Navy and Marine Corps Fraternization Policy

HISTORY “Custom” is a long established practice, which has attained the force of law within the military. Proper social interaction among officer and enlisted members enhances unit morale and esprit de corps.

HISTORY (con’t) Unduly familiar personal relationships: Undermine respect for authority Inhibit mission accomplishment Experience has demonstrated that seniors must maintain thoroughly professional relationships with juniors at all times.

HISTORY (con’t) Custom recognizes the need to prevent use of senior grade or position that results in (or gives the appearance of): Favoritism Preferential treatment Personal gain Custom requires that junior personnel recognize and respect authority.

FRATERNIZATION DEFINED A term traditionally used to identify personal relationships that contravene the customary bounds of acceptable senior-subordinate relationships. Also includes improper relationships and social interaction between officer members of different grades and enlisted members of different grades.

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS FRATERNIZATION POLICY Personal, unduly familiar relationships that do not respect differences in rank and grade are prohibited.

FRATERNIZATION POLICY (con’t) Relationships that are unduly familiar between officers of different rank/grade or between enlisted members of different rank/grade are prohibited. These relationships may sacrifice good order and discipline or be of such nature that they bring discredit on the Naval Service.

FRATERNIZATION POLICY (con’t) Commands are expected to take administrative and disciplinary action as necessary.

PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIPS NAVY Personal relationships that are unduly familiar between: Chief Petty Officers (E-7 to E-9) and junior personnel (E-1 to E-6) Officers and enlisted personnel Staff/Instructor and Student Personnel Recruiters and recruits/applicants

PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIPS (con’t) NAVY If such relationships exist: A senior’s objectivity can be called into question. It can result in actual or apparent preferential treatment. It can undermine the authority of the senior member. It can compromise the chain of command.

PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIPS (con’t) MARINE CORPS Mirrors Navy policy, except that the same provisions apply to the relationship of noncommissioned officers (E-4 to E-5) with their subordinates (E-1 to E-3). Personal relationships between officers and enlisted are prohibited.

Surrounding circumstances often determine whether the conduct in question is appropriate or not.

PROPER RELATIONSHIPS Appropriate personal relationships are an important part of building unit morale and esprit de corps. Examples: Officer and enlisted personnel playing on the same command sports team. Other command-sponsored events.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS Behaviors considered unduly familiar and inappropriate: Dating Shared living accommodations Intimate or sexual relations Commercial solicitations Private business partnerships Gambling and borrowing money between officers and enlisted members

SCENARIO ONE CAPTAIN MARINE and SERGEANT DEVILDOG Does their relationship constitute fraternization per Navy and Marine Corps policy?

CHIEF BARNACLE and PETTY OFFICER FIRST-CLASS TECHNO SCENARIO TWO CHIEF BARNACLE and PETTY OFFICER FIRST-CLASS TECHNO Does this constitute fraternization?

ENSIGN SAILOR and LIEUTENANT SHIPMATE SCENARIO THREE ENSIGN SAILOR and LIEUTENANT SHIPMATE Does this constitute fraternization?

FIRST LIEUTENANT BLANK SCENARIO FOUR FIRST LIEUTENANT BLANK Is there a compromise of the chain of command? Is there an appearance of partiality? Is there the potential for good order, discipline, morale, or authority to be undermined?

GYSGT WRENCH and PFC JONES SCENARIO FIVE GYSGT WRENCH and PFC JONES Is there a compromise of the chain of command? Is there an appearance of partiality? Is there the potential for good order, discipline, morale, or authority to be undermined? What should you do, as the Section OIC?

CONSEQUENCES Article 134, UCMJ Article 133, UCMJ Article 92, UCMJ

OTHER REMEDIES Non-punitive Formal or informal counseling Transfer of one or both parties Evaluation or Fitness Report comments NJP Court-martial

MARRIAGE & OTHER RELATIONS Conduct not excused by subsequent marriage. Okay if married before commissioned. If married or related, must maintain official relationship while on duty. Must not be in the same chain of command.

NROTC COMMANDING OFFICER’S POLICY (Insert statement from Professor of Naval Science regarding your unit.)

RESPONSIBILITY Fraternization is a gender-neutral concept. Seniors throughout the chain of command will: Provide guidance on appropriate relationships. Ensure all personnel are aware of the current policy. Provide annual indoctrination/ training. Address prohibited behavior.

RESPONSIBILITY (con’t) Responsibility is shared by all individuals, but ultimately rests on the senior. The leader must be careful to avoid even the perception of fraternization. When allegations are made, the CO must carefully study both the case at hand and the fraternization directives.

REVIEW & SUMMARY