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Proper Military and Professional Bearing, Order, Discipline, and Respect IAW AR 600-20 & FM 6-22 1. Military Discipline a. Military discipline is founded upon self-discipline, respect for properly constituted authority, and the embracing of the professional Army ethic with its supporting individual values. Military discipline will be developed by individual and group training to create a mental attitude resulting in proper conduct and prompt obedience to lawful military authority. b. While military discipline is the result of effective training, it is affected by every feature of military life.
It is manifested in individuals and units by cohesion, bonding, and a spirit of teamwork; by smartness of appearance and action; by cleanliness and maintenance of dress, equipment, and quarters; by deference to seniors and mutual respect between senior and subordinate personnel; by the prompt and willing execution of both the letter and the spirit of the legal orders of their lawful commanders; and by fairness, justice, and equity for all Soldiers, regardless of race, religion, color, gender, and national origin. c. c.
Commanders and other leaders will maintain discipline according to the policies of this chapter, applicable laws and regulations, and the orders of seniors. 2. Obedience to orders a. All persons in the military service are required to strictly obey and promptly execute the legal orders of their lawful seniors. 3. Military Courtesy a. Courtesy among members of the Armed Forces is vital to maintain military discipline. Respect to seniors will be extended at all times (see AR 600–25, chap 4). b. The actions of military personnel will reflect respect to both the national anthem and the national colors.
The courtesies listed in AR 600–25, appendix A, should be rendered the national colors and national anthem at public events whether the Soldier is off or on duty, whether he or she is in or out of uniform. Intentional disrespect to the national colors or national anthem is conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline and discredits the military service. 4. Soldier Conduct a. Ensuring the proper conduct of Soldiers is a function of command. Commanders and leaders in the Army whether on or off duty or in a leave status, will— (1) Ensure all military personnel present a neat, soldierly appearance. 2) Take action consistent with Army regulation in any case where a Soldier’s conduct violates good order and military discipline. b. On public conveyances in the absence of military police, the person in charge of the conveyance will be asked to notify the nearest military police and arrange to have them, if necessary, take custody of military personnel. In serious situations, such as physical assault, the person in charge of the conveyance will be asked to stop at the first opportunity and request local police assistance.
In all such cases, the local police will be advised to telephone (collect) the nearest Army post or Army headquarters. c. When an offense endangering the reputation of the Army is committed elsewhere (not on a public conveyance) and military police are not available, civilian police will be requested to take appropriate action. d. When military police are not present, the senior officer, WO, or NCO present will obtain the Soldier’s name, grade, social security number, organization, and station. The information and a statement of the circumstances will be sent to the Soldier’s commanding officer without delay.
If the Soldier is turned over to the civilian police, the above information will be sent to the civilian police for transmittal to the proper military authorities. 5. Maintenance of Order a. the Navy and Coast Guard shore patrols are authorized and directed to apprehend Armed Forces members who commit offenses punishable under the UCMJ. Officers, WOs, NCOs, and petty officers of the Armed Forces are authorized and directed to quell all quarrels, frays, and disorders among persons subject to military law and to apprehend participants. Those exercising this authority should do so with judgment and tact.
Personnel so apprehended will be returned to the jurisdiction of their respective Service as soon as practical. Confinement of females will be according to AR 190–47. 6. Exercising Military Authority a. Military authority is exercised promptly, firmly, courteously and fairly. Commanders should consider administrative corrective measures before deciding to impose nonjudicial punishment. Trial by court-martial is ordinarily inappropriate for minor offenses unless lesser forms of administering discipline would be ineffective (see MCM, Part V, and chap 3, AR 27–10). b.
One of the most effective administrative corrective measures is extra training or instruction (including on-the-spot correction). For example, if Soldiers appear in an improper uniform, they are required to correct it immediately; if they do not maintain their housing area properly, they must correct the deficiency in a timely manner. If Soldiers have training deficiencies, they will be required to take extra training or instruction in subjects directly related to the shortcoming. (1) The training, instruction, or correction given to a Soldier to correct deficiencies must be directly related to the deficiency.
It must be oriented to improving the Soldier’s performance in his or her problem area. Corrective measures may be taken after normal duty hours. Such measures assume the nature of training or instruction, not punishment. Corrective training should continue only until the training deficiency is overcome. Authority to use it is part of the inherent powers of command. (2) Care should be taken at all levels of command to ensure that training and instruction are not used in an oppressive manner to evade the procedural safeguards applying to imposing nonjudicial punishment.
Deficiencies satisfactorily corrected by means of training and instruction will not be noted in the official records of the Soldiers concerned. 7. Relationships between Soldiers of different rank a. The term “officer,” as used in this paragraph, includes both commissioned and warrant officers unless otherwise stated. The provisions of this paragraph apply to both relationships between Army personnel (to include dual-status military technicians in the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard) and between Army personnel and personnel of other military services.
This policy is effective immediately, except where noted below, and applies to different-gender relationships and same-gender relationships. b. Relationships between Soldiers of different rank are prohibited if they— (1) Compromise, or appear to compromise, the integrity of supervisory authority or the chain of command. (2) Cause actual or perceived partiality or unfairness. (3) Involve, or appear to involve, the improper use of rank or position for personal gain. (4) Are, or are perceived to be, exploitative or coercive in nature. 5) Create an actual or clearly predictable adverse impact on discipline, authority, morale, or the ability of the command to accomplish its mission. c. Certain types of personal relationships between officers and enlisted personnel are prohibited. Prohibited relationships include— (1) Ongoing business relationships between officers and enlisted personnel. This prohibition does not apply to landlord/tenant relationships or to one-time transactions such as the sale of an automobile or house, but does apply to borrowing or lending money, commercial solicitation, and any other type of on-going financial or business relationship.
Business relationships which exist at the time this policy becomes effective, and that were authorized under previously existing rules and regulations, are exempt until March 1, 2000. In the case of Army National Guard or United States Army Reserve personnel, this prohibition does not apply to relationships that exist due to their civilian occupation or employment. (2) Dating, shared living accommodations other than those directed by operational requirements, and intimate or sexual relationships between officers and enlisted personnel. This prohibition does not apply to— (a) Marriages.
When evidence of fraternization between an officer and enlisted member prior to their marriage exists, their marriage does not preclude appropriate command action based on the prior fraternization. Commanders have a wide range of responses available including counseling, reprimand, order to cease, reassignment, administrative action or adverse action. Commanders must carefully consider all of the facts and circumstances in reaching a disposition that is appropriate. Generally, the commander should take the minimum action necessary to ensure that the needs of good order and discipline are satisfied. b) Situations in which a relationship that complies with this policy would move into non-compliance due to a change in status of one of the members (for instance, a case where two enlisted members are dating and one is subsequently commissioned or selected as a warrant officer). In relationships where one of the enlisted members has entered into a program intended to result in a change in their status from enlisted to officer, the couple must terminate the relationship permanently or marry within either ne year of the actual start date of the program, before the change in status occurs, or within one year of the publication date of this regulation, whichever occurs later. (c) Personal relationships between members of the National Guard or Army Reserve, when the relationship primarily exists due to civilian acquaintanceships, unless the individuals are on active duty (other than annual training), on full-time National Guard duty (other than annual training), or serving as a dual status military technician. d) Personal relationships between members of the Regular Army and members of the National Guard or Army Reserve when the relationship primarily exists due to civilian association and the Reserve component member is not on active duty (other than annual training), on full-time National Guard duty (other than annual training), or serving as a dual status military technician. e) Prohibited relationships involving dual status military technicians, which were not prohibited under previously existing rules and regulations, are exempt until one year of publication date of this regulation. (f) Soldiers and leaders share responsibility, however, for ensuring that these relationships do not interfere with good order and discipline. Commanders will ensure that personal relationships that exist between Soldiers of different ranks emanating from their civilian careers will not influence training, readiness, or personnel actions. 3) Gambling between officers and enlisted personnel. d. These prohibitions are not intended to preclude normal team building associations that occur in the context of activities such as community organizations, religious activities, Family gatherings, unit-based social functions, or athletic teams or events. e. All military personnel share the responsibility for maintaining professional relationships.
However, in any relationship between Soldiers of different grade or rank, the senior member is generally in the best position to terminate or limit the extent of the relationship. Nevertheless, all members may be held accountable for relationships that violate this policy. f. Commanders should seek to prevent inappropriate or unprofessional relationships through proper training and leadership by example. Should inappropriate relationships occur, commanders have available a wide range of responses.
These responses may include counseling, reprimand, order to cease, reassignment, or adverse action. Potential adverse action may include official reprimand, adverse evaluation report(s), nonjudicial punishment, separation, bar to reenlistment, promotion denial, demotion, and courts martial. Commanders must carefully consider all of the facts and circumstances in reaching a disposition that is warranted, appropriate, and fair. 8. Hazing a.
The Army has been and continues to be a values-based organization where everyone is encouraged to do what is right by treating others as they should be treated—with dignity and respect. Hazing is fundamentally in opposition to our values and is prohibited. b. Definition. Hazing is defined as any conduct whereby one military member or employee, regardless of Service or rank, unnecessarily causes another military member or employee, regardless of Service or rank, to suffer or be exposed to an activity that is cruel, abusive, oppressive, or harmful. 1) Hazing includes, but is not limited, to any form of initiation “rite of passage” or congratulatory act that involves: physically striking another in order to inflict pain; piercing another’s skin in any manner; forcing or requiring the consumption of excessive amounts of food, alcohol, drugs, or other substances; or encouraging another to engage in illegal, harmful, demeaning or dangerous acts. Soliciting or coercing another to participate in any such activity is also considered hazing.
Hazing need not involve physical contact among or between military members or employees; it can be verbal or psychological in nature. (2) When authorized by the chain of command and not unnecessarily cruel, abusive, oppressive, or harmful, the following activities do not constitute hazing: (a) The physical and mental hardships associated with operations or operational training. (b) Administrative corrective measures, including verbal reprimands and a reasonable number of repetitions of authorized physical exercises. (c) Extra military instruction or training. d) Physical training or remedial physical training. (e) Other similar activities. (3) Whether or not such actions constitute hazing, they may be inappropriate or violate relevant civilian personnel guidance, depending on the type of activities and the assigned duties of the employee involved. c. Scope. Hazing is not limited to superior-subordinate relationships. It may occur between peers or even, under certain circumstances, may involve actions directed towards senior military personnel by those junior in rank or grade to them (for example, a training instructor hazing a student who is superior in rank).
Hazing has at times occurred during graduation ceremonies or similar military “rites of passage. ” However, it may also happen in day-to-day military settings. It is prohibited in all cases, to include off-duty or “unofficial” celebrations or unit functions. Express or implied consent to hazing is not a defense to violation of this regulation. d. Command responsibilities. Enforcement of this policy is a responsibility of commanders at all levels.
Commanders will devote particular attention to graduation or advancement ceremonies as well as other occasions or settings that might put Soldiers at risk for voluntary or involuntary hazing. These situations will be supervised properly, respectful of all participants, perpetuate the best of the traditions that the Army embraces, and leave all participants and spectators feeling proud to be a member of or associated with the U. S. Army. e. Command options. This paragraph is punitive with regards to Soldiers. Violators of this policy may be subject to Article 92 of the UCMJ (Failure to obey a lawful general order or regulation).
Other applicable UCMJ articles include Article 80 (Attempts), Article 81 (Conspiracy), Article 93 (Cruelty and maltreatment), Article 124 (Maiming), Article 128 (Assault), Article 133 (Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman), and Article 134 (Drunk and disorderly conduct, and/or Soliciting another to commit an offense). Civilian employees who violate this policy may also be subject to adverse action or discipline in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Commanders should seek the advice and counsel of their legal advisor when taking actions pursuant to this paragraph.