American taxpayers spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars paying for radical Marxist Spenser Rapone to receive a world-class education and officer training at the United States Military Academy.

Rapone is the Army officer and former West Point cadet who appears to have posted photos of himself in uniform at West Point promoting pro-communism messages. In one posted photo, Rapone appears to have placed a paper sign in his formal uniform hat saying: “Communism will win.” In another photo, Rapone is wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt underneath his uniform.

Lt. Rapone is a disgrace to the uniform he wears.

37,000 Americans died fighting communism in Korea.

58,000 in Vietnam. #CommunismKills pic.twitter.com/b3Bnl4lnRe — Victims of Communism (@VoCommunism) September 27, 2017

“The scholarship value of a U.S. Military Academy education is $226,051, as of April 2017,” West Point’s public affairs office told The Daily Caller on Tuesday.

“This number varies from year to year, but this is the most up-to-date information.”

Like every other West Point cadet, Rapone did not pay a dime to attend the academy. His taxpayer-funded education was fully funded by the federal government — with no loans — for four years.

During his 47 month at West Point, Rapone — and every cadet — completed a broad core curriculum in math, science, engineering, information technology and humanities.

Rapone also graduated with a Bachelor of Science in one of 42 majors.

Not only that, but Rapone got paid to attend West Point. First-year cadets currently receive a stipend of $900 each month. This amount increases as cadets rise. Much of each cadet’s monthly stipend is automatically siphoned off for various expenses such as a uniforms, a nice computer and books. Cadets must also pay a flat monthly fee for laundry, haircuts and other services. The remainder of a cadet’s monthly stipend goes directly into a cadet’s personal checking account.

In addition to a free college degree and a bit of monthly cash, Rapone also received a very substantial amount of military training. All West Point cadets complete a grueling basic training program and several military leadership courses. Cadet field training is considerable. There’s airborne training, mountain warfare training, survival training, combat training and much more.

Many cadets are able to travel to other countries as part of their West Point program.

Upon graduation, West Point cadets receive commissions as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. They must serve five years of active duty.

Rapone’s extremist online activity came to light in late September.

In one of his many extremist social media postings, Rapone complained that the military’s hierarchical structure “reifies capitalism/imperialism.” He also attacked Vice President Mike Pence in a tweet from August: “Holy s*** what world do these people live in?’ Mediocre and conservative?’ Pence is a fucking medieval, cold-blooded killer.” (RELATED: Communist West Point Graduate Called Mattis An ‘Evil, Vile F***’)

Rapone’s social media musings have included praise of communist leaders interspersed with scathing criticism of his nation, its military and even his chain of command.

The Army officer’s now-private Twitter account — @punkproletarian — is full of interesting opinions regarding his views on politics and West Point.

Rapone has complained that the military as such “reifies capitalism/imperialism with a brutally hierarchical rank structure” and said that his fellow service members “lust for war and conflict. They fetishize violence.”

In October 2016, Rapone said that the “The GOP exists as violence against black/brown people, Muslims, LGBTQ community, yet milquetoast liberals actively donate money to it?”

His bio describes himself as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

In November 2015, West Point officials removed Rapone from his Ranger battalion for violating standards. That punishment was reportedly related to a series of incidents involving Rapone’s penchant for insubordination.

Lt. Rapone is currently under investigation for his social media posts made while wearing his West Point uniform https://t.co/yurS295OMw — Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) October 7, 2017

Earlier this month, former West Point instructor Lieutenant Colonel Robert Heffington penned an open letter to academy graduates blaming West Point’s superintendent, commandant and dean for fostering a sweeping “culture of permissiveness” and an “embrace of mediocrity” within the academy.

An active duty Army officer contacted by The Daily Caller, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed with the sentiments of Lieutenant Colonel Heffington. “I can assure you,” the officer stated, “there are a number of avowed communists [teaching at West Point].” (RELATED: Communist Cadet’s Plebe Year Professor Told Him To Resign)

According to the officer, the presence and influence of openly Marxist faculty members is partially to blame for the leniency the academy showed Rapone when he was a cadet. “Why punish this Che-loving former cadet, Rapone, when we let senior faculty openly support such views?” the officer asked.

Army officials have opened an investigation into Rapone’s statements.

“The U.S. Military Academy strives to develop leaders who internalize the academy’s motto of Duty, Honor, Country, and who live the Army values,” West Point officials said in a statement responding to the photos of Rapone. “Second Lieutenant Rapone’s actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army. As figures of public trust, members of the military must exhibit exemplary conduct, and are prohibited from engaging in certain expressions of political speech in uniform. Second Lieutenant Rapone’s chain of command is aware of his actions and is looking into the matter. The academy is prepared to assist the officer’s chain of command as required.” (RELATED: Army Opens Investigation Into West Point Grad For Promoting Communism)

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio has called Rapone a “national security threat.”

“Members of the military who harbor anti-American views and express their desire to harm our country and its leaders are unfit to serve and defend our nation,” Rubio wrote on Facebook.

“Spenser Rapone held a security clearance, but he advocated violence against political opponents and expressed admiration for Private Manning, a traitor who provided troves of classified information to Wikileaks,” Rubio wrote. “Rapone clearly was and is a national security threat.”

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