Neo-Nazis are in the Army now (Salon)

[struggle4progress]

Why the U.S. military is ignoring its own regulations and permitting white supremacists to join its ranks.
Editor's note: Research support for this article was provided by the Nation Institute's Investigative Fund.
By Matt Kennard

June 15, 2009 | On a muggy Florida evening in 2008, I meet Iraq War veteran Forrest Fogarty in the Winghouse, a little bar-restaurant on the outskirts of Tampa, his favorite hangout. He told me on the phone I would recognize him by his skinhead. Sure enough, when I spot a white guy at a table by the door with a shaved head, white tank top and bulging muscles, I know it can only be him ...

Army regulations prohibit soldiers from participating in racist groups, and recruiters are instructed to keep an eye out for suspicious tattoos. Before signing on the dotted line, enlistees are required to explain any tattoos. At a Tampa recruitment office, though, Fogarty sailed right through the signup process. "They just told me to write an explanation of each tattoo, and I made up some stuff, and that was that," he says. Soon he was posted to Fort Stewart in Georgia, where he became part of the 3rd Infantry Division.

Fogarty's ex-girlfriend, intent on destroying his new military career, sent a dossier of photographs to Fort Stewart. The photos showed Fogarty attending white supremacist rallies and performing with his band, Attack. "They hauled me before some sort of committee and showed me the pictures," Fogarty says. "I just denied them and said my girlfriend was a spiteful bitch." He adds: "They knew what I was about. But they let it go because I'm a great soldier."

In 2003, Fogarty was sent to Iraq. For two years he served in the military police, escorting officers, including generals, around the hostile country. He says he was granted top-secret clearance and access to battle plans. Fogarty speaks with regret that he "never had any kill counts." But he says his time in Iraq increased his racist resolve ...

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/06/15/neo_nazis_army/

[corpseratemedia]

1. take the skinheads bowling, take them bowling n/t

[jcarterhero]

2. This is ridiculous

And more proof that America's institutions are in dire need of reform.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[Democracyinkind]

4. I bet they get along well with the fundamentalist xtian military academies

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[C_Lawyer09]

6. Rest assured in today's climate

The Army does not just let that stuff go. Further the recruitment process, as it pretains to tattoos, is quite a bit more formal than what is stated in the article. Fort Stewart is part of 18th Airborne Corps which is headquartered at Fort Bragg. After there was a racist homicide related to skin head activities at Fort Bragg, scrutiny was off the charts. All units were constantly conducting tattoo checks, and sending people for interviews. It will never be possible to enact enough policy to keep all skinheads, gang bangers, extremists out of the ranks. This has been a hard fought battle for the last 15 years. Bear in mind, much of the truth attributed to that article is, "Fogarty said". As an MP, it was highly unlikely he was granted top secret clearance. MP's usually hold a secret clearance. As somebody who was a detailed recruiter for almost four and a half years, I get tired of reading how recruiters conveniently let trash into our forces. While a Recruiter cannot deny anybody based on tats, we must photograph any questionable tats, of which there are many, and the Company Commander gives the yay or nay. I've seen several disqualified for tats that were distasteful, to say nothing of extremist. Moreover, this problem has always existed, but it's now become the nouveaux media interest.