Unprofessional Unprofessional RelationshipsRelationships

• AFI 36-2909–Professional Relations –Unprofessional Relationships–Fraternization

• Responsibilities–Personal/Commander/Supervisor

• Courses of Actions–Administrative/Punitive

• Legalities–UCMJ/Maximum Punishment

• Questions/Answers

Overview

• 1 May 19991 May 1999• Applies To All Air Force PersonnelApplies To All Air Force Personnel–Active DutyActive Duty–Air National GuardAir National Guard–Air Force ReservesAir Force Reserves

AFI 36-2909

• Professional Relations Are Those That Contribute to the Effective Operation of the Air Force. • Personnel Are Encouraged to Communicate

Freely With Superiors Regarding Their Careers, Performance, Duties, and Missions.

Professional Relations

Any personal relationship, whether pursued on or off-duty, that detracts from the authority of superiors or result in, or reasonably create the appearance of, favoritism, misuse of office or position, or the abandonment of organizational goals for personal interests

Unprofessional Relationships (UPR)

• Unprofessional relationships can exist between:–Officers–Enlisted members–Officers and enlisted members–Military members and civilian workers

UPRs - Factors to Consider

• Relationships Within An Organization.–Personal relationships between members of

different grades or positions in these categories can easily become unprofessional.–As differences in grade increase, even without

command or supervisory relationship, the risk of UPR or perceived UPR, increases.–Seniors always have authority over juniors.

AFI 36-2909AFI 36-2909Specific SituationsSpecific Situations

• Dating And Close Friendships:– Subject to the same policy considerations as other

relationships. Become a matter of official concern when they adversely affect morale, discipline, unit cohesion, respect for authority, or mission accomplishment.

– Relationships between superiors and subordinates invariably raise the perception of favoritism or misuse of position.

AFI 36-2909Specific Situations

• Officer/Enlisted Marriages– An officer married to an enlisted member is not by

itself fraternization.– When evidence of fraternization does exist,

subsequent marriage does not preclude prosecution.

– Regardless of how marriage came to be, members are expected to respect all customs and courtesies when on duty or in uniform in public.

AFI 36-2909Specific Situations

A personal relationship between an officer and enlisted member which violates the customary bounds of acceptable behavior in the Air Force and prejudices good order and discipline, discredits the armed services, or operates to the personal disgrace or dishonor of the officer involved.

Fraternization

(MCM, Sec IV, Article 134, Para 83)

• Element One: That the accused was a commissioned or warrant officer.

• Element Two: That the accused fraternized with enlisted members on terms of military equality.

• Element Three: That the accused knew the person to be an enlisted member.

Elements of Fraternization

(MCM, Sec IV, Article 134, Para 83)

• Element Four: That the accused violated the customs of the service that officers shall not fraternize with enlisted members on terms of military equality.

• Element Five: The conduct was prejudicial to good order and discipline of the armed forces or of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.

Elements of Elements of FraternizationFraternization

• Has the Conduct–Compromised the Chain of Command–Resulted in the Appearance of Partiality–Undermined:

• Good Order?• Discipline?• Authority?• Morale

Factors to ConsiderFactors to Consider

• Officers Will Not:–Gamble with enlisted members.–Borrow money from enlisted members.–Engage in sexual relations with or date enlisted

members.–Share living accommodations with enlisted

members–Engage, on a personal basis, in business enterprises

with enlisted members, or solicit sales to/from enlisted members.

AFI 36-2909Specific Prohibitions

Personal Relationships between AF members become matters of official concern when they adversely affect morale, discipline, respect for authority, unit cohesion, or mission accomplishment.

AFI 36-2909

• All officers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of professional conduct and lead by example.• Members should expect to be and must be held

accountable for the impact of their conduct on the Air Force as an institution.• The senior member in a relationship is

primarily responsible for maintaining the professionalism of that relationship

Personal Responsibility

• Commanders and supervisors at all levels have the authority and the responsibility to maintain good order, discipline, and morale within their units.• Commanders may be held accountable for

failing to act in appropriate cases.

Commander and Supervisory Responsibilities

• Administrative– Order to Cease– Counseling– Reprimand– Removal– Demotion– Loss of NCO Status– Adverse Comments on performance reports– Administrative Separations

Courses of Action

• Punitive– Article 15– Courts-Martial

• Action taken should normally be the least severe necessary to correct the relationship, giving full consideration to the impact the relationship has had on the organization.

Courses of Action

• Article 92, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order or General Regulation–Enlisted/Enlisted UPR–Military/Civilian UPR

• Article 133, Conduct Unbecoming an Officer–Officer/Officer UPR

• Article 134, Fraternization–Officer/Enlisted UPR

UCMJ

• Forfeiture of All Pay and Allowances• Dismissal• Confinement for 2 Years

Maximum PunishmentMaximum Punishment

• AFI 36-2909–Professional Relations –Unprofessional Relationships–Fraternization

• Responsibilities–Personal/Commander/Supervisor

• Courses of Actions–Administrative/Punitive

• Legalities–UCMJ/Maximum Punishment

• Questions/Answers

Summary

QUESTIONS