USMC Discharges Sgt. For Criticism of POTUS on Facebook

[Sig 210]

A USMC Sgt. received a less than honorable discharge for criticizing POTUS on Facebook: The NCO was warned about his comments on Facebook but continued to criticize Obama; saying it was his right. The guy had a few months to discharge, too bad he couldn't wait until then.

Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts - Yahoo! News

The Corps said Sgt. Gary Stein will be given an other-than-honorable discharge for violating Pentagon policy limiting speech of service members.
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U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff ruled then that the military has the right to respond to Stein's online comments in a case that has called into question the Pentagon's policies regarding social media and the limits regarding the speech of active duty military personnel.

The judge pointed out Stein's March 1 comments on a Facebook page used by Marine Corps meteorologists in which the sergeant stated, "Screw Obama and I will not follow all orders from him."

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[mlr1m]

The NCO was warned about his comments on Facebook but continued to criticize Obama; saying it was his right.

It is his right to exercise as a private citizen. Now that he is one he is free to do just that all he wants.

Michael

[DontTreadOnI]

It is his right to exercise as a private citizen. Now that he is one he is free to do just that all he wants.

Michael

May not seem right, but that is absolutely the case.

[CVarner]

Some battles just aren't worth fighting. He should have gave up when he was warned.

[accessbob]

As the POTUS is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, there are some things you cannot do and expect to have things all work out well for you. One is publicly criticizing your boss. It isn't wise and it can lead to bad things. The same goes for anyone in the corporate world. Yes, there is the First Amendment. But that does not mean that you can't be fired for stating something publicly which shines a less than flattering light on your boss.

He should have waited until he was no longer "employed" to do the criticizing. It may not sound fair, but it is the way it works.

[WHEC724]

Anybody who's ever served, understands that you give up a lot of rights and freedoms during that commitment. As Mlr1m pointed out, he now has all of his freedoms back.

[rammerjammer]

No pity for him from me. If I criticize my boss on Facebook I could get fired too.

[tiwee]

It has been many years, but involvement in politics was forbidden in the military to my recollection. Also, I recall we periodically notified federal civilian employees that political activities were forbidden on federal time and property. Hatch Act.

[ANGLICO]

At least he did not get a Big Chicken Dinner (Bad Conduct Discharge), but having to 'eat' an Other than Honorable is tough! He might be able to administrativly get that changed to Honorable (based on his active duty record and awards) at a later date if he petitons the Board.

[rstickle]

You'd think an NCO could learn a lesson from a 4-Star General being relieved for pretty much the same thing.

[Smitty901]

However it was never enforced When Bush was President if soldier was off duty and not in uniform .

[Gene83]

However it was never enforced When Bush was President if soldier was off duty and not in uniform .

Tom Umberg, a former Army colonel and military prosecutor, said Stein persisted even after being warned.

Please show an example of this happening during the Bush administration and no enforcement taking place.

[suntzu]

However it was never enforced When Bush was President if soldier was off duty and not in uniform .

There are differences here. The Marine had already made the news. News headlines did not say things like Mr so and so disagrees with the COC. Headlines, for good or bad, are used to grab attention. His headlines were these:
Marine discharged for slamming Obama on Facebook
U.S. News - Marine who criticized President Obama on Facebook
Board seeks Marine's dismissal for anti-Obama Facebook
Marine who ripped Obama on Facebook faces discharge

Whether he liked it or not, in uniform or not. He brought the Marine Corps into it. His original FB page listed him as a marine.

[Elk Hunter]

and it was not a personel Face Book page it was a page for Marine meteorologists,not a smart thing to do.

[BamaT]

I've never served in the military, but I think if he had merely stated he disagreed with some of the president's policies and positions he may have been okay. But stating that you won't follow all the orders of the commander in chief is a different story. That's his job as a soldier.