Navy reviewing if service members violated policy by wearing 'Make Aircrew Great Again' patches

[riversedge]

Source: The Hill



By Justin Wise - 05/28/19 05:57 PM EDT


The Navy is reportedly reviewing whether some service members violated Defense Department policy by wearing "Make Aircrew Great Again" patches during President Trump’s visit to the USS Wasp stationed in Japan.

The Navy said in a statement that the matter was under review by leadership, according to The Associated Press. The department said it was reviewing the patches to ensure they didn't violate any regulations administered by the Defense Department.

The Pentagon has regulations against partisan political acts by service members while in uniform.

The morale patches that featured a play on Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan were spotted on Monday by reporters traveling with the president as he visited the ship during his Japan visit.

Vivian Salama, a White House reporter for The Wall Street Journal, snapped a picture showing at least a few service members wearing the patch, which also included a likeness of Trump in the center.

Troops sometimes wear themed morale patches, which may include humorous images and references unique to the unit.

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Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/445839-navy-reviewing-if-service-members-violated-policy-by-wearing

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Link to tweet

Robot Townie @DaveRobinson3
18h18 hours ago
Replying to @Noahbierman

The drawing/embroidery/photo of his insanely fucking awful hair is infinitely better than his hair has ever been since the mid-70s. Fun!
2 replies 3 retweets 59 likes
Jess
‏ @MyLifeAsABook
18h18 hours ago

But really...his hair was never good. Though it was less 'cotton candy' in texture when he was younger, it has always been worn ridiculously.
2 replies 0 retweets 28 likes

[quickesst]

1. Ok.....

"The Pentagon has regulations against partisan political acts by service members while in uniform."

The investigation should last about 2 minutes before concluding this is a direct violation. These disgusting patches are not morale boosters. They are blatant "partisan political acts", and need to be treated as such.

[LiberalFighter]

2. They (wearers of patches) need to burn them. AND

a note about it put in their permanent record.

[yaesu]

3. they sure love them some tRump. nt

[madaboutharry]

4. They took off about 90 pounds

and made him look 35 years younger. How Ridiculous.

[Submariner]

5. In late '68 after the murders of MLK and RFK, and the DNC convention riot

Most everyone was pissed at the establishment, and showed it to the command structure when we could get away with it.

An enlisted friend on the boat put a peace sign button on his uniform, and the Chief of the boat put him on 2 weeks restriction and extra duty. The lifers had a hard enough time getting us to cut our hair short, they weren't going to put up with peaceniks in the ranks.

[spike jones]

8. At the end of boot camp 1967

A ceremony to mark the end of basic training was a parade of the guys marching around a field in front of the reviewing stand where the post leaders were standing. Our company commander wanted the guys to sing a song as they were going by the stand. It was the most worst vile thing they had heard. Part of it was, “We want war. We want war. We want war for ever more, Stab that baby, rape that nun, its such patriotic fun. We’re all brothers and we’re only passing through.”

All the guys were appalled at it and told the Sargent we did not want to do it. One guy was a songwriter and guitar player, and he wrote another one that was given to their sergeant for us to sing instead. In the end nothing was sung. I always thought that the commander could have ordered us to sing his song but we all said no and influenced his decision which would have been a little democratic process. I hoped that saner heads had prevailed.

[Skittles]

6. Tump.....if he was a game show host

[BigDemVoter]

7. They should all be disciplined and demoted.

[onetexan]

9. second that

[Evolve Dammit]

10. Yep.

[Rebl2]

12. I agree

Demotion is called for

[Red Mountain]

11. Maybe not appropriate.....

but it's a little harder to say they are fans than that they are mocking him.

He looks like a gameshow host.

Better to avoid questions by avoiding controversy.

Somebody made a poor decision and should answer for it.

[YOHABLO]

17. He is a game show host.

[Tech]

13. The picture looked like a bunch of white guys

nuff said

[keithbvadu2]

14. One commenter said it looks like Romney.

[iluvtennis]

15. Definite violation of one of the military policies. I was in the US Air Force and the policy

prohibits you from showing any political party affinity. Wish I could quote the regulation, but I served in the 80's and can't recall.

[YOHABLO]

16. Against regulations. It's not an official patch.

[FuzzyRabbit]

18. What's to review?

The Navy said in a statement that the matter was under review . . .

What's to review? Those patches were the same as campaign buttons. Every serviceman wearing one needs to be brought up on charges. Their commander needs to be fired.

[Sgent]

19. The highest officer

that knew about the patches and didn't do something so they can bounce him / non-renew him.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

20. The patches were probably created by the same people who did the "Mission Accomplished"

banner. Remember, the one Dubya's people said ship personnel had spontaneously created, while the project was actually approved by Dan Bartlett, a former senior advisor to Mr. Bush. .

The timing of the patches is just too coincidental with Fat Donnie's visit to Japan, where he wished the military of the country which killed 100,000 Americans and tens of thousands of allies "Happy Memorial Day."

[Grins]

21. Troops sometimes wear themed morale patches?

“Troops sometimes wear themed morale patches, which may include humorous images and references unique to the unit.”

Not when I was in the Army!!!

Maybe painted on the side of an aircraft or a tank, etc., but on your uniform? Nope! There were specific rules about what was on your uniform, what HAD to be worn and THE ORDER it was to be displayed.

Someone made those patches and brought them aboard. It’s like the Navy didn’t learn a damn thing over “Mission Accomplished”.

[Aristus]

22. The crew of a tank in my battalion in Germany loved Mountain Dew so much, they

name their tank after it, and painted the product logo on the bore evacuator of the tank's gun.

It was non-political and nobody was offended. But they were ordered to paint over it.

So you're right. And I don't want to hear how this was just some saikors having fun.