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DemMedic

(456 posts)
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 09:31 AM Jul 15

Drill Sergeant Under Investigation After Having Soldiers Do Push-Ups Under MAGA Flag

The Army has launched an investigation after a drill sergeant posted a video showing soldiers being hazed beneath a MAGA flag, which runs afoul of multiple military regulations prohibiting partisan political activity in uniform and on federal property.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell on Friday uploaded the video to TikTok, showing a group of trainees performing push-ups and burpees in full body armor under a banner that read, "This Is Ultra MAGA Country." The video was later deleted. But shortly after, Mitchell posted a second video showing the same exercising in the same location, this time with the flag removed. The caption: "Cry about it."

"The U.S. Army is an apolitical organization," Jennifer Gunn, a service spokesperson, said in a statement. "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."

More here: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/07/14/drill-sergeant-under-investigation-after-having-soldiers-do-push-ups-under-maga-flag.html?ESRC=eb_250715.nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb&utm_campaign=20250715

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Omnipresent

(7,018 posts)
2. What's coming up soon, are 'Maga patches" for solders dedicating themselves to MAGA.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 09:39 AM
Jul 15

Much like how the Nazi’s had Swastikas sewn onto german army uniforms.

Best_man23

(5,261 posts)
7. Probably a better analogy to the Nazis would be the double lightning patch
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 12:18 PM
Jul 15

Or the Death's Head. The SS and more fanatical troops (e.g. Waffen-SS) wore those.

The MAGAT who ordered troops to PT under a MAGA flag will probably be made a Captain in the very near future.

JohnnyRingo

(20,068 posts)
3. He should be granted a new public life where he can campaign for an idiot.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 09:50 AM
Jul 15

...instead he's probably Colonel Thomas Mitchel by now.

madville

(7,811 posts)
4. Very surprised they allow them to post
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 10:10 AM
Jul 15

Videos of trainees to personal accounts in the first place, would think that should route through the public affairs officer for approval to be posted on official pages.

We had all kinds of wild things occur in my company when I went through boot camp decades ago, suicide attempt, drill instructor affair with a female recruit, 5 people (3 males, 2 females) were reverted back for getting a motel room on off base liberty and having a sex party, a drill instructor was removed after taking us at 2am in February to march into the ocean and a few people got hypothermia. If there were video cameras everywhere back then, oh boy.

maxrandb

(16,693 posts)
5. It's "interesting" that this partisan, fascist military shit NEVER happens when the left is in power
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 10:20 AM
Jul 15

Why, it's almost as if there is something in the governing philosophy and standards of the "left", that innoculates people from their base, amoral, fascist tendencies.

But sure, both sides are just as racist, fascist, antisemitic and dictatorial as the other.

Kid Berwyn

(21,369 posts)
6. Don't bother turning him into a sergeant.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 10:32 AM
Jul 15

Don't bother with corporal or PFC, either. Go straight to private.

TomSlick

(12,606 posts)
9. Decades ago, I prosecuted several trainee abuse cases for the Army.
Tue Jul 15, 2025, 07:51 PM
Jul 15

The problem is that some drill sergeants let "the hat" effect their brain.

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