responds, whether against regs or not. Not long before they call them baby killers for wearing something like this.

---

Troops Wearing ‘Make Aircrew Great Again’ Patch Triggers Outrage from Left

Mass outrage on the left ensued after photos emerged of United States sailors aboard the USS Wasp wearing “Make Aircrew Great Again” patches with President Trump’s likeness on them.

The images were first reported by White House reporters traveling with the president on his trip to Japan, where he stopped at a U.S. military base in Yokosuka:



After the photos surfaced online, leftist commentators and pundits began calling for the airmen to be punished, claiming they had violated the U.S. Military Code of Justice (UMCJ) for engaging in political activity while in uniform.

One man who calls himself a “liberal provocateur” tried to alert their commander:



He had also called them wearing the patch “fascism,” and asked if they had “armbands, too”:



Another leftist dug up photos to confirm whether the patches were actually real, and found they have been worn since at least September 2017:



One professor worried that the military was not loyal to civilian control and the Constitution, and was now “part of a presidential personality cult”:



Rest - https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2...-outrage-left/

I don't believe those are official uniforms so the UCMJ doesn't apply, but they probably shouldn't be wearing those patches . As for screeching liberals, it's time to end them.

[pete311]

I don't believe those are official uniforms so the UCMJ doesn't apply, but they probably shouldn't be wearing those patches . As for screeching liberals, it's time to end them.

What do you mean by "time to end them"?