Note: this article, which first appeared in the press in May 2016, is being republished.
The all-black, all-female cadets in the picture seem to be making the fist motion that has recently come to be connected with the contentious movement. But for generations, a range of organizations, including Black Panthers, suffragists, and labor unions, have adopted the gesture to represent resistance.
According to The Army Times, readers who were anxious that the cadets might have broken Department of Defense Directive 1344:10, Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces, sent the photo to the publication. Cadets are discouraged from engaging in “partisan political activity” while in uniform by the directive.
Former soldier and current motivational coach John Burk charged that the cadets were joining a political movement. An anonymous military service member contacted him to voice their concerns, he wrote on his Facebook page.
According to the Daily News, the anonymous insider told Burk, “It’s a really touchy subject here.” We risk being expelled from West Point or having to retake years of what is known as a “respect board.” No one wants to get expelled from college for anything like this, so they can be given simply for upsetting someone.
Since then, Burk’s Facebook post has gone viral, and many people have expressed dissatisfaction with the cadets’ behavior.
One commenter stated, “Equality means adhering to the same standards.” “Get rid of those women!”
“Every single one of these cadets ought to be expelled right away!” exclaimed another.
Whether the Army will take any disciplinary action is still up in the air. The identities of the 16 cadets in the picture are still unknown.
Sources: Army Times, Daily News
