Fraternization and the Reserves - Where is the line?

I will never forget when a (somewhat douche) major publicly got after an MSG on a Sunday. Reminded him that he was an officer and the MSG WAS “just” an enlisted man. To which the MSG replied “yes, today you’re a major and I’m a sergeant. Never forget that tomorrow you’re a middle school history teacher and I’m the superintendent. “. I almost wet myself. The relationships in the reserve components can be VERY complicated.

The Reserves/Nationa Guard can’t live under the same guidelines as active because there exists a civilian lifestyle that can overlap. I recall a story done by a popular newspaper showcasing a relationship between a business owner who owns a construction company in civilian life who is an E4 in the guard and his senior engineer with his company who happens to be his battalion commander when in uniform. I read this while in Afghanistan I’m 2008 and his guard unit was assigned to Afghanistan as well.

Here we go again with another question that can be answered by picking up the AR and your local command policies.

When I was a reservist, roughly half my unit worked at the same site in our civilian jobs. We were told by our bosses that our reserve lives had no bearing there.

Several have already stated it, but maturity is a big factor in fraternization. I've been friends with NCOs and commissioned officers who either served outside of my CoC/NCO support channel, or were my immediate NCO. We understood that outside of work, we could be Brandon, Jimmy, Mike, Jake, whatever, but at work and in uniform they were SGT, SFC, CPT, SSG, whatever. For one, I avoided being a dirtbag and doing dumb crap, and for two, because these guys are my friends, they deserve the respect that their rank entitles them to. If they assigned me on a crap detail or weekend duty, I didn't bitch, I did what was required, and I didn't hold against my friends, as they have a duty to complete.

If both parties can maintain the professionalism, discipline, and maturity whil in uniform and on duty, then fraternization should be a non issue. As to romantic relationships, I think it's a bad idea if they are in the same CoC, but if they are in two different branches, and will probably have little to no interaction in uniform, what's the problem?

I've been in the military for 16 years. 8 active and 8 reserves. It doesn't matter if I'm on my one weekend a month or not I still carry myself as an US Army soldier. All regulations matter to me. Reservists are still soldiers, sailors, airman, coasties and marines. That ID card says you're part of the Armed services. Perception is reality. Fraternization is not tolerated. Point blank period.

Here is an oddball question along these lines. I am currently in a relationship and she is looking to enlist. I have been invited to submit a packet for OCS. Would fraternization come into play if her and I are in the same company but different platoons? I am currently in an Army Reserve MP company.

It takes mature people to understand fraternization. I worked at the highest levels of corporate America for many years while being a Reservist. My boss,the CEO of a very large entity, saw that although we were on a first name basis, he would be ruthless when it came to having the job done and I understood. An immature person would say, hey, you are on a first name basis with the Boss when in fact it had nothing to do with true fraternization. Same thing with the military. Superiors call subordinates by their first name but it should never be the other way around. MATURE people understand that. Irresponsible individuals bring romantic and personal relationships into the Reserves and I believe its not good for unit cohesion. Cohesion is what holds EVERY unit and civilian company together. When people are treated differently, its destructive to morale and the mission suffers. Being consistent, fair and professional will ALWAYS be good for the unit. Only when personal agendas come to light will it suffer.

I worked Active and Reservist. Should be same for both.

Really sucked as Reservist as they are exemplifying the "Weekend Warrior" mentality as they never used Rank, rarely said, "Sir/Ma'am". Then come AT time, as many also were "Romantically" involved outside the Unit, you would end up finding them sneaking off and doing hanky-panky instead of doing their jobs.

Most didn't like me, as I was coming off Active, Combat Veteran, and Infantry, into a Medical Unit, that IMO, had a few good soldiers/officers, but way to much "weekend warrior" bullshit going on. Needless to say I didn't stick around long, as I felt it wasn't proper military. Just a bunch of college kiddies playing soldier....

I vote this way because I have known a bunch of married duel service couples, some who got in trouble when someone decided to bring fraternization charges against them later. (If it was never an issue while they were dating, why is it suddenly an issue when they marry?) Dating with-in and across commands, regardless of rank, can and does happen, but not per service regulations.

At some commands the fraternization police were so bad, I couldn't ask an officer a question if we weren't in a formal office setting. It wasn't much different for lower non-commissioned officers to upper either. That doesn't help communication or espirit-de-corps.

Keep it professional at work, keep it respectful at all times; but keep it from being a burden and hindrance to daily inter-work relations.

If they are not int he same chain of command; so what? As long as the officer is not using their influence to the enlisted member, who cares? No matter what happens, when you have two military members, people are going to talk trash.

Fraternization happens in the Reserves. There is no way around it. From service members going to college together, living together, working together or in general being friends outside of drill weekends.

I worked for almost a year with a junior Marine while I was an NCO. At work I was Jordan and he was Sam. On drill weekends, I was Sgt. Vied and he was LCpl Monahan. It wasn't a big deal for us at all.

Reservist seem to be unique in the way they handle this and it is difficult for Active Components to understand. We stay in the same units for our entire contracts unless we move and need to transfer. (I knew a Gunny in the same unit for 22 years). Our unit cohesiveness is generally higher than most Active units because of this.

Just because Monday-Friday we go by first names with each other doesn't mean we don't have that professional switch that we can turn on in an instance and immediately go to rank and seniority. In my 6 years I haven't seen a big issue with this at all in the Marine Corps Reserves. Other branches may be different though

The National Guard and Army Reserve should, and do, have zero fraternization policies while they are not on duty. They are not full time soldiers despite the general jargon. When they go to drill, are activated, or act in a manner which reflects their uniform. This is why, (if you haven't done it it's hard to know), being a National Guard or Army Reserve Soldier is sometimes harder than an active Army soldier.

A specialist with a Major? Yeah right.