By Michele Blood, LifeZette
The U.S. military leadership does not play around when it comes to respect and discipline. They take enlistment oaths seriously.
Three airmen with the Tennessee Air National Guard (TANG) faced steep consequences after a rather questionable April 13 video surfaced on Facebook.
A senior noncommissioned officer (NCO), Master Sgt. Robin Brown, recited her oath of re-enlistment wearing a dinosaur hand puppet to “speak” the words in parallel.
The video of the ceremony quickly went viral after it was posted to the Air Force AMN/NCO/SNCO Facebook page over the weekend.
Guard leadership addressed the incident swiftly. While some believe the consequences to be a bit harsh, others were 100 percent on board with the disciplinary decisions.
On Wednesday of this week, Maj. Gen. Terry M. Haston, the adjutant general of Tennessee, made a statement about the event, which included the consequences that those involved would face.
“Not taking this oath solemnly and with the utmost respect is firmly against the traditions and sanctity of our military family and will not be tolerated,” he said in a statement. “The Tennessee National Guard leadership as a whole is appalled by the actions of these individuals.”
The TANG colonel who administered the oath was demoted from colonel to lieutenant colonel and immediately retired, the statement also indicated. The individual hasn’t been officially identified at this time, although what appears to be a last name is visible on his uniform in the video.
Brown, the public affairs senior NCO who took the re-enlistment oath while operating the hand puppet (and gave her name in the video), was removed from her full-time job — and “other administrative actions are underway.”
The senior NCO who made the recording was officially reprimanded and removed from his position as unit first sergeant. He is being retained in the TANG.
Air National Guard Director Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice echoed Maj. Gen. Haston’s remarks in a statement he made on Monday via Facebook.
“Let me say, I’m equally shocked and dismayed by this event that mocks such a cherished and honorable occasion. The oath of office or enlistment not only signifies our commitment to our nation, but pays respect to our fellow service members and to those who came before us. We as military members answer to a calling of service and represent the Profession of Arms. This action goes against our very foundation.”
