An army drill sergeant is under investigation after a video appeared to show him forcing soldiers to do pushups under a MAGA flag.
Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell is accused of breaking rules about political neutrality in the army.
Mitchell allegedly posted a now-deleted video which featured a group of training soldiers doing pushups and burpees under a MAGA banner while on a base in Georgia.
The flag read, ‘This is Ultra MAGA Country,’ in the video uploaded on Friday before it was removed.
A second video was then reportedly re-uploaded with the caption, ‘Cry about it.’
The video uploaded to @11chuckduece on TikTok, a now-deleted account, launched an investigation into the sergeant.
The demonstration violates ‘multiple military regulations’ regarding political activity in uniform on federal property,’ Military.com wrote.
‘The US Army is an apolitical organization,’ Jennifer Gunn, a service spokesperson, said in a statement.
Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell allegedly posted the now-deleted video which featured a MAGA flag and a group of training soldiers doing pushups and burpees under the banner
The flag read, ‘This is Ultra MAGA Country,’ in the video uploaded on Friday before it was removed. A second video was then reportedly re-uploaded with the caption, ‘Cry about it’
Mitchell serves as an infantry drill sergeant with B Company, 2-19th Infantry Battalion, 198th Infantry Training Brigade, at Fort Benning, Georgia
‘Displaying partisan political materials in government facilities, including training areas, is prohibited under Army regulation.
‘We will investigate this matter and address it in accordance with established policies to ensure compliance with standards of conduct and to maintain an environment free from political influence.’
Mitchell serves as an infantry drill sergeant with B Company, 2-19th Infantry Battalion, 198th Infantry Training Brigade, at Fort Benning, Georgia. His current status remains unclear.
Garrison Public Affairs Director Joe Cole told Law & Crime that the investigation into the video would ‘take some time.’
The display of political flags or memorabilia inside federal buildings is prohibited according to Defense Department regulations which are ‘designed to preserve the military’s role as a nonpartisan institution.’
Rules also dictate that troops in positions of authority may not use their position of authority or power to politically influence subordinates.
Daily Mail reached out to the US Army and Sgt. Mitchell for comment.
The incident comes a month after Trump made a speech during the celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday.
Troops in the crowd behind the president at Fort Bragg were reportedly carefully selected for the televised event based on their political views and physical appearance.
Garrison Public Affairs Director Joe Cole told Law & Crime that the investigation into the video would ‘take some time’
The incident comes a month after Trump made a speech during the celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday
Internal 82nd Airborne Division communications obtained by Military.com showed the soldiers were sent messages including ‘No fat soldiers.’
Another memo said that ‘if soldiers have political views that are in opposition to the current administration and they don’t want to be in the audience, then they need to speak with their leadership and get swapped out.’
The end result was a predominantly white, male crowd who booed as Trump hit out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the fiery protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations as he vowed to ‘liberate’ the city.
They were also seen booing former President Joe Biden and the press – and roared with laughter at Trump’s remarks berating his successor.
Such actions appear to also be in violation of longstanding Department of Defense protocol, with even the Army’s recently-published field manual touting the importance of a politically neutral force.
‘Being nonpartisan means not favoring any specific political party or group,’ it says, according to NBC News. ‘Nonpartisanship assures the public that our Army will always serve the Constitution and our people loyally and responsively.’
It goes on to note that troops can participate in political functions – so long as they are not in uniform.
‘As a private citizen, you are encouraged to participate in our democratic process, but as a soldier you must be mindful of how your actions may affect the reputation and perceived trustworthiness of our Army as an institution,’ the field guide says.
The display of political flags or memorabilia inside federal buildings is prohibited according to Defense Department regulations which are ‘designed to preserve the military’s role as a nonpartisan institution’
Such actions appear to also be in violation of longstanding Department of Defense protocol, with even the Army’s recently-published field manual touting the importance of a politically neutral force
At least one 82nd Airborne noncommissioned officer now says he does not see how the troops’ reactions on Tuesday could be seen as anything other than ‘expressing a political view while in uniform.’
He even suggested that none of the soldiers who were booing Newsom and Bass ‘even knew the mayor’s name or could identify them in a lineup.’
Department of Defense officials, though, have denied that the soldiers were in violation of its rules.
‘Believe me, no one needs to be encouraged to boo the media,’ Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman replied to Military.com.
‘Look no further than this query, which is nothing more than a disgraceful attempt to ruin the lives of young soldiers.’
Even if the soldiers did violate Defense Department rules, multiple Army officials told Military.com they likely would not be held accountable because they were goaded by the commander-in-chief.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .