GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE

1
GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE

• Army Policy and Standards Update

2
PURPOSE

• To inform soldiers and DA Civilians about changes
  in Army policy regarding good order and
  discipline as they pertain to relationships
  between military members of different rank.

3
BACKGROUND

• Sec Def reviewed policies of all Services,
  and on 29 July 1998 determined that all Services
  will, by policy, prohibit personal relationships
  such as dating, shared living accommodations,
  engaging in intimate or sexual relations,
  business enterprises, commercial solicitations,
  gambling and borrowing between officer and
  enlisted regardless of their Service. This
  change will not affect existing marriages.

4
Mission

• To meet this directive, the Army has revised its
  existing policy. The remainder of these slides
  highlight those changes.
• The basis for these slides is AR 600-20,
  Paragraphs 4-14, 4-15, and 4-16 as revised.

5
Applicability

• This revised policy applies to
• Relationships between Army personnel (Active or
  Reserve soldiers)
• Relationships between Army personnel and
  personnel of other military Services
• The term officer includes both commissioned and
  warrant officers
• This revised policy is effective immediately
  except as noted.

6
What has not Changed

• The Army continues to prohibit all unprofessional
  relationships that
• compromise the chain of command
• cause partiality or unfairness
• involve the improper use of rank for personal
  gain
• are exploitative or coercive in nature
• create an adverse impact on discipline,
  authority, morale, or mission accomplishment

7
What has not Changed (cont)

• Relationships that present the appearance of
  violating any of these standards may also be
  prohibited.

8
COMMANDER-STAFF OFFICER

• Male Bn Cdr (LTC) sees a female 2LT on his staff
  as an outstanding officer w/much potential. He
  takes personal interest in her career counseling,
  singles her out at social functions, invites her
  to attend staff meetings with him, etc. Jr male
  female officers in battalion hint at a sexual
  relationship although that is not true.
• Relationship clearly causes a perception of
  partiality or favoritism, adversely affecting
  morale.

9
STAFF OFFICER-STAFF OFFICER

• HQ staff officer (COL) meets another staff
  officer (CPT) at work. There is no supervisory
  relationship. They date for several months and
  plan a week-end away together. Unfortunately due
  to another officers sudden illness, the CPT is
  tasked for week-end duty. The COL calls his
  friend, the SGS and prevails upon their
  friendship to find another officer to pull the
  duty.
• This is preferential treatment arising from the
  relationship between the two officers. There is
  nothing wrong with their dating, however the COL
  taking advantage of his position to gain the
  CPTs release from duty is wrong.

10
NCO-JR ENLISTED

• A SGT is promoted ahead of his peers. He and his
  wife continue to socialize with his unit friends
  who were PFCs and SPCs. When the Cdr learned
  that the SGT was continuing to socialize with his
  subordinates, he counseled him regarding
  relationships that could undermine unit
  discipline. He stressed the need to avoid actual
  or perceived favoritism, preferential treatment,
  etc.
• There is nothing inherently wrong with social
  relationships among enlisted of different ranks.
  However, a new rank carries different
  responsibilities and authority. If this
  familiarity with friends is perceived as
  favoritism, it could undermine the SGTs
  authority and erode discipline in his unit.

11
ENLISTED-NCO SUPERVISOR

• A female SPC clerk is taking evening computer
  classes and is aware of a good job coming open in
  the HQs. She needs a firm recommendation to get
  that job. Her current supervisor is acquainted
  w/the officer who will make the selection. The
  SPC invites her supervisor for a drink after
  work. They meet a few more times after work and
  he agrees to write a letter of recommendation.
• She fostered a personal relationship to secure a
  benefit. It is improper to use a personal
  relationship for personal, work-related gain.

12
What has Changed

• Certain types of relationships between officers
  (commissioned and warrant) and enlisted personnel
  are now prohibited.

13
Business Relationships

• Business relationships between officers and
  enlisted personnel are prohibited.
• Exceptions
• Landlord/tenant relationships
• One time transactions (such as sale of an
  automobile or house)
• For ARNG/USAR only, business relationships which
  exist due to their civilian occupation or
  employment

14
Business Relationships

• Exceptions (cont)
• Existing business relationships between officers
  and enlisted personnel that were authorized under
  previous Army policy are exempt until 1 Mar 00.

15
Personal Relationships

• Dating, shared living accommodations, and
  intimate or sexual relationships between officer
  and enlisted are prohibited.
• Exceptions to Prohibited Personal Relationships
• Marriages that exist now or are entered into
  prior to 1 Mar 00
• Relationships that violate policy only because of
  the promotion or change in status of one military
  member (for instance, two enlisted soldiers are
  married and one is commissioned through OCS).

16
Personal Relationships

• Exceptions to Prohibited Personal Relationships
  (contd)
• For ARNG/USAR only, personal relationships that
  exist due to civilian acquaintanceship (unless
  individuals are on active duty other than Annual
  Training)
• For Regular Army, personal relationships with a
  member of the ARNG/USAR that exist due to
  civilian (off duty) association (unless the
  ARNG/ USAR soldier is on active duty other than
  Annual Training).

17
RESERVE OFFICER-ENLISTED

• A Reserve CPT is dating a Reserve SGT. They are
  drill status, in the same unit and no supervisory
  relationship exists. They began dating after
  running into each other at the mall and striking
  up a conversation.
• The prohibition against dating does not apply to
  them because their relationship exists primarily
  due to a civilian acquaintanceship. They are
  covered by the Reserve exception in para
  4-14c(2)(D)

18
RESERVE OFFICER-ENLISTED

• An AGR CPT initiates a personal dating
  relationship with a drill status PFC who attends
  week-end drills in the same Reserve Center but in
  a different unit. He does not supervise her.
• Their relationship is a violation of the policy
  because the CPT is active duty and the Reserve
  exception does not apply to USAR members on
  active duty.

19
Personal Relationships

• Exceptions to Prohibited Personal Relationships
  (cont)
• Existing personal relationships between officer
  and enlisted that were authorized under previous
  Army policy are exempt until
• 1 Mar 00.

20
Gambling

• Gambling between officers and enlisted personnel
  is prohibited. There are no exceptions.

21
Social and Family Relationships

• Associations between officer and enlisted that
  occur in the context of community organizations,
  religious activities, athletic teams and events,
  unit-based social functions, or family gatherings
  are not prohibited.

22
Accountability

• In any relationship the senior person (by rank)
  is generally in the best position to terminate or
  limit the relationship.
• All servicemembers, however, may be held
  accountable for relationships that violate this
  policy.

23
Commanders Options

• Wide Range of Responses
• counseling/education
• administrative
• non-judicial punishment
• court-martial
• Goal is to use response that is warranted,
  appropriate, and fair

24
Other Prohibited Relationships

• Any relationship between permanent party
  personnel and IET trainees not required by the
  training mission is prohibited.
• Any relationship between permanent party
  personnel assigned or attached to the U.S. Army
  Recruiting Command and potential prospects,
  applicants, members of the Delayed Entry Program
  or Delayed Training Program not required by the
  recruiting mission is prohibited.

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Conclusion

• Armys goal has not changed a combat ready force
• Armys standards have not changed relationships
  which harm unit cohesion are unacceptable
• Army policy has changed commanders are the key
  players in guiding soldiers through the transition