Marine to receive "Other-Than-Honrable" Discharge over Comments about Obama

[GeorgeCook]

A sergeant in the Marine Corp is to be discharged from service due to criticism of Obama he posted on his Facebook account:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/25/marine-corps-discharges-sergeant-who-posted-facebook-posts-critical-obama/

So what do you think? After reading the article is this an appropriate move by Marine Corp?

I looked on the forum and did not see a topic related to this, so I apologize in advance if there is one already posted.

[MikeBjerum]

I have opinions on this - Big surprise    However, I never served, so I will leave this debate to those who did.  They are the ones that fought for the freedoms, and they are the ones that lived by the code.

[Timothy]

I said the same words 37 years ago and as much as I hate to see this kids Military career in the crapper, he knew what he was up against..

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

It's pretty clear he didn't plan on living up to those words.  The UCMJ doesn't require you to obey an unlawful order but you better be damn sure of what you're doing!

[tombogan03884]

The military is supposed to be outside of politics.
It's their job to defend the Nation and Constitution regardless politics.
I agree completely, Obama and his regime are indeed "domestic enemies".
 However, that is not for an NCO to be saying publicly.
I will add that any of the Senior officers who are not considering that and it's implications are not worthy of their uniforms.
"Other than honorable" is a spite discharge, there are other ways it could have been handled, but it is one he can be proud of.
These are the sort of things that happen to people who have principles that they will stick to instead of just  opinions that they will compromise on.

[GeorgeCook]

I said the same words 37 years ago and as much as I hate to see this kids Military career in the crapper, he knew what he was up against..

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

It's pretty clear he didn't plan on living up to those words.  The UCMJ doesn't require you to obey an unlawful order but you better be damn sure of what you're doing!

I pretty much line up with you and what Tom posted. I hate this happened to him though. I think officers have a different oath, don't they?

When the flap about General McChrystal was in the news, I noticed they didn't reduce his rank when he retired in response to his comments. He got lucky, I guess....

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

Not much different though no mention of the President!

“I, (state your name), having been appointed a (rank) in the United States (branch of service), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foriegn and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

[santahog]

I hate it, but he knew the price of doing it. He did it to himself.
Maybe he did it to start a national conversation or fan the flames. I'm sure he knows it needs to happen. Maybe he was tired of half-stepping on the less than defined mission while trying not to get his ass shot off..
Any number of conversations could be had as a result of what he did, but he did it.. It would me nice if some greater (obvious) good could come of what he did, but it doesn't look like it will.. Unless he was looking to get tossed out, he overplayed his hand.. It happens..

I'm not sure what "Other than Honorable" means. The question on so many applications asks if you were discharged under "Other than Dishonorable" circumstances.. I guess that's more changing of the rules to fit some new .gov narrative. It used to be a "General" discharge.

[BAC]

http://www.eielson.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123117744

An Under Other than Honorable Conditions (UOTHC) discharge is the most severe form of an administrative discharge. This characterization represents a significant departure from the conduct expected by a service member. Significant departures include security violations and the use of violence. Recipients of UOTHC discharges are generally barred from enlisting into any component of the Armed Forces and the majority of veterans' benefits are unavailable.

A General discharge is for service members who leave the service under honorable conditions, but their conduct and performance of duty was not so meritorious to receive an Honorable discharge. Reasons for such characterization are generally preceded by some form of nonjudicial conduct. Some people think that a General discharge is as good as an Honorable discharge, but this is not true. A General discharge may disqualify a veteran from participation in the GI Bill, service on veteran's commissions, and other programs where an honorable discharge is required.

[santahog]

By the Grace of God, I never had to deal with it. It was just passing conversation when I was in. I know I must have known guys who got a general, or lesser discharge, but none come to mind 20 years after my experiences..

[Timothy]

I don't know any more about the discharge than what's already been stated.

I was a very good technician in the Navy!  I did my job very well in spite of my disdain for the politics of the Navy at the time.  I see nothing recently that would change my mind.  My evals were exemplary in all facets with the exception of grooming standards and maybe questioning my superiors more than a time of two......and maybe disobeying an order once or twice!

 

Hell, I even underwent a Courts Martial, was acquitted, and granted an Honorable Discharge so it can't be that difficult.  

This kid went too far and the Pentagon taught him a lesson.  If anyone thinks the White House had no input they're sleeping under a rock!