Do you think Officers and NCO's should be allowed to date or get married as long as they are not in the same Chain of Command?

Unless something has changed recently officers and enlisted have always been allowed to marry just not date. It's a loophole in the reg's but one that has been used over the years.

I absolutely think it should be OK!

Rank should not matter in a couple...marriage should be a private matter

Absolutely! I have no idea why the difference between officer and enlisted even exists anymore. Incredibly antiquitated. Most the NCOs I work with have college degrees or more. Why does the officer ranks exists anymore? Combine it into a rank system not based upon a caste system our nation was not founded upon, and against, anyway?

I think it should not matter

CW4 (Join to see), I thought I had commented on this earlier but going through the comments I guess I didn't. Maybe I replied to a similar thread.

Anyway, after careful consideration I have changed my opinion on this matter. My opinion used to be "no way."

Now my opinion is this: If not in the same Chain of Command, or stationed at the same command (which is actually a rule in the Navy's fraternization policy when it comes to E7-E9 dating E6 and below), no problem. There would be issues to be worked out of course when it comes time for the members to PCS. Their respective detailers would have to work together to ensure the members would never go to the same command (I think this should be a rule if the fraternization policy between Officers and Enlisted changes). Also, if the members are in different branches (Army to Air Force as mentioned by one member for example) it also should not be an issue.

I could also go over the reasons why I changed my opinion, but they're the same as everyone else who has changed their minds here.

The only time I personally have seen cases of Officer and Enlisted dating it WAS an issue because in both cases the Officer and Enlisted were in the same chain of command. In the second case, the enlisted person got discharged and the officer got a Letter of Intent or Letter of Reprimand, whatever it's called for an Officer, meaning that his career was immediately over.

They should be allowed to marry.

As longs at they don't have an influence on each others careers it shouldn't matter

No problem

Yes.

No, if they want to date or marry, one needs to separate from service

Yes

Different jobs, different units, who cares. That's like saying the VP of marketing and the Mail room supervisor of a large corporation get married and it will cause problems. You simply have to have the skill set and resume to move up. Our resume is our ERB and our skill set is our Rank in which we earn. So who does it really effect? Nobody.

I believe as long as they are not in the same chain of command officers and enlisted should be able to date. It might even help us get to know "the other side" better.

If they can keep their personal life from their work separate then it should be okay. We already have NCOs marrying each other and I don't see any conflicts going on since they keep reminding each "when im at work, im not your hubby."

No, they should definitely be allowed to date.

In my opinion, it shouldn't matter if they are not in the same chain of command. No one should be able to dictate who one can and cannot date or marry. Love is love.

CW4 (Join to see) I don't think about it, as AR 600-20 says no way... So that is law of the land. I was in the Army when this latest version was floated, and it seemed over the top. That said, I don't see the issue, if they are not in the same organization.

Yes as long as it's not a conflict of interest

IMO, I think that the Fraternization Policy should be updated alongside the updates of DADT, Transgender, and any other 'lifestyle' conflictions that are currently being looked at. The history of Fraternization evolved from a caste system that was later updated to the policy of keeping good order and discipline. The reason why there is a similarity to why Fraternization should be reviewed along side DADT and other lifestyle policies is the same reason why there was a separation of genders, and why same sex sexual interests had policies against them, to the core they all have to do with good order and behavior. I know its not as simple to combine these areas, however to make my point quick, I will use just that standard of 'keeping good order and discipline'. The military is currently undergoing an extreme update when it comes to lifestyles and military traditions be it women in ranger school, DADT repealed, Same-sex benefits, and now the question if transgender will be accepted. All of these in a sense can cause a disruption to a good order and result into negative discipline. However we are the U.S Military, and when we are face with a brick in the wall, we find a policy to go around that brick and accomplish the mission! The Same Sex laws were passed due to Marriage equality, why should there be a prejudice of rank, when we have long moved passed race, and now gender? Some say because of unfavorable preference between the Chain of Command. To offer an advisement to that notion, if we are able to over come same sex sexual interests in same sex dormitories for training, and deployed locations, that would easily effect the good order and discipline, then why cant we come together to put the correct verbiage on an up to date policy on unprofessional relationships. How about, it is ill-advised for relationships within the members Chain of Command, however the Members Unit will handle at the lowest level on disciplinary actions if misconduct arises. Or something similar within rank, mil-to-mil marriages. As for personnel with joint spouse for an 'O' and 'E' marriage, maintain the highest ranking individual drives the assignment. There are currently 'O' and 'E' marriages in the military due to the grandfather policy, AFPC still makes it work with assignments to those individuals. Also speaking on the fact there is already mixed rank marriages, you do not see that causing a disruption to the good order and discipline of the military. Perseverance and being adaptable is what we need to be our cornerstone with all of these lifestyle changes.