Senator Tom Cotton

[TomSlick]

I was working on a scree about my fury that Tom Cotton, as a former Army officer - who is so proud of his service - could be such a bald-faced liar about the meeting with Trump. I tried to do some research concerning the source of his commission (officer candidate school) and was reminded of a claim he has made in campaigns in Arkansas that he was offered a commission in the JAG Corp but declined in favor of the infantry.

From my not quite 30-years of experience in the Army JAG Corp (including a time as a JAG Field Screening Officer (recruiter) as an additional duty), Cotton's story just cannot be right. Law students - even those who already have commissions - apply for acceptance in the JAG Corps. I suppose that if some young lieutenant with the Medal of Honor and a law degree might be "offered" a JAG commission. Cotton does not hold the Medal of Honor. Per his website, he has the Bronze Star Medal which I assume he received while serving in Iraq - and note that it is not with a "V" (valor) devise.

While I really don't know much about his military service, it really doesn't seem that impressive. He gets credit for enlisting with a law degree (although it seems a bit odd). I have to give him credit for going to Airborne and Ranger School. He gets a lot of credit for the Iraq service. (The time in the Old Guard just means he is tall and looks good in a blue uniform.) The story that someone in a position to do so would deviate from the system and "offer" him a JAG commission just doesn't ring true.

All of that to ask a question: Does anyone know about Cotton's claim that can clue me in?

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Hi Tom!

Sounds great, got links? On the face of it, I would say this traitorous SOB has a pretty "clean" record....no?

[TomSlick]

4. The only reference I see...

The only on-line reference I can find to Cotton's claim of being offered a JAG commission and declining is his website and the Wikipedia entry - which was clearly written by either a Cotton staffer or supporter.

The Army JAG Corps website is vague about the procedures - so I don't know if things have changed since "my days." It just all strikes me as not ringing true. Or maybe it just chaps my old retired JAG backside that this guy ran for office claiming to have declined a JAG commission because he wanted to be a real soldier.

[pbmus]

2. Cotton got cabinet seat for lying....likely CIA...

We have nothing left of government for the people....

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. Pretty interesting trial balloon from Tom, I think.

There is no Republican at the Federal Level, occupying an elective office, that I trust with the best interests of this country. Check their bank accounts....wait, we have no idea what Trump owns to whom. I will vote Democrat. Vote It the Fuck Out

VItFO

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I believe he enlisted after 9/11 so he could kill 'ragheads. He's a

heartless racist who calls himself a Christian.

[TomSlick]

6. That's clearly his story.

I just don't believe the rest of the story that he enlisted after being offered - and rejecting - a commission in the JAG Corps. The JAG Corps doesn't offer commissions to law school graduates out of the blue. Had he applied, he might or might not have been accepted. But the JAG Corps doesn't cold-call law graduates.

Unless the then serving THE Judge Advocate General or head of the accessions program confirms the story, I ain't buying.