Patches With Trump Emblem Worn By Servicemembers Would Have Had Conservatives Up In Arms If It Were Obama
Once again, it’s all quiet on the conservative front concerning pictures of servicemembers wearing an unofficial “Make Aircrew Great Again” patches on their uniform during President Donald Trump’s visit to their ship while in Japan. In the past, had those patches borne the image of the usurper, Barack Hussein Obama Soetoro Sobarkah, conservatives would have lost their minds, but many seem silent or even encouraging of the emblems.
Stars and Stripes reports:
The Navy said Tuesday that it is evaluating whether sailors aboard the USS Wasp violated Defense Department policy by sporting unofficial uniform patches with the phrase “Make Aircrew Great Again” during a Memorial Day visit by President Donald Trump.
The red, circular patch featured a finger-pointing cartoon figure similar in appearance to Trump with words reminiscent of his famous campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.” Photographs of several Navy airmen aboard the warship in Japan wearing the patches circulated Tuesday on Twitter, where they were first posted by a Wall Street Journal reporter traveling with the president.
Airmen onboard the USS WASP wearing patches on their jumpsuits that read “Make Aircrew Great Again.” The patches include an image in the center in the likeness of President Trump. pic.twitter.com/rQKAyrcDte
— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) May 28, 2019
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“Navy leadership is currently reviewing this instance to ensure that the wearing of the patch does not violate DOD policy or regulations,” Navy spokesman Lt. Samuel Boyle said in a statement Tuesday.
President Trump had visited the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp just before returning to Washington from a four day trip in Japan.
The New York Post added:
Troops have long worn unofficial insignia — known as morale patches — that often contain humorous themes and are widely available for purchase online and in military supply stores, according to Stars and Stripes military news outlet.
Such patches are officially barred by uniform regulations, but may be approved by the service members’ chains of command.
It was not immediately clear whether the “Make Aircrew Great Again” patches had been approved by the sailors’ commanders. It also was unclear where the patches had been obtained, the newspaper said.
The same patches were previously seen on the uniforms of Navy airmen.
In July 2018, a helicopter crew chief was photographed by Stars and Stripes wearing the patch at Barking Sands Missile Range in Hawaii during Rim of the Pacific naval exercises.
And in 2017, the Pentagon shared an image on social media of a sailor wearing the same patch.
Under the 1939 Hatch Act, troops are barred from publicly supporting any candidates, including for president, or conducting other political activity while in uniform.
The patches may not be in compliance with longstanding Pentagon guidance that dictates that active-duty military personnel should not engage in partisan political activities.
“All military personnel will avoid the inference that their political activities imply or appear to imply DoD sponsorship, approval or endorsement of a political candidate, campaign or cause,” the policy states.
While Air Force troops were not deemed to be in violation of rules by having President trump sign MAGA caps back in December for Air Force personnel at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, this is entirely different in that it is what I call open idolatry and seems to be a clear “cult of personality” and endorsement of a president.
“They’re inappropriate & against regulation,” tweeted Mark Hertling, a retired three-star Army general.
Many commenting on patches worn by a few sailors during POTUS visit. They’re inappropriate & against regulation.
I’m more concerned about disjointed comments on nK missiles & the defense of allies, and poor communication regarding national security strategy and policies.
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) May 28, 2019
The New York Times followed up with Lt. Boyle:
In a telephone interview, Lieutenant Boyle sought to play down the uproar and said some crew members had made the patches a couple of years ago. “It’s kind of old news,” he said.
Spokesmen for the Army and Air Force, wanting no part of the brewing patch flap, referred all questions about their own policies on unofficial insignia to the Navy.
Frankly, I don’t have a problem with troops that support their commander-in-chief, but it needs to be clear that patches like these seem to indicate support for a man above the country and the Constitution, whether that is the case or not.
These troops serve the people at the behest of Congress, and then, once called into the service of the US, the president becomes commander-in-chief under their direction.
Sadly, we haven’t seen Congress actually declare war, per the Constitution, since World War II, and though they have declared military action in Afghanistan, they have unconstitutionally delegated authority to the Executive Branch to wage war pretty much wherever the president sees fit.
Let’s stick to the code, shall we ladies and gentlemen? Not a personality.
Article posted with permission from Freedom Outpost