Marine Corps Mocks Soldier in Election PSA

A public service announcement written by a public affairs team in Camp Lejeune, NC for members of all branches warns of the career danger a service member can face during the election season.

The announcement was published Tuesday on the DoD Live blog.

The story features a photo of an Army Reservist reservist Cpl. Jesse Thorsen who endorsed Republican Ron Paul for president while in uniform during the Iowa Caucuses this year.

The graphic—credited to Marine Corps News—shows the corporal behind a podium raising his fist in the air at the rally with text over it reading “Raise your hand if you want to be a PFC.”

A PFC— or private first class—is the Army rank the corporal would be if he lost a pay grade as a punishment.

Department of Defense Directive  1344.10 prohibits service members of all branches from taking part in certain political activities, such as running for office and attending political rallies in uniform:

In general, military personnel may not actively participate in partisan political activities, to include fundraising, serving as an officer for a political club, speaking at partisan gatherings, appearing in uniform for political events, seeking nomination for civil office or attending political events as a representative for the military.

The DoD Live blog post accompanying the graphic explains what is prohibited and what is allowed for service members during election season.

Read: Election Season Calls For Caution, Professionalism Among Military

Last week, the Marine Corps removed a video that had featured Camp Pendleton Marine Gary Stein. The  Temecula-Valley, CA resident was given an other-than-honorable discharge after making critical remarks of the president on Facebook.

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Do you think the two service members should be made examples of in public service announcements? Tell us in the comments.