Transcript Slide 1

Unprofessional
Relationships
Overview

AFI 36-2909
 Professional Relations
 Unprofessional Relationships
 Fraternization

Responsibilities
 Personal/Commander/Supervisor

Courses of Actions
 Administrative/Punitive

Legalities
 UCMJ/Maximum Punishment

Questions/Answers
AFI 36-2909, Professional
and Unprofessional
Relationships
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1 May 1999
Applies To All Air Force Personnel
 Active Duty
 Air National Guard
 Air Force Reserves
Professional Relations
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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.
Unprofessional
Relationships (UPR)
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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
UPRs - Factors to
Consider
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Unprofessional relationships can exist
between:
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Officers
Enlisted members
Officers and enlisted members
Military members and civilian workers
AFI 36-2909
Specific Situations

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 36-2909
Specific 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 36-2909
Specific 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.
Fraternization
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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.
Elements of
Fraternization
(MCM, Sec IV, Article 134, Para 83)
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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)
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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.
Factors to Consider
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Has the Conduct
 Compromised the Chain of Command
 Resulted in the Appearance of Partiality
 Undermined:
 Good Order?
 Discipline?
 Authority?
 Morale?
AFI 36-2909
Specific Prohibitions
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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 36-2909
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Personal Relationships between AF
members become matters of official
concern when they adversely affect
morale, discipline, respect for authority,
unit cohesion, or mission
accomplishment.
Personal Responsibility
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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.
Commander and
Supervisory Responsibilities
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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.
Courses of Action
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Administrative
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Order to Cease
Counseling
Reprimand
Removal
Demotion
Loss of NCO Status
Adverse Comments on performance reports
Administrative Separations
Courses of Action
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Punitive
 Article 15
 Courts-Martial
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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.
UCMJ
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Article 92, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order or
General Regulation
 Enlisted/Enlisted UPR
 Military/Civilian UPR
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Article 133, Conduct Unbecoming an Officer
 Officer/Officer UPR
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Article 134, Fraternization
 Officer/Enlisted UPR
Maximum Punishment
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Forfeiture of All Pay and Allowances
Dismissal
Confinement for 2 Years
QUESTIONS
Summary

AFI 36-2909
 Professional Relations
 Unprofessional Relationships
 Fraternization

Responsibilities
 Personal/Commander/Supervisor

Courses of Actions
 Administrative/Punitive

Legalities
 UCMJ/Maximum Punishment

Questions/Answers
Unprofessional
Relationships