PERSMAN 8-HInterpersonal Relationships

Within the Coast Guard

Presented by:

LCDR Sharif Abdrabbo, USCGR

Ninth District Legal Office

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Mission Success An environment of mutual respect and trust inspires

teamwork.

Military Discipline Relationships that raise even the perception of unfairness

undermine good order and discipline.

Custom & Tradition Longstanding naval customs & traditions have established

boundaries of appropriate behavior, especially between officer and enlisted.

Policy Behind Rules

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Acceptable

Unacceptable

Prohibited

Types of Relationships

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Service custom recognizes that personal relationships

are acceptable as long as they DO NOT:

Jeopardize the members’ impartiality.

Undermine respect for authority.

Result in members improperly using relationship for personal gain.

Violate the UCMJ.

Acceptable Relationships

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Crewmembers going to an occasional movie, dinner, concert, or other social event.

Members jogging or participating in wellness or recreational activities together.

Examples of Acceptable Relationships

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Supervisors and subordinates in private business together.

Supervisors and subordinates in romantic relationships witheach other:

CPOs (E7-E9) and junior enlisted (E4 and below) Members assigned to same small shore unit (<60) Members assigned to the same cutter

Any relationship that disrupts the conduct of daily business.

Unacceptable Relationships

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These relationships are ALWAYS PROHIBITED, regardless of the rank, grade, or position of the persons involved:

Engaging in sexually intimate behavior on any CG vesselor in any CG controlled workplace.

Romantic relationships between O & E outside of marriage. Personal & romantic relationships between instructors and

students at a training command. Fraternization between O & E.

Prohibited Relationships

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The criminal prohibition of certain conduct between O & E, as set forth in the UCMJ.

Interpersonal relationships between O & E and fraternizationare NOT synonymous.

Fraternization

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Elements of the offense under the UCMJ:

The accused is a commissioned or warrant officer.

The accused fraternized on terms of military equality with one or more enlisted in a certain manner.

The accused knew other person was enlisted.

The association violated a custom of the service.

Under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was prejudicial to good order and discipline.

Fraternization

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Officer/enlisted relationships are OK as long as they do not jeopardize impartiality, undermine respect for authority, or result in use of relationship for personal gain.

Officer/enlisted prohibition includes members of other services.

Marriage is OK but it doesn’t mitigate earlier fraternization.

Customs of the Service

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Acceptable No action needed/taken

Unacceptable Direct members to terminate relationship Counsel, reassign, or separate member(s)

Prohibited UCMJ action available

Command Responses to Relationships

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These relationships are ALWAYS PROHIBITED, regardless

of rank, grade, or position of the persons involved:

Engaging in sexually intimate behavior on any CG vessel or in any CG controlled workplace.

Romantic relationships between O & E outside of marriage. Personal & romantic relationships between instructors and

students at a training command. Fraternization between O & E.

Prohibited Relationships

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Is an inappropriate relationship worth risking your CAREER??

Bottom Line

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XPO Station Saginaw Adultery with E-3. Mast, Relieved for Cause

Station Supervisor Washington Island Adultery with E-3 Mast, Relieved for Cause

Group Sault-Ste Marie Adultery among non-rates Mast for all members

Ninth District Cases

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O-5 relieved of command & removed from senior service school:

Engaged in an inappropriate romantic relationship with an individual for whom the command provided regulatory oversight.

E-6 convicted by a summary court-martial: while serving in a combat zone, failed to obey order not to engage in direct physical

contact w/other members of the armed forces by touching, hugging, and kissing another member.

received punitive letter of reprimand reduction to pay grade E-5 fine of $1,500

Recent Cases

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O-4 permanently relieved as XO: Conduct created impression of inappropriate

interpersonal relationships with the crew.

E-7 permanently relieved of command: Engaged in inappropriate relationship with XPO. Was removed from a CWO appointment list.

O-5 permanently relieved of command: Engaged in an inappropriate relationship with JO within

the command.

Recent Cases

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O-2 permanently removed from the O-3 promotion list: Engaged in an inappropriate romantic relationship with

the CO.

O-2 commission was revoked: Engaged in a prohibited relationship with another officer

in the wardroom despite verbal warnings from the supervisor.

Recent Cases

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CO relieved for cause : CO of a major LANTAREA cutter engaged in a prohibited

relationship with JO aboard the cutter. CO received punitive letter of reprimand. Relieved of command at Admiral’s mast.

“No Matter How Egregious or Minor The Offense, Such Conduct Is Unacceptable and Inexcusable.”

-VADM Hull

P 041908Z JUN 04 COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA//A// 041

Recent Cases

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Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.

- Lord Chesterfield (1694 - 1773)

Sex: the thing that takes up the least amount of time and causes the most amount of trouble.

– John Barrymore (1882 - 1942)

Sex

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“The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.”

-Thomas B. Macaulay (1800-1859)

“Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold – but so does a hard-boiled egg.”

-Anonymous

Final Thoughts