Cadet photo was inappropriate, but not political
The 16 black female cadets who posed for a photo with their fists raised and sparked a nationwide debate
will face no punitive action, West Point officials announced Tuesday. The women will, however, receive additional counseling prior to graduating this month.
The academy opened an investigation on April 28 and interviewed the cadets involved as well as the photographer. There was no evidence these cadets intended to make a political statement, according to a memo that summarizes the inquiry's findings. The investigator also concluded there were no violations of
Defense Department Directive 1344.10, which spells out the rules for service members engaging in political activities. Instead the photo was deemed a "spur of the moment" pose with the intent,as one cadet put it, to "showcase the awesome black women in our class."
Even so, the photo pose was "inappropriate," according to the major who conducted the official inquiry.
West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen agreed.
"While the inquiry did not find that these cadets violated a policy or regulation, it did determine that they demonstrated a lapse of awareness in how symbols and gestures can be misinterpreted and cause division," Caslen wrote in a letter Tuesday to the Corps of Cadets. "The impact of this photo, regardless of its intent, is evident. It is unfortunate that this perception brought attention to our Alma Mater for all the wrong reasons."
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Inappropriate, but not political? More like the handling of the whole thing was glossed over.
Last time I checked, a raised fist by a group was most certainly a "Political Sign"
Nothing more to see here, move along now.
