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A Guide for the Air Force Officer and DoD Civilian
Unprofessional Relationships and Fraternization
Source: The Enlisted Professional Development Committee 21st Space Wing
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UNPROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FRATERNIZATION
Professional relationships are essential to the effective operation of the military and in meeting our mission requirements. The nature of the
military mission requires absolute confidence in command and unhesitating adherence to orders. While personal relationships are largely a matter of
choice in the civilian world, professional relationships are required in the military.
AFI 36-2909
governs professional and unprofessional relationships.
Unprofessional relationships are those which simply create the appearance of favoritism, involve the misuse of office or position, or lead to
the abandonment of organizational goals for personal interests. One can easily see how these relationships would erode good order and discipline,
respect for authority, unit cohesion, and ultimately mission accomplishment.
They directly detract from the authority of a superior. Unprofessional relationships can exist between officers, between enlisted members,
between officers and enlisted members, or between military personnel and civilian employees.
When unprofessional relationships are discovered, typically a cease and desist order is given to the parties involved. Continuing the relationship
then subjects the members to violating a direct order, a violation of Article 92 of the
UCMJ.
Fraternization is an aggravated type of an unprofessional relationship. Fraternization is a personal relationship between an officer and an enlisted
member which violates the customary bounds of acceptable behavior in the Air Force and prejudices good order and discipline, discredits the armed
forces, or operates to the personal disgrace or dishonor of the officer involved.
Air Force custom provides that officers will not form personal relationships with enlisted members on terms of military equality, whether
on or off duty. Factors which can change an otherwise permissible relationship into an
unprofessional relationship include the members’ relative positions within the organization, and the members’ relative position within
the supervisor and command chains. Remember that it is the senior member’s primary responsibility to maintain the professionalism of a
personal relationship.
Fraternization is recognized as a violation of the UCMJ. Even if a relationship does not rise to the level of fraternization, it may still be
punishable under the UCMJ as conduct unbecoming an officer, and/or addressed as an unprofessional relationship. Note that fraternization is not
punishable as a crime against the enlisted member, it is the officer who will become the criminally accused.
Additionally, the following conduct is specifically prohibited by officers and can be prosecuted under the UCMJ when appropriate:
(1) Officers will not gamble with enlisted members;
(2) Officers will not borrow money from or otherwise become indebted to enlisted members;
(3) Officers will not engage in sexual relations with or date enlisted members; and
(4) Officers will not share living accommodations with enlisted members.
When people hear the term “fraternization,” many immediately think of adultery or dating. However, this prohibition is gender neutral. Creating a
close personal friendship that meets the elements of the offense is still fraternization, even between members of the same sex. Adultery or dating
is fraternization as between an officer and an enlisted troop, but may also be an unprofessional relationship between two officers or between two
enlisted members.
Beware of shared activities such as living accommodations, vacations, transportation, and off-duty interests. On a frequent or recurring basis
these can be, or can reasonably be perceived to be, unprofessional. Such arrangements often lead to claims of abuse of position or favoritism. While
an occasional round of golf or game of racquetball between a supervisor and a subordinate could remain professional, daily or weekly activities could
result in at least the perception of an unprofessional relationship. Again, this is the senior military member’s primary responsibility to guard against.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding activities in your unit and whether or not they might constitute an unprofessional relationship or
fraternization, you should contact your commander or the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate for advice.
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