No disciplinary action will be taken against two Army Reserve soldiers who appeared in uniform during the Democratic National Convention’s virtual roll call in August, but action will be taken against their supervisor.
The two soldiers were part of American Samoa’s presentation and wore camouflage uniforms while party leaders Alittama Sotoa and Patti Matila announced American Samoa’s support for former Vice President Joe Biden, now the party’s presidential nominee.
The soldiers’ appearance at a political event while in uniform was criticized by military advocates for what they saw as a violation of Defense Department rules against appearances at political events in uniform. According to the department’s rules, “All military members, including National Guard and Reserve forces, are prohibited from wearing military uniforms at political campaign events.”
A spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee called their inclusion in the video “an oversight,” and shortly after, the Army announced an investigation.
Army officials said that the two soldiers were not at fault, the Military Times reported on Thursday.
“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 added.
Flake did not say what that discipline would entail or whether the supervisor was in the military.
