1. Navy and Marine Corps Fraternization Policy

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

13. 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.

14. 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

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

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

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

18. 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?

19. 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?

20. CONSEQUENCES
Article 134, UCMJ
Article 133, UCMJ
Article 92, UCMJ

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

22. 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.

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

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. REVIEW & SUMMARY