What rights do soldiers have taken away?

Question

I've read that members of the Army have certain liberties enjoyed by US civilians taken away. Can you give more detail, i.e. what said rights are?

Answer 1

The serious answers here are good. An example of the "loss" of freedom of speech would be the Don't Ask - Don't Tell policy of gays in the military. Essentially it means that if you tell someone you're gay, you get kicked out.

Regardless of your opinion of gays in the military, everyone can clearly see that's not free speech.

Oh I can just hear some of you: "He was free to tell that he was gay. Then he has to pay the price." The premise behind free speech is that there are no governmental restrictions or punishments. That's why the racists, idiots, pacifists, left-wing, right-wing, rednecks, etc. live in harmony on YA :)

Answer 2

• They lose the right to unilaterally break a contract i.e. they can’t just quit and go home.
• They lose the right to independent action i.e. to come and go as they please.
• They lose the right to the US Judicial System. They are subject totally to the UCMJ which in itself places many restrictions on public and private actions.
• They cannot disobey a lawful order issued by a Commissioned Officer or Non-Commissioned Officer appointed over them.

Then there is the possibility of being killed that is not inherent in many other professions. All in all I would say that military members are an amazingly self sacrificing group surly due of more respect than they are given in some sectors.

Answer 3

Soldiers and Sailors alike have as many rights as civilians do, however, we are governed by an additional set of laws called the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and regulations governed by each branch of service. As citizans of the U.S. we are all only given certain rights governed in the constitution. These rights that citizans are allowed are only guarenteed during times of peace and that goes for everyone, not just military. Times of war, however, these rights take a back seat to the over all goal of the mission/war at hand. This includes civilians. Take for example WW2. During that war the government did enforce it and that is where the old addage "Loose lips sink ships comes from." As members of the military we are to adhear to the laws of the U.S. wherever we go except under circumstanses that each command diliniates pertinate to change. Example: You as a civilian visit a country where the use of certain substances are legal, where they are not in the states. You come home and your employeer drug tests you. You can inform them that you were in such and such a county, provide your passport as proof and take the drug test. As long as you have provided that proof they generally can not do much unless it is part of a strict company policy agreement that you signed at time of hiring. As a military member, it does not matter, it is illegal in the U.S. there for no matter if you were on leave it is illegal to do because of the constant governing by the UCMJ. However, in country's where we have bases that they're drinking age is lower than 21, to lower the risk of incident and accident commands can lower the drinking age in those countries on those bases as long as you are there. Also as a military member you also have to abide by the laws of whatever country you are in at the same time you abide by U.S. law and the UCMJ. As a civilian you need to abide by the laws of the country you are in, but, as per the example above can bend the law of the U.S. We can critsize our superiors through the correct recourse and using our chain of command, as long as it is legitimate. Please do not confuse right and privaledge as may people do. Lack of knowledge is never an excuse nor is taking the word of a friend. Do research of your own and know that apothy has never accomplished anything

Answer 4

Lets see....
Civilian
Can call in sick to work if they want
Can quit there job if they want
Can pick up and go at any given moment they want
Can frequent any club/bar they want
the list goes on...

Service member
Cannot miss work without a sickhall note
Cannot simply say "take this job and shove it"
Cannot decide to drive cross country on the weekend
Cannot attend clubs that have been "Blacklisted" from the military

Answer 5

Freedom of speech - they cannot criticize their superiors. (Formally; they can gripe to their buddies all they want.)
Freedom of the Press (see above)

Freedom to quit their jobs - once you sign up, you are in.

They get freedom of religion, and most of the others. They don't get due process in extreme cases; if their commander sees them about to do something treasonous, he can just shoot them. That doesn't happen very often.

They have to look presentable and keep their rooms picked up; some teens think sloppiness is a civil right.

This is true for sailors, airmen and marines, too.

Answer 6

In the military, you exist to protect democracy; not to practice it.

Your freedom of speech is limited, your freedom of the press is also limited, your freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances is limited, and your pursuit of happiness is definitely limited.

You can be ordered to do something that you and your commander know will kill you, and you are expected and required to do it.

Answer 7

as a veteran whose career lasted 20 years, i can tell you that all rights are taken away. g.i. = government issue.

Answer 8

Free speech as it pertains to any military conflict.

Answer 9

freedom of speech.

soldiers can't blog or speak to the press.

we hear pundits over and over again say how conservative the soldiers are, but when they come home and run for office they do so as dems.

the soldiers are bring treated like children who the govt would rather not hear from.

even the guys who blew the whistle on walter reed have been effectively silenced...

Answer 10

freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are the main ones.