West Point graduate Spenser Rapone, a second lieutenant who caused a stir last year by posting photos to Twitter that earned him recognition as the “commie cadet,” left the U.S. Army on Monday and received an other-than-honorable discharge.
“I consider myself a revolutionary socialist,” Rapone, 26, told The Associated Press in a series of interviews. “I would encourage all soldiers who have a conscience to lay down their arms and join me and so many others who are willing to stop serving the agents of imperialism and join us in a revolutionary movement.”
The military took issue with images the former cadet posted on Twitter over the past year. One pictured Rapone at his West Point graduation posing with his hand in a fist and the inside of his cap reading “Communism will win.” Another showed him opening his dress uniform to reveal a T-shirt picturing socialist icon Che Guevara. He posted an image Monday showing him pointing a middle finger at the entrance to Fort Drum along with the words, “One final salute.”
Rapone said an investigation revealed he had been advocating online for a socialist revolution and had disparaged high-ranking officers and U.S. officials. His resignation followed a reprimand that said he had exhibited “conduct unbecoming of an officer.” The Army said in a statement that it had conducted a full investigation and that “appropriate action was taken.”
Rapone claimed to have become disillusioned with the Army’s efforts while he was deployed in Afghanistan in 2011.
“We were bullies in one of the poorest countries on Earth,” Rapone said. “We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat.”
Greg Rinckey, an attorney specializing in military law, said West Point may be able to seek repayment for the cost of Rapone’s education since he did not complete the 5-year requirement of military service after graduation.
