Questions are being raised on how the DoD should handle cases like his:
Maj. Gen. Vaughn Ary, staff judge advocate to the commandant, is asking DoD to incorporate social media guidelines in its policy covering political activity in uniform.
Ary’s call for review was spelled out in a letter he sent to Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Calif.
The Congressman’s spokesman provided the letter to Marine Corps Times.
The letter stated that Marine Corps staff was being instructed to contact the Defense Department to recommend an update to “provide service members with additional guidance on how to use social media in a responsible manner.”
This came in response to a letter Hunter sent Tuesday urging the Corps to withdraw the discharge proceedings against Stein and to update the directive. Hunter spoke out in Stein’s defense last week, stating that the Corps would lose the majority of its force if they kicked everyone out based on political speech.
DoD directive 1344.10 is the one Ary is suggesting be changed. It addresses appropriate political activities for service members. Stein was told he violated Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice by failing to adhere to DoD Directive 1344.10 after criticizing President Obama on Facebook.
Ary does not advocate for Stein in the letter.
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