To whom I believe has the power to help me, I would like to be open and full in this discussion about my forced isolation and silence, concerning my infamous case. The Military Law proclaims that ‘as well as its contract itself states, that a person with a criminal background must not be part of the ‘“respected”’ groundwork’. However, past governors and presidents have seemed to allow numerous of citizens with criminal backgrounds to enlist in the military without deliverance, and the proper standards a U.S. Army Soldier should have. Now to introduce myself, I am Neftaly Platero, a current inmate, and former U.S. Army Soldier. About 10 years ago I was convicted under circumstantial (insignificant/conflicted) evidence. Prior to this I served in the Armed forces year 2000- honorably discharged in 2004 as a marine, then joined the Army. Subsequently after honorarily giving 12 years of my life to this country, I was convicted in June of 2012 of killing 2 and injuring 1 American soldiers in Fallujah, Iraq, a country I was not supposed to be in. I have served time in Leavenworth U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks in Kansas, and am now currently in a federal prison in Pollock, Louisiana. I hold one of the most severe sentences that any soldier has held in the past decade. I was able to befriend another soldier there who was in the same installation. He was there for selling and exposing classified information on the internet. He was pardoned, returned to his life and his family. A news reporter spoke about ASF, who ran away from battle, because the other soldiers got injured for his wrongful actions and the military did not give him time in prison. What kind of Military justice is this? I see it as a cover up, a corrupt pardoning to cover the military from allowing this to happened. High ranking officials are corrupt traitors to this nation, such as many of the members of government that allow these awful things/cases to deliberately happen in our military. I have suffered, not because of prison, but because I have been unable to expose the truth, as I am a man who believes in justice. Suffered because of how blind the people of America are, trusting the governors, senators, judges, presidents, leaders who allow the corruption in our country to be brushed away as if it does not mean anything. It is easy for people of power to allow these things to happen as it does not affect them, instead they would rather ruin just citizen’s lives. Our leaders are dishonest and are the ones who betray our nation, they live without honor, immorality, and prevent our motherland from operating to the highest standards it could. 

I vehemently ask you, because you are in a high position of power to investigate my case. During my military trial, the judge was making gestures to the prosecutor, and he did not know that we (the audience)  were noticing his actions. The DNA results ended in being the accusers DNA, not mine. But this was never exposed. The government attains a guilty verdict, with the purpose to silence the families that were complaining about how the military handles these cases and neglected the true evidence just to cover up for them making a mistake and to silence those who would wreak chaos. Following the fingerprint tests, the government could not guarantee the fingerprint on the weapons belonged to the accused. Afterwards, the government then failed to expose the evidence showing that the accused did not have gunpowder residue on his hands, which it would be impossible to not have after shooting 18 rounds from an M16-A-2 rifle if I had done this. I was detained immediately after the shooting, which means it was also impossible for me to clean or change clothes, or try to cover up anything. The evidence held by the Commander General mysteriously disappeared, resembling his notes in addition to the information that was I was suggested to be an informant for the government. Later, I was to report all malicious transgression on all sides of the base, including all those soldiers that were perpetuating malicious misdeeds to anyone. All of this exonerated information has been manipulated or destroyed. 

The number of waivers granted to the Army recruits with criminal backgrounds has grown about 65% in the last three years, increasing from 8,129 in 2006 to 12,313 currently. The Army has employed a variety of tactics to expand its pool of recruits. Including, enlistment cash bonuses, high school dropouts, applicants with low scores on its aptitude test to join, and loosened weight and age restrictions. It has increases the number of so called “Moral Waivers” to join with misdemeanors, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, and vehicular homicide. Finally, in a statement from Lieutenant General Thomas Seamands, deputy chief of staff for Army personnel, said the Department of the Army Headquarters could grant sooner waivers. Now, after a simple administrative change, approving the waiver program from the U.S. Army Recruiting Command or by State Adjutant General for National Guard. Senator McCain claimed that if a committee does not get answers on these issues, we need to stop confirming people for appointment post. McPherson, the Army General Counsel nominee promised that if he is allowed, he will make waiver issues one of his top priorities.

 You were designated to be in a position to resolve matters such as this one. Due to this, I have the highest hopes that you will read and take into consideration and your heart this letter. One day we will be judged by God for the things we did and did not do on this earth. This nation claims itself to be a nation of God and that his justice guides as well as his power protects us. I accept this truth that you are a person of God and that you are trustworthy in addition to your aspiration to help, restore, and bring out immeasurable justice to the American people. I arranged this information so that you may be aware of the abominable actions of the Military System, being immoral and misusing authority. Thank you for taking the time and consideration to read this letter. I am looking forward to hearing from you, so that we can form some type of round table of discussion in order to fix this injustice. 

Neftaly Platero