Rich Bowman, PhD
@rbowman1234.bsky.social
I am a Postdoc in the Hendrickson/Bielinsky lab at the University of Virginia.
I am a first gen college student and Navy veteran of the first gulf war (and technically the GWOT)
I like 3d printing, games, brewing, baking, traveling, and many others.
I am a first gen college student and Navy veteran of the first gulf war (and technically the GWOT)
I like 3d printing, games, brewing, baking, traveling, and many others.
Also, even if they wanted to they can't. Other countries want top level, respected, brand name scientists. Even at the postdoc level they don't want you unless you're pedigree is impeccable
December 7, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Also, even if they wanted to they can't. Other countries want top level, respected, brand name scientists. Even at the postdoc level they don't want you unless you're pedigree is impeccable
Definitely. We just had to buy a new TV and only smart TVs are available. These things are terrible. Jittery, out of sync, crashes. I have to unplug it at least once a day. I even had to download a software update for a reminder with only a dead and 10 buttons on it. Just terrible
November 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Definitely. We just had to buy a new TV and only smart TVs are available. These things are terrible. Jittery, out of sync, crashes. I have to unplug it at least once a day. I even had to download a software update for a reminder with only a dead and 10 buttons on it. Just terrible
Based on your statements above, I don't believe you
November 29, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Based on your statements above, I don't believe you
That's up to you, but only one of us has actually intentionally disobeyed an order, so I'll stick with lived experience vs theoretical
November 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
That's up to you, but only one of us has actually intentionally disobeyed an order, so I'll stick with lived experience vs theoretical
None of what you said happens in that manner
November 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
None of what you said happens in that manner
Again, no. Investigations only happen in criminal cases (NCIS) or in court martial (JAG). your command can only do non-judicial punishment (NJP). That does include disobeying but unless you go to CM you go to the CO who makes a decision. They may ask witnesses but don't have to
November 29, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Again, no. Investigations only happen in criminal cases (NCIS) or in court martial (JAG). your command can only do non-judicial punishment (NJP). That does include disobeying but unless you go to CM you go to the CO who makes a decision. They may ask witnesses but don't have to
Your chain of command doesn't investigate anything because they don't do judicial punishment. An officer will always go to court martial, enlisted may request court martial (which can't be refused). Those cases are handled by JAG
November 29, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Your chain of command doesn't investigate anything because they don't do judicial punishment. An officer will always go to court martial, enlisted may request court martial (which can't be refused). Those cases are handled by JAG
Nothing you said there was correct
November 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Nothing you said there was correct
Whether the political will exists to do what is required by the ucmj is immaterial to what is happening. As we are under standing orders to refuse illegal orders ("you MUST disobey unlawful orders"), either way they are disobeying an order
November 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Whether the political will exists to do what is required by the ucmj is immaterial to what is happening. As we are under standing orders to refuse illegal orders ("you MUST disobey unlawful orders"), either way they are disobeying an order
Yes, they would be. We are not in a designated combat footing and they are aware of that because we are informed when that changes
November 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Yes, they would be. We are not in a designated combat footing and they are aware of that because we are informed when that changes
Yes, correct. Nobody said, even in training directing you to disobey illegal orders, that it has no consequences. It's always presented as either do what is right and very hard or obey and hope you everyone gets away with it. Either way the directive is clear that following orders is not an excuse
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Yes, correct. Nobody said, even in training directing you to disobey illegal orders, that it has no consequences. It's always presented as either do what is right and very hard or obey and hope you everyone gets away with it. Either way the directive is clear that following orders is not an excuse
I am a postdoc that lost my job to illegally withheld funding and im 💯 on board with not capitulating. I may be only 1 person but given im not nearly as radicalized as my younger coworkers I find it hard to believe im a minority in this
November 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I am a postdoc that lost my job to illegally withheld funding and im 💯 on board with not capitulating. I may be only 1 person but given im not nearly as radicalized as my younger coworkers I find it hard to believe im a minority in this
That is not how the military works. There are very specific rules about this, and the secdef can't change them on a whim
November 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
That is not how the military works. There are very specific rules about this, and the secdef can't change them on a whim
Yes. We are not at war so they can't be, even dubiously, labeled combatants. And those firing see the target. If it were fighter launched the weps loaders wouldn't be, likewise if only officers are operating drones then no enlisted were involved in those cases
November 29, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Yes. We are not at war so they can't be, even dubiously, labeled combatants. And those firing see the target. If it were fighter launched the weps loaders wouldn't be, likewise if only officers are operating drones then no enlisted were involved in those cases
Quite a few people were convicted of murder during the WoT. Civilians leaders aren't held accountable due to precedent set with Nixon and Reagan. That can be changed if the political will exists to do so
November 29, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Quite a few people were convicted of murder during the WoT. Civilians leaders aren't held accountable due to precedent set with Nixon and Reagan. That can be changed if the political will exists to do so
Yes, every service member knows intentionally killing civilians is a violation of the ucmj
November 29, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Yes, every service member knows intentionally killing civilians is a violation of the ucmj
Civilians courts don't rule on this. It falls under the ucmj and courts martial. It may not happen immediately but neither did the prosecution for Vietnam violations
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Civilians courts don't rule on this. It falls under the ucmj and courts martial. It may not happen immediately but neither did the prosecution for Vietnam violations
And any enlisted that participated in the killing
November 29, 2025 at 4:18 AM
And any enlisted that participated in the killing
Yes, they know killing civilians on purpose is a violation of the ucmj. I learned that 32 years ago and never forgot. Because forgetting is not an excuse in your court martial
November 29, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Yes, they know killing civilians on purpose is a violation of the ucmj. I learned that 32 years ago and never forgot. Because forgetting is not an excuse in your court martial
Of course it's not easy. Doing your duty isn't always easy, but it is still expected of you
November 28, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Of course it's not easy. Doing your duty isn't always easy, but it is still expected of you
You absolutely can expect that as service members are trained in boot camp what constitutes an illegal order and are bound by their oath to refuse them
November 28, 2025 at 11:32 PM
You absolutely can expect that as service members are trained in boot camp what constitutes an illegal order and are bound by their oath to refuse them
As do the ones carrying out the order
November 28, 2025 at 11:29 PM
As do the ones carrying out the order
I walked out of a talk from an invited speaker that opened with an ai image depicting his path to being a scientist that, in his words, wasn't very accurate but conveyed the gist of it. Like if you can't be bothered to tell your own history I have no faith in the rest of the presentation
November 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I walked out of a talk from an invited speaker that opened with an ai image depicting his path to being a scientist that, in his words, wasn't very accurate but conveyed the gist of it. Like if you can't be bothered to tell your own history I have no faith in the rest of the presentation
I feel this so much
November 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I feel this so much