The Navy announced it is investigating crew aboard the USS Wasp after they donned “Make Aircrew Great Again” patches during President Donald Trump’s visit on Monday.
Several members of the Wasp crew were spotted the round red patches bearing the image of a pointing President Trump and the slogan “Make Aircrew Great Again,” CNN reported.
“Navy leadership is aware of the incident and reviewing to ensure the patch doesn’t violate DoD policy or uniform regulations,” US Navy spokesperson Lt. Sam Boyle told CNN.
Service members wear “Make Aircrew Great Again” patches during Trump’s visit to Japan https://t.co/NOwKpILg4A pic.twitter.com/VvPBSLPFRS
— The Hill (@thehill) May 28, 2019
While unofficial patches are permitted and are frequently worn for humor and morale, the patch may be a violation of DoD Directive 1344.10 which prohibits partisan political activities.
“Members on active duty should not engage in partisan political activity, and that members not on active duty should avoid inferences that their political activities imply or appear to imply official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement,” the directive says, according to the Navy.
The directive also specifies that one must not wear a uniform while participating in political activities, partisan or nonpartisan.
Unit commanders are typically in charge of verifying that unofficial patches abide by military rules.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, former commander of operations in Iraq and Europe, called the patches “inappropriate & against regulation” but cited several other issues he was “more concerned about.”
Many commenting on patches worn by a few sailors during POTUS visit. They’re inappropriate & against regulation.
I’m more concerned about disjointed comments on nK missiles & the defense of allies, and poor communication regarding national security strategy and policies.
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) May 28, 2019
Hertling then described several experiences where he permitted unauthorized badges because of the positive impact on morale.
“When commanding @1stArmoredDiv in Iraq, I noticed our Blackhawk Crew Chiefs had a yellow happy face patch velcroed to the back of his flight helmet. “That’s unauthorized,” I told him. “Yessir, but it keeps the crew smiling,” he said. I let him keep it.,” he tweeted.
When commanding @1stArmoredDiv in Iraq, I noticed our Blackhawk Crew Chiefs had a yellow happy face patch velcroed to the back of his flight helmet.
“That’s unauthorized,” I told him.
“Yessir, but it keeps the crew smiling,” he said.I let him keep it. https://t.co/PMWGdcxjkB
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) May 28, 2019
“And when patrolling with our Iraqi counterparts, I put a velcroed Iraqi flag on the shoulder opposite the US flag, to show them we were fighting together. That’s also “unauthorized” but I got permission from my 4-Star boss,” he tweeted again, later adding that he repeated the action while in Georgia.
And when patrolling with our Iraqi counterparts, I put a velcroed Iraqi flag on the shoulder opposite the US flag, to show them we were fighting together. That’s also “unauthorized” but I got permission from my 4-Star boss. pic.twitter.com/czKc4jnKuy
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) May 28, 2019
The “Make Aircrew Great Again” patches have reportedly appeared in photos in 2018 and 2017.
A helicopter crew chief in July 2018 wearing the patch during Pacific Rim exercises at Barking Sands Missile Range in Hawaii, Stars & Stripes reported. The Pentagon also shared a photo in 2017 of a sailor wearing the same patch.
I had to check to make sure this was real. Verdict: Yes, these airmen really are wearing patches that say “Make Aircrew Great Again” with an image depicting Trump in the center.
(DoD tweeted a pic of the same patch in Sept 2017; Stars & Stripes posted a pic of it in July 2018). pic.twitter.com/vxDJmi6Ijp
— Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) May 28, 2019
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited service members aboard the USS Wasp on Tuesday at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan to deliver a Memorial Day tribute.
The President was in Japan for four days to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
