Latest news with #82ndAirborne
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A breakdown of safety procedures ‘directly contributed' to an 82nd Airborne paratrooper's death
On Sept. 12, 2024, Army Spc. Matthew Perez made his way to the ramp of a C-17 and prepared to take part in a parachute jump at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. Perez, who was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, had told his parents that he was nervous because he was going to be jumping with over 150 pounds of gear, more than he had ever jumped with. As Perez, 20, pushed unsteadily out of the door of the aircraft, catastrophe struck. An incorrectly tied knot caused his main parachute not to open, according to a subsequent investigation. Once he jumped from the plane — and investigators believe he may have tripped or fallen as he did so — Perez had just 7.6 seconds to realize the failure and pull his reserve parachute. The Army's review of the jump found that Perez opened his reserve parachute roughly 100 feet from the ground but still hit at a high rate of speed, suffering major injuries. Perez was medically evacuated to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Sept. 13. Perez's wife Jessica, whom he had married that May, was pregnant at the time of his death. He had also adopted his wife's daughter. 'He was born at 27 weeks,' Perez's father Jose told Task & Purpose in 2024. 'He was a preemie. It was told to my wife that he was going to have a hard life, and he dealt with hard life, and […] he was strong. Like I said, he was built differently.' The Army's investigation into Perez's death, which was obtained by Task & Purpose, uncovered a serious breakdown in safety procedures and inspections among 82nd Airborne jumpmasters and safety officials leading up to the incident. Investigators also found that the jumpmaster who most likely inspected Perez before the jump was not able to correctly describe to the investigating officer the proper way to check a critical knot in Perez's equipment that failed and led to his death, and the jumpmaster likely lied about where he was during the events leading up to the jump. The investigating officer described the T-11 main parachute and its reserve chute as 'inherently flawed' because extension lines must be attached to the main parachute for jumps from C-17 aircraft, increasing the risk of someone making a catastrophic mistake during the process. And the reserve parachute does not open automatically if a paratrooper cannot pull the ripcord in time, according to the Army. 'Their operation requires paratroopers to strictly adhere to the policies and procedures for airborne operations,' the investigation says. 'In this airborne operation, those policies and procedures were not followed. Consequently, SPC Perez's death was likely preventable.' The investigation found a failure between two vital pieces of Perez's equipment — a long yellow cord known as a 'static line' and a five-foot extension added to the line. Perez's static line, which automatically opens a paratrooper's parachute, required an extension for the jump. But somewhere in the pre-jump process, the two lines on Perez's parachute were 'most likely' improperly connected, and that flaw was not spotted. Once the connection between them failed, there was no hope that his main parachute could deploy. Perez's family remains unsatisfied by the Army's explanation for their son's death. In the wake of the fatal jump, a company commander was fired and a handful of riggers and jumpmasters on duty during the training exercise were punished. Jose Perez said he does not believe the Army has gone far enough. 'As a parent, it's never going to be enough,' Jose Perez told Task & Purpose. 'He don't get to hold his baby. He don't get to see us, talk to us. All of that is taken away.' Investigators traced the direct cause of Perez's death to an improperly tied knot that should have connected a 5-foot extension to his static line, which are required for all jumps from C-17s. When five-foot Universal Static Line Extensions are used, Army parachute rigging regulations mandate they be secured to the main static line using a girth hitch, a simple, time-tested loop-and-pull knot with countless uses in the military and beyond. But at some point prior to Perez's jump, the extension was added to his parachute with an improperly tied knot, according to the investigation. Investigators said they could not determine exactly who was responsible for the fatal error or when it occurred and that no record was made of the addition in the parachute's Form 3912, a small logbook that stays with each parachute through its service life. 'The improper packing, rigging, modification, inspecting, or some combination thereof, of SPC Perez's T-11 M [parachute] directly contributed to his death,' the investigation found. The investigating officer said he could not definitively determine when Perez's static line was adjusted, whether early in the evening or at the airfield just before the flight, said Army Col. Mary Ricks, a spokesperson for the 18th Airborne Corps. 'This is because there is no direct evidence that SPC Perez's 5' [Universal Static Line Extension] was replaced,' Ricks said in a statement to Task & Purpose. 'The [investigating officer] found the most likely cause for the improper girth hitch, however, is that it was adjusted at the [departure airfield].' Fatal jumps are relatively rare in the unit. Perez is the only 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper to die during an airborne operation within the past two years, Ricks said. If Perez's line was switched before he donned the parachute, then the mistake would have had to be missed by at least one jumpmaster during a Jumpmaster Personnel Inspection, or JMPI, before he moved out to the flightline to board the C-17. Investigators spoke to all of the jumpmasters on duty for the jump, but none of the soldiers said they had conducted Perez's JMPI, according to the investigation. Given those blanket denials, investigators said they could not rule out the possibility that Perez did not receive an inspection prior to the jump, but the investigating officer determined that 'it is more likely than not' that Perez was inspected. If so, investigators wrote, at least one jumpmaster 'lied to me about his whereabouts during the critical period.' The soldier who officials suspected of lying about Perez's JMPI — whose identity, like all witnesses in the investigation, was redacted — was 'admonished' by the division commander, Ricks said. When quizzed on their general knowledge of parachute inspections, four of the jumpmasters inspected the 5-foot extension line 'in a different time or manner' than required by standard procedures, the investigation found. None of the jumpmasters said they had failed to inspect the line, according to the investigation. One jumpmaster was unable to properly describe the correct way to inspect a girth hitch. Ricks confirmed to Task & Purpose that this jumpmaster is the one who most likely inspected Perez prior to the jump. 'This investigation revealed confusion among jumpmasters about the proper manner to inspect a 5-ft [extension],' the investigation says. 'This likely had grave safety implications for the overall [Joint Forcible Entry — Airborne] operation.' After Perez's death, the investigative team looked at several parachutes that had been packed by soldiers with D Company, 189th Division Sustainment Battalion, which packs parachutes for the entire 82nd Airborne Division. That review uncovered an 'unacceptable rate' of problems ranging from minor to 'potentially catastrophic.' 'Based on our recent audit, these deficiencies are systematic and endanger the paratroopers of [the 82nd] Airborne Division if uncorrected,' the investigation says. Riggers with the unit, the report found, may have removed and replaced the 5-foot extension lines for some of the paratroopers as they waited to load the C-17 at the airfield. Investigators found that soldiers were unclear on the rules governing parachute preparation. Several of the soldiers did not know who was allowed to make changes to the 5-foot extension line, where in the preparation process such a change could occur, or what the unit's standard operating procedure is for rigger checks at the airfield. Two soldiers, whose names were redacted, recalled previous incidents during which 5-foot extension lines were changed at the departure airfield prior to a jump. Another thought the line could be changed at the airfield if an air delivery officer gave permission to do so. The investigation determined that by replacing the 5-foot extension at the airfield, the riggers had violated their unit's standard operating procedure. But in response to a question from Task & Purpose on those procedures, Ricks said that the company's standard operating procedures at the time did allow certified riggers to replace the extension lines at the airfield, and that that replacement is allowed under the Army's technical manual for the T-11 parachute. The night Perez died, one soldier told investigators, a member of the rigger check team was emotional after the accident. 'I spoke with her and she asked me 'what's going to happen to the person that packed it?'' the soldier recounted. 'And I just told her that I don't know. At any rate, she seemed very emotional and concerned. Last week, I was talking with [REDACTED] and he told me she asked, 'so wait, only riggers are supposed to change out static lines — not [jumpmasters]?' That concerned me, given this incident. It made me think there was something she knew or saw while on rigger checks at JRTC that she wasn't saying.' Riggers in D Company told investigators that a lack of incentives available to soldiers in the unit can 'lead to burnout and low quality,' and that riggers who are out of the office for extended periods 'could use a refresher' when they return. An Airdrop Systems Technician warrant officer — an advisor to senior leadership about airborne operations — told investigators that when soldiers at the rigger check facility are caught cutting corners, they are retrained. However, some leaders showed a reluctance to decertify soldiers because they might file a complaint with the Army's Inspector General's Office or Equal Employment Opportunity program. Ricks said that prior to Perez's death, certified parachute riggers were allowed to replace extension lines 'for any technical or materiel concerns' for C-17 jumps. But 82nd Airborne officials now restrict such changes. 'As a result of this tragic training fatality, however, the [82nd] Airborne Division now limits this practice within the unit,' Ricks said. 'The Division's policy now requires replacement of the entire parachute and the first General Officer in the chain of command must approve any exception.' Retired Army Lt. Col. Francesca Graham, a former jumpmaster, told Task & Purpose that replacing the extension line at the airfield was 'a very extraordinary thing to happen,' adding that if she were in a similar situation, she would have opted to replace the entire parachute instead of just the extension line. When paratroopers are at the departure airfield, they are rushing to get onto their aircraft, Graham said. That means anyone who makes changes to parachutes under such time pressure is more likely to make an error than the riggers and packers preparing parachutes much further in advance, she said. 'It's kind of one of those things where it's like, how much risk are you willing to take?' Graham said. 'Like for me, there were numerous times when a reserve parachute had an issue with it, and so as the jumpmaster doing the inspection, I was like: 'Go get a new reserve.'' Graham was also struck that none of the jumpmasters interviewed for the investigation was able to say conclusively who — if anyone — had inspected Perez. If Perez did go through a JMPI prior to the jump, then the jumpmaster 'didn't see a major defect,' she added. 'At the point that someone dies or there's an incident, people's memories get real sharp, real quick,' Graham said. 'One of those jumpmasters should have been able to say: 'Yes, I inspected this jumper.'' 'There appeared to be leadership failures from start to finish at the jump,' Graham said. Following Perez's death, a company commander was fired 'for the systemic failures of oversight with parachute rigging activities and quality control,' and is currently assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's staff, Ricks said. Nine other officers, warrant officers, and noncommissioned officers were reprimanded, she said. Eight jumpmasters and five riggers were decertified after the fatal jump, Ricks said. Being decertified means that jumpmasters can no longer perform their duties and have to undergo retraining, including the proper way to inspect the 5-foot inspection line. All the soldiers who were decertified due to Perez's death have since been recertified after going through the refresher training and resumed their duties, Ricks said. The 82nd Airborne Division has made a number of changes to make sure that the failures leading up to Perez's death do not happen again, including sending the decertified jumpmaster to a refresher course and retraining the riggers, Ricks said. The Army Criminal Investigation Division, or CID, also investigated Perez's death, but closed its investigation after finding 'no probable cause […] to support any allegations of criminal misconduct,' Ricks said. Jose Perez said leaders in his son's unit had told him and his wife that five — not eight — jumpmasters had been decertified. Ricks was unable to explain the disparity. Both of Perez's parents said they are not satisfied with the information they have been provided about their son's death. Perez's mother Vanessa said that she is frustrated by the redactions in the copy of the 240-page investigation that she and her husband were provided. 'There's full sentences, full paragraphs that we're not able to read, and we wonder why,' she said. 'At times, I'm going to be honest with you, I feel like they're hiding something.' Perez, who carried a squad automatic weapon, weighed 340 pounds at the time of the jump, including his body weight and all his gear, the investigation found. 'He stressed it out to us how scared he was because of so much weight he had,' Vanessa Perez said. 'He expressed it to myself, my husband, his wife as well.' But Ricks said it was not unusual for a machine gunner Perez's size to be carrying so much weight during a parachute jump. 'The T-11 Main and T-11 Reserve parachutes weigh a combined 53 pounds,' Ricks said. 'SPC Perez's combat equipment — which included his ruck, weapons case, and weapon — weighed 104 pounds. [Three hundred and forty] pounds combined pounds is within the acceptable range for jumping combat equipment, and the T-11 Main canopy is authorized and rated to be jumped at a total rigged weight of 400 lbs.' The exercise marked Perez's ninth jump and fourth in full equipment and at night. The investigation also determined that Perez's exit from the C-17 was 'weak,' possibly due to 'paratrooper fatigue and the weight of his combat equipment.' He likely tumbled through the air as a result. The report also faulted Perez for not keeping his hand over the ripcord for his reserve parachute when he left the aircraft and for waiting too long to pull his reserve. But Graham said it was 'ludicrous' to blame Perez for not exiting the aircraft correctly, explaining that rather than jumping up and out as paratroopers are supposed to, he likely fell forward because of how much weight he was carrying. 'He's now tumbling in the air, which means that the static line is wrapping around him, and he has no idea what's going on,' Graham said. 'You're disoriented completely, and you probably have things wrapped around you as you fall forward.' 'It's a lot,' Graham said. Jose Perez called the investigation's finding that his son waited too long to open his reserve parachute 'bullshit.' 'It's a training exercise — everyone should be coming home,' Jose Perez said. 'No one should die. Protocol should be: Everyone should come home.' The Air Force fitness test may soon include 2-mile runs twice a year 'War Thunder' continues to live up to its reputation for OPSEC violations Guardsmen sent to LA are 130 miles east of the city doing drug busts Lightning Carriers: The Marines' secret weapon in the Pacific Pentagon releases details of 'Midnight Hammer' strikes against Iran


Chicago Tribune
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters: It was heartwarming to see the Army celebrated at the parade in Washington
It was with patriotic pride that I watched the 250th anniversary parade for the Army. As a veteran, I can attest to the significant contributions our fighting Americans have made to our country. My family members have served in the military since our country's founding. Their sacrifices, like the sacrifices of many other soldiers, have produced the greatest country in the history of the world. Millions of people today owe their freedom to the U.S. military. It was heartwarming to see the people in attendance supporting our troops and celebrating our Army's history. Well done to the Army and all the other branches of service that ensure our freedom! I am proud of my service to the United States. I stand alongside our active-duty troops to support their hard for me to understand how the Tribune can splash a large picture of a demonstration by un-American protesters on the front page of the paper and yet relegate the story about the Army parade to Page 7 of Section 2. If it wasn't for the Army and the other branches, the Tribune would be publishing its paper in German. Please go back to has been lots of complete media coverage of the fine military parade, honoring in large part the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump. There has been no mention of the 'bone spurs' diagnosis that kept Trump out of military service and exempted him from serving in Vietnam. And Trump called those killed at Normandy 'losers' and 'suckers'! Good journalists should include these items when reporting on Trump's dealings with the military. He will never be supported by veterans who know these truths and facts. He was and is a bone-spur draft-dodging grifter.I am an Army veteran (Vietnam, 1968-69), and I am appalled at the inexcusable behavior of soldiers of the 82nd Airborne last week who loudly jeered the media and former President Joe Biden at the urging of President Donald Trump. They seemed to forget that Biden was their commander in chief in January. More troubling was the silence of sergeants, officers and other command personnel during and after the outrageous behavior of the soldiers in attendance. I am certain that there would have been hell to pay from my first sergeant and my company commander, a West Point graduate, had the men in my company — Echo Company — behaved so badly at a military assembly. My father-in-law served in the 82nd Airborne in World War II, trained at Fort Bragg and helped fly a glider plane behind enemy lines on D-Day. The behavior last week is an affront to the memory and service of the men of the 82nd who served bravely in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Just really disgusts me when I see President Donald Trump speaking at West Point or reviewing troops at his birthday parade. Here's a guy who used his father's connections to avoid military service due to 'bone spurs' in his heel but can golf 100-plus rounds of golf each year. I'm all for cutting government spending in a responsible way, unlike the Department of Government Efficiency's methods, and reducing the deficit, but his 'Big Bloated Bill' will do neither. Republicans used to be the party of fiscal responsibility, but the last federal surplus was under Bill Clinton. After 9/11, George W. Bush ran $1 trillion deficits, and Barack Obama followed suit. Trump's first term increased the national debt by nearly $2 trillion, then Biden and Trump's second term will have exceeded that mark. Tax cuts and supply side economics have not worked in the past. Hoping that they will in the future is wishful thinking. If our members of Congress ran their personal finances the way they run the government's, they'd all be on welfare. I saw a recent interview on PBS with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin who is appalled at the size of the national debt and the lack of concern shown by his cronies. This shows that there are at least a few sane people in government who are willing to take an unpopular stance and buck the president to save the country. Let's hope he is joined by others with Minnesota political shooting suspect Vance Boelter a 'devout Christian' is a misnomer. There is a huge difference between a devout Christian nationalist, which Boelter is, and a devout Christian — those who follow the way of Jesus. Please ask your reporters and editors to use the correct identity when reporting. Those of us who try to follow the way of Jesus should not be lumped into the same category with Christian nationalists and the hatred they again, I am appalled at the state of the . Recently, elected officials were murdered in Minnesota. The president never called Gov. Tim Walz about this tragedy in his state because he doesn't like him. What happened to the 'United' part of the United States of America? The president seems to only care about the people who support his twisted agenda, not all the people he pledged to defend. Please, people, vote your conscience.I trained in pediatrics at Children's Memorial Hospital, now known as Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, from 1981 to 1984 and practiced primary care pediatrics until my retirement in 2020. I have never seen a case of polio, smallpox, tetanus or diphtheria. Why? Because of the vaccines developed prior to that time. I seen death, sepsis, meningitis, epiglottitis, birth defects, encephalitis, seizure disorders, hearing loss and brain damage from what are now vaccine-preventable illnesses. Our current administration places these lifesaving medical advancements in grave danger. You, parents, still have the power to keep our children safe. that your insurance companies cover these safe and effective vaccines. that your schools demand that a safe and reasonable vaccine schedule is followed. You, parents, hold the power at the ballot box. Make your voices heard! I pray that the current pediatric trainees do not have to see what I have seen to effect change. Children's lives are at to Medicaid will come at a cost — the cost is in loss of life for individuals living with cancer. There is simply no way that cutting $793 billion from Medicaid will make the program stronger. Cuts of that magnitude will cut patients off from their health care, harm hospitals and clinics, and weaken state economies. The truth is that almost all the fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system comes from the billing and payment processes and skyrocketing prices, not from people who rely on Medicaid for essential care. As a breast cancer survivor, I know the importance of access to quality health care. In Illinois, over 3 million residents rely on Medicaid for health care coverage, and doctors rely on it to be paid for their services. Lawmakers might not know that the folks who rely on the program are mostly those who work jobs that don't provide benefits, or those who work seasonal jobs. These are huge parts of our economy. These people work hard and are in no way asking for handouts, but also often cannot afford the high prices of private insurance, which will be driven up further by cuts. As a cancer survivor, I urge U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to stand up to protect the health and lives of all Illinoisans.


Fox News
14-06-2025
- General
- Fox News
Reporter's Notebook: Recalling an American WWII hero who helped fight off Nazi forces during Normandy invasion
The 81st anniversary of the famous U.S.-led D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, was recently commemorated. Less well-known are the battles during the days and weeks that followed in Normandy, which helped secure the massive beachhead, so the allies could go on and defeat Nazi Germany in World II. One of those clashes was at a bridge over a small river near the town of Sainte-Mère-Église. Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division landed near there early on the morning of June 6, 1944. They had to hold the position against Germans threatening American forces who came ashore at Utah beach, one of the main landing sites. One of those was Iowa-born 31-year-old U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William Owens. For three days, as his unit was cut down in combat from 45 to just 12 men, he bravely helped fight off the Germans. He fired from three different machine gun positions, threw hand grenades, commanded bazooka teams and moved from foxhole to foxhole, coordinating action. The actions of him and his men eventually knocked out four German tanks, killed 275 German soldiers and stopped the Nazis dead in their tracks. It was hailed by historians as a key battle of the Normandy invasion. On a recent day alongside the river in the now green and peaceful countryside, after years of research and lobbying at the Pentagon and in Congress, Owens was recognized for his valor in a ceremony during which his honors were upgraded to Distinguished Service Cross, the second most important medal the Army can bestow. Chris Donahue, the commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, told Fox News Owens' actions were "incredibly important. What Owens did is the exact model that all of us try to live up to." Owens died at the age of 54 in 1967. His youngest daughter, British-raised Susan Marrow, said, "I don't have words to describe how full my heart is and how much it means to me." His great-grandson, Harris Morales, was also proud to be there, saying, "without a doubt," Owens was a brave guy. As for the new recognition of Owens, he added, "It means everything, and I still don't believe it. It's still not real for me yet." This comes at a time the world remains in turmoil from Ukraine to the Mideast and beyond. While 81 years seems like a long time ago, the heroism and inventiveness displayed by Owens then is still seen as relevant today. "It is important," Morales said. "I don't think 81 years or any time is too long." Speaking from a military standpoint, Gen. Donahue noted, "We're in the middle of a transformation, and we're going to continue to do that so we live up to what they have done." As for lessons learned then, Owens' daughter had a simple answer, saying, "Do unto others as you would have them do onto you." Sometimes, as in the case of Staff Sgt. William Owens, the dangerous behavior of "others" means acting with the greatest and sometimes brutal gallantry.


Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Troops for Trump's Army speech reportedly vetted based on appearance
US troops who stood behind President Donald Trump as he marked the Army's 250th birthday this week were apparently carefully selected. Internal 82nd Airborne Division communications obtained by show soldiers were handpicked for the president's televised remarks at Fort Bragg based on their political views and their physical appearance. One unit-level message, for example, said there can be 'No fat soldiers.' Another memo said that 'if soldiers have political views that are in opposition to the current administration and they don't want to be in the audience, then they need to speak with their leadership and get swapped out.' The end result was a predominantly white, male crowd who booed as Trump hit out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the fiery protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations as he vowed to 'liberate' the city. They were also seen booing former President Joe Biden and the press - and roared with laughter at Trump's remarks berating his successor. Such actions appear to be in violation of longstanding Department of Defense protocol, with even the Army's recently-published field manual touting the importance of a politically neutral force. 'Being nonpartisan means not favoring any specific political party or group,' it says, according to NBC News. 'Nonpartisanship assures the public that our Army will always serve the Constitution and our people loyally and responsively.' It goes on to note that troops can participate in political functions - so long as they are not in uniform. 'As a private citizen, you are encouraged to participate in our democratic process, but as a soldier you must be mindful of how your actions may affect the reputation and perceived trustworthiness of our Army as an institution,' the field guide says. At least one 82nd Airborne noncommissioned officer now says he does not see how the troops' reactions on Tuesday could be seen as anything other than 'expressing a political view while in uniform.' He even suggested that none of the soldiers who were booing Newsom and Bass 'even knew the mayor's name or could identify them in a lineup.' Department of Defense officials, though, have denied that the soldiers were in violation of its rules. 'Believe me, no one needs to be encouraged to boo the media,' Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman replied to 'Look no further than this query, which is nothing more than a disgraceful attempt to ruin the lives of young soldiers.' Even if the soldiers did violate Defense Department rules, multiple Army officials told they likely would not be held accountable because they were goaded by the commander-in-chief. Meanwhile, questions remain about how a pop-up shop operated by 365 Campaign - an Oklahoma-based retailer that sells pro-Trump memorabilia - was able to sell campaign-style merchandise on the Army property.


Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Troops at Trump's Army speech were vetted for their looks: 'No fat soldiers
US troops who stood behind President Donald Trump as he marked the Army's 250th birthday this week were apparently carefully selected. Internal 82nd Airborne Division communications obtained by show soldiers were handpicked for the president's televised remarks at Fort Bragg based on their political views and their physical appearance. One unit-level message, for example, said there can be 'No fat soldiers.' Another memo said that 'if soldiers have political views that are in opposition to the current administration and they don't want to be in the audience, then they need to speak with their leadership and get swapped out.' The end result was a predominantly white, male crowd who booed as Trump hit out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the fiery protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations as he vowed to 'liberate' the city. They were also seen booing former President Joe Biden and the press - and roared with laughter at Trump's remarks berating his successor. Such actions appear to be in violation of longstanding Department of Defense protocol, with even the Army's recently-published field manual touting the importance of a politically neutral force. 'Being nonpartisan means not favoring any specific political party or group,' it says, according to NBC News. 'Nonpartisanship assures the public that our Army will always serve the Constitution and our people loyally and responsively.' It goes on to note that troops can participate in political functions - so long as they are not in uniform. 'As a private citizen, you are encouraged to participate in our democratic process, but as a soldier you must be mindful of how your actions may affect the reputation and perceived trustworthiness of our Army as an institution,' the field guide says. At least one 82nd Airborne noncommissioned officer now says he does not see how the troops' reactions on Tuesday could be seen as anything other than 'expressing a political view while in uniform.' He even suggested that none of the soldiers who were booing Newsom and Bass 'even knew the mayor's name or could identify them in a lineup.' Department of Defense officials, though, have denied that the soldiers were in violation of its rules. 'Believe me, no one needs to be encouraged to boo the media,' Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman replied to 'Look no further than this query, which is nothing more than a disgraceful attempt to ruin the lives of young soldiers.' Even if the soldiers did violate Defense Department rules, multiple Army officials told they likely would not be held accountable because they were goaded by the commander-in-chief. Meanwhile, questions remain about how a pop-up shop operated by 365 Campaign - an Oklahoma-based retailer that sells pro-Trump memorabilia - was able to sell campaign-style merchandise on the Army property. Soldiers were even seen purchasing clothing and other items, including Make America Great Again chain necklaces and faux credit cards labeled 'White Privilege Card: Trump's Everything.' Col. Mary Ricks, a spokeswoman for Fort Bragg, now says the 'vendor's presence is under review to determine how it was permitted to prevent similar occurrences.'