ROGUE ELEMENT

[Silverback]

How an anti-government militia grew on a U.S. Army base.

In June of 2011, Isaac Aguigui and his wife, Deirdre, learned that they were going to have a boy. Aguigui, then twenty years old and a private in the Army, spoke excitedly with friends about becoming a parent. Deirdre, twenty-three and a sergeant, sent her father a text announcing, “It’s a boy,” repeating the final word eight times to punctuate her glee. They picked out a name, Kalvin James, and when Deirdre adopted an orange tabby they named it Hobbes, evoking the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes.”

The two had met in 2009, as cadet candidates at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School for West Point, at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Deirdre tutored Aguigui in math; he was gregarious and handsome, with black hair and angular features. “She was elated she’d found the right guy,” her father, Alma Wetzker, said. When Wetzker met Aguigui, he was charmed. “I sensed a kindred spirit who thought a lot like me,” he said. The relationship wasn’t against the school’s rules, but it was contrary to its spirit of discipline: barracks are gender-segregated, and cadets must be single. After Aguigui’s roommate accused him of sleeping with Deirdre in his bed, they quarrelled, and Aguigui was kicked out. Rather than give up on military life, he enlisted in the Army. Deirdre, who had enlisted a few years earlier, dropped out of school to marry him.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014 ... y+%2837%29

[Steadfast]

Can't believe it but I read most pages up to end including # 10.

I was drawn to this topic ELEMENT as I drive one, glad nothing else resembles any one I knew.

[Silverback]

I could not stop reading this once I started.

[Jim]

I could not stop reading this once I started.

I found it troubling.

[Silverback]

I could not stop reading this once I started.

I found it troubling.

Please explain. I can make some assumptions based on the article, but I am curious to hear your thoughts.

[Silverback]

I could not stop reading this once I started.

I found it troubling.

Please explain. I can make some assumptions based on the article, but I am curious to hear your thoughts.

[Silverback]

I don't want to leave a cliff-hanger so I will give my thoughts. I am troubled first by what appears to be a lack of accountability. The leaders would have to have been distant and uncaring to not connect the repeated infractions and act decisively to stop them. Non-judicial punishment is not a fix all.

[RangerX]

A couple series of thoughts.

First, the fact that this guy was in the military is almost trivial. This down spiral is a common path in today's society, and the military does reflect society despite our own personal experiences. Even the anti-government aspect is commonplace.

Second, unfortunately the Army does seem to have a history of failing in situations like this. Seem to recall some serious issues with skinheads/nazi-wannabes in the 82nd during the 90s.

[Jim]

I don't want to leave a cliff-hanger so I will give my thoughts. I am troubled first by what appears to be a lack of accountability. The leaders would have to have been distant and uncaring to not connect the repeated infractions and act decisively to stop them. Non-judicial punishment is not a fix all.

I am in agreement with your assessment.

[Steadfast]

As I read along I did not want to witness the killings of Roark & York, so I skimped over past that point.
The paranoia was extremely high [it] made hard reading.

Yes to SB (accountability), I was amazed they could avoid service simply by buying off Sgt.