Army Reserve soldiers who appeared in uniform during the Democratic National Convention in August will not be disciplined for politicking in uniform, but their supervisor will.
The unidentified soldiers, from the 9th Mission Support Command based out of Hawaii, were part of a brief presentation by delegates from American Samoa during the convention roll call of states.
The soldiers wore camouflage uniforms with specialist rank patches visible as local Democratic party leaders Aliitama Sotoa and Patti Matila voiced their support for former Vice President Joe Biden, the party’s presidential nominee, during the nationally televised event.
The incident drew immediate attention from military advocates for apparent violations of Defense Department rules regarding appearances at political events and rallies while in uniform. Army officials began an investigation of the incident a day later.
Today officials said they had determined the two soldiers were not at fault for the mistake.
“The investigation found their supervisor violated a Department of Defense directive and an Army regulation that governs soldier political activities,” Lt. Col. Simon Flake, chief of media relations for Army Reserve Strategic Communications, said in a statement.
“The supervisor at fault will receive the appropriate level of disciplinary action for violating the governing standards.”
Flake did not specify exactly what that discipline will entail or if the supervisor is a member of the military.
Under long-standing Defense Department policy, service members and department civilian employees acting in their official capacity “may not engage in activities that associate the DOD with any partisan political campaign or elections.” That specifically includes appearing in uniform at political campaign events.
After the segment aired, Democratic Party officials said the presentation was designed to “celebrate American Samoa’s legacy of military service” but called the improper inclusion of troops in uniform “an oversight.”
Flake said Reserve leaders “continue to provide all soldiers and civilian employees training and the latest information on DOD Directives and Army Policies pertaining to political activities.”
Source: Marine Times
