promilitary

When I was in the Army it was absolutely forbidden to speak out against the Commander In Chief, or other superior officers for that matter, and to do so could get you court-martialed. When a military member is wearing the uniform and receiving a salary from the Department of Defense, that military member has essentially signed away his First Amendment rights granted by the Constitution.
Article 88 of the UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. 888, makes it a crime for a commissioned military officer to use contemptuous words against the President and Congress, among others. The Department of Defense expanded this rule to include ALL military enlisted personnel regardless of rank (DOD Directive 1344.10).
Has all this changed?

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

U.S.C. §§ 801–946 is the foundation of military law - UCMJ.
U.S. Code § 888. Art. 88. (Contempt toward officials) states:

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

U.S. Code § 802. Art. 2. Persons subject to Art. 88 includes the following under Section (a), subparagraph (4): Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay (retirement pension) are subject to court martial.

IOW, retirees must refrain from political advocacy that could be construed as an official endorsement on the part of the entire US armed services.

P.S. Many appeals against these UCMJ statutes have been filed in Federal and military courts. Some went to the US Supreme Court. SCOTUS struck down the appeals. The statute stands.

emarine

Unfortunately our very stable genius CnC has the mind of a child... a very spoiled child & our Military leaders are Men who won't tolerate BS from anyone...

kemmer

What about when the so-calling president calls a retired general and former Sec of Defense “the most overrated general in the world”? This from Cadet Bone Spurs.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

The UCMJ does not apply to the POTUS.

promilitary

I've said that I disagree with Trump as much as I agree with him.
I STRONGLY disagree on his assessment of Gen. Mattis, he showed his
ignorance in saying what he did. And I suspect he lost respect of a lot
of military people.