Command Performance: US troops reportedly forced to watch “Melania”
Nothing says “support the troops” quite like reminding them that even off-duty, their time, wallets, and silence still belong to the Orange Menace’s grift.
According to multiple reports, U.S. military commanders coerced active-duty troops to attend screenings of “Melania,” the critically panned vanity documentary that paid the First Lady $28 million.
Turning a box-office dud into a mandatory loyalty test, Raw Story and Business Insider report that US Commanders “advised” their troops to attend, and everyone got the message. One soldier summed it up plainly: nobody wanted to go, but nobody wanted to get punished.
The foundation has received complaints from service members at eight military facilities worldwide. One soldier wrote, “Nobody that I know wanted to go except for those that did not want to get jacked up by our unit commander for not attending.”
The commander in question allegedly wore red MAGA hats and “made it very clear” his position regarding those who do not support the administration. He reportedly designated the documentary screening as one of three mandatory monthly unit activity events designed to strengthen military unit cohesion.
According to the service member’s account, “When he said ‘advised,’ we know what that meant. We feel helpless to try to fight against what he is doing here.”
Nothing says “support the troops” quite like reminding them that even off-duty, their time, wallets, and silence still belong to the Orange Menace’s grift.
A DoD spokesman said later that the mandatory screenings of the film "Melania" were part of standard SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) training for US service members. "If American soldiers fall into the hands of the enemy, they may be subjected to savage torture intended to break their will. Having to sit through this absolute dog of a film will encourage service members to discover the reserves of inner toughness that they need to withstand the most brutal cruelty that our enemies can inflict on them."
A member of US special forces, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the press, confirmed the effectiveness of the film. "I was captured in Afghanistan and tortured for sixty-seven days. I'd rather go through that again than sit through another showing of 'Melania'," he said, shuddering visibly. "Hell, I'd probably cut off my own hand rather than watch as much as the trailer."
A spokesperson for Brett Ratner, the film's director, said that the director was pleased to learn that the film was 'inspirational' and was 'helping to strengthen the resolve of American warfighters'."
"...mandatory monthly unit activity events designed to strengthen military unit cohesion."
If the activity is mandatory, enlisted armed services personnel should be reimbursed by Defense Finance and Accounting Service if they have to use their own money. Not reimbursing them would be like charging enlisted armed services personnel transportation costs for deploying to zones of responsibility or uniforms.
Officers, on the other hand while not charged transportation costs are expected to pay for their own full dress uniforms and other uniforms throughout their careers, while enlisted personnel do not.