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AFH 1 · Chapter 20 · Section 20.17

Working Relationships

Part of Customs, Courtesies, and Tradition · 3 sections · ~797 words · WAPS PFE study material

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Working Relationships — Foundation

Social Interaction Encouraged

Social Interaction Encouraged
Social interaction that contributes appropriately to unit cohesiveness and effectiveness is encouraged.

Professional Relationships Required

Professional Standard Required
Military members of all grades must maintain professional relationships with:
  • Civilian employees
  • Government contractor personnel they work with, supervise, or direct

What to Avoid

Relationships to Avoid
Members must avoid relationships that adversely affect or are perceived to adversely affect:
  • Morale
  • Discipline
  • Respect for authority
  • Unit cohesion

…or that violate law or regulation.

When Personal Relationships Become Official Concern

When Personal = Official Concern
While personal relationships between USAF members are normally matters of individual choice and judgment, they become matters of official concern when they adversely affect or have the reasonable potential to affect the USAF by eroding:
  • Morale
  • Good order
  • Discipline
  • Respect for authority
  • Unit cohesion
  • Mission accomplishment

Working Relationships — Professional and Unprofessional Relationships

Professional Relationships

Pro Relationships Vital
As stated in AFI 1-1, appropriate professional relationships are vital to:
  • The effective operation of all organizations
  • Maintaining good order and discipline

Why Military > Civilian Standard

Why Military Standard Higher
The nature of the military mission requires:
  • Absolute confidence in command
  • Unhesitating adherence to orders that may result in inconvenience, hardships, and at times, injury, or death

Distinction Matters

Mil > Civilian Distinction
This distinction makes the maintenance of professional relationships in the military MORE CRITICAL than in civilian organizations.

Reference

AFI 36-2909 Reference
AFI 36-2909, *Air Force Professional Relationships and Conduct*, establishes responsibilities for maintaining professional relationships.

Unprofessional Relationships

Unpro Definition
Unprofessional relationships, whether pursued on- or off-duty, are those relationships that:
  • Detract from the authority of superiors
  • Result in, or reasonably create the appearance of:
  • Favoritism
  • Misuse of office or position
  • Abandonment of organizational goals for personal interests

Why They Matter

Unpro Visibility
Once established, unprofessional relationships do not go unnoticed by other members of a unit, and call into question the superior's impartiality toward the subordinate and his or her peers.

Where Unprofessional Must Be Avoided

Where Unpro Must Be Avoided
Unprofessional relationships must be avoided:
  • Between officers
  • Between enlisted members
  • Between officers and enlisted members
  • Between military personnel and civilian employees or contractor personnel
  • Within and across the military branches

Authority/Grade Risk Factors

Authority Risk
Relationships in which one member exercises supervisory or command authority over another have the potential for becoming unprofessional.
Grade Difference Risk
Differences in grade increase the risk that a relationship will be, or will be perceived to be, unprofessional because:

- Senior members in military organizations have direct or indirect organizational influence over the duties and careers of junior members

What Senior Members Can Influence

Senior Member Influence
The ability of the senior member to directly or indirectly influence:
  • Assignments
  • Promotion recommendations
  • Duties
  • Awards
  • Other privileges and benefits

…places both the senior member and the junior member in susceptible situations.

Working Relationships — Fraternization and Article 134 UCMJ

Fraternization Defined

Fraternization Definition
Fraternization is an unprofessional relationship between an officer and enlisted member specifically prohibited by Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice.

When Fraternization Exists

When Frat Exists
Fraternization exists when a relationship between an officer and an enlisted member puts the enlisted member on terms of military equality with the officer in a way that:
  • Prejudices good order and discipline in the U.S. Armed Forces, OR
  • Brings discredit upon the U.S. Armed Forces

Custom of the Service

Custom of Service
This custom of the service recognizes that officers will NOT form personal relationships with enlisted members on terms of military equality, whether on- or off-duty.

Determining What Constitutes Fraternization

Frat Determination Factors
Whether a contact or association constitutes fraternization depends on the surrounding circumstances, such as whether the conduct has:
  • Compromised the chain of command
  • Resulted in the appearance of partiality
  • Otherwise undermined good order, discipline, authority, or morale

Cross-Service Application

Cross-Service Application
The prohibition on fraternization extends beyond organizational and chain of command lines to include members among or across different services.
All Officer-Enlisted
In short, it extends to all officer and enlisted relationships.

Officer Primarily Responsible

Officer Primarily Responsible
When fraternization occurs, the officer will be held primarily responsible, and is the only member subject to disciplinary action for fraternization under Article 134, UCMJ.

Enlisted Still Subject to Discipline

Enlisted Under Article 92
However, an enlisted member involved in consensual fraternization is still engaged in an unprofessional relationship and is likewise subject to discipline under Article 92, UCMJ.

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