Posted on Nov 4, 2014
How can armed forces members serve AND not violate political policies and regs?
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How is this possible? People will complain about saying anything political around the office but we have officers in the guard and reserve campaigning for congress.
Granted they don't link their military service to a particular party (i.e. - making it look like the gov is choosing a party) but it's a lot more obvious when someone says they are X political party AND in the reserves etc.
So basically I can't say "democrats historically blah blah" on Facebook without potentially getting in trouble but a reserve LTC can campaign as a republican.
How can that jive? I must be missing something key.
Granted they don't link their military service to a particular party (i.e. - making it look like the gov is choosing a party) but it's a lot more obvious when someone says they are X political party AND in the reserves etc.
So basically I can't say "democrats historically blah blah" on Facebook without potentially getting in trouble but a reserve LTC can campaign as a republican.
How can that jive? I must be missing something key.
Posted in these groups: 
Politics
Politics
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 2
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This DoD Directive spells things out. I assume there are Service implementing regulations (Army) or instructions.
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134410p.pdf
Here's the Army regulation that incorporates DoD Directive 1344.10:
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_20.pdf
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134410p.pdf
Here's the Army regulation that incorporates DoD Directive 1344.10:
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_20.pdf
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CW2 (Join to see)
I have definitely read that. I just feel like it makes contradictory points (as I interpret).
SGT, active duty, can say Pres. Obama has done X to make our country better/worse on Facebook and receive an article 15 regardless if he or she puts some disclaimer about it not reflecting official views of the military.
SGT, national guard, provided he is in an elected office and says "not affiliated with the Army", even if he or she has some pictures in uniform, but can critique the job of congress/the President with relatively immunity.
I understand not discussing politics at work. I can only assume the elected officials while on weekend drill do not discuss politics. Nevertheless, in the eyes of any subordinate that has half a mind to media they know that in the news the other 28 days of the month their boss has an (R) or (D) behind their name, and has probably made political statements and touted their national guard/reserve status.
It just boggles my mind.
For the record, this isn't coming out of anywhere except election day. I don't know anyone getting in trouble for this or anything.
For example, Joni Ernst, a LTC in the National Guard, said:
"The night of my primary election I said that this is a phony war on woman. First, I am a woman and second, I have been to war. I am a combat veteran. This is not a war on women. Anytime democrats are using the word war they need to do it to honor our service men and women," Ernst said.
A clear attack on Democrats. Is she using her military rank to say this? No. But her "about" page on joniforiowa.com says "Mother. Soldier. Independent leader."
So she also said "I am running for senate because as a soldier, a Lt. Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, I understand the importance of a strong national defense - See more at: http://www.joniforiowa.com/bio/#sthash.ZnspumMO.dpuf"
"Whether it’s policies like Obamacare, cap and trade or high taxes, the direction this president is taking our country is frightening enough for people of my generation - See more at: http://www.joniforiowa.com/bio/#sthash.ZnspumMO.dpuf"
But yet someone on active duty can't say diddly like that.
Make sense, what I'm getting at?
SGT, active duty, can say Pres. Obama has done X to make our country better/worse on Facebook and receive an article 15 regardless if he or she puts some disclaimer about it not reflecting official views of the military.
SGT, national guard, provided he is in an elected office and says "not affiliated with the Army", even if he or she has some pictures in uniform, but can critique the job of congress/the President with relatively immunity.
I understand not discussing politics at work. I can only assume the elected officials while on weekend drill do not discuss politics. Nevertheless, in the eyes of any subordinate that has half a mind to media they know that in the news the other 28 days of the month their boss has an (R) or (D) behind their name, and has probably made political statements and touted their national guard/reserve status.
It just boggles my mind.
For the record, this isn't coming out of anywhere except election day. I don't know anyone getting in trouble for this or anything.
For example, Joni Ernst, a LTC in the National Guard, said:
"The night of my primary election I said that this is a phony war on woman. First, I am a woman and second, I have been to war. I am a combat veteran. This is not a war on women. Anytime democrats are using the word war they need to do it to honor our service men and women," Ernst said.
A clear attack on Democrats. Is she using her military rank to say this? No. But her "about" page on joniforiowa.com says "Mother. Soldier. Independent leader."
So she also said "I am running for senate because as a soldier, a Lt. Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, I understand the importance of a strong national defense - See more at: http://www.joniforiowa.com/bio/#sthash.ZnspumMO.dpuf"
"Whether it’s policies like Obamacare, cap and trade or high taxes, the direction this president is taking our country is frightening enough for people of my generation - See more at: http://www.joniforiowa.com/bio/#sthash.ZnspumMO.dpuf"
But yet someone on active duty can't say diddly like that.
Make sense, what I'm getting at?
ABOUT JONI - Joni Ernst for Iowa
Have you read Joni's bio? Be sure to read up on it here:
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CW5 (Join to see)
CW2 (Join to see), I guess I know what you mean. The man running for Governor of Maryland (and who will likely win), LtGov Anthony Brown, is also COL Anthony Brown in the U.S. Army Reserves.
I think you're being too hard on yourself when it comes to stating a political opinion. As long as you don't say you represent the military (Army) and you're not in uniform, you can state your opinions, right? Maybe not with your troops, or in an effort to influence them. I served 30 years on active duty, and I was a part of many political discussions. Never had a problem.
I think you're being too hard on yourself when it comes to stating a political opinion. As long as you don't say you represent the military (Army) and you're not in uniform, you can state your opinions, right? Maybe not with your troops, or in an effort to influence them. I served 30 years on active duty, and I was a part of many political discussions. Never had a problem.
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CW2 (Join to see)
They've given us quite a bit of crap recently. Not me specifically, but reminded to keep discussions at the office to ZERO and on Facebook, even if your profile is private, reminding us that anything we say can be used against us.
I don't know of anyone personally getting in trouble for it. Could be fear-mongering, who knows. Or they could be serious.
Either way, I'm hesitant.
I don't know of anyone personally getting in trouble for it. Could be fear-mongering, who knows. Or they could be serious.
Either way, I'm hesitant.
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CW5 (Join to see) Pretty much already answered the question the proper policy, but I'll also add a reference to this other discussion about military members in political office...
Service members in reserve component are eligible to serve in office. One of our most interesting reservists in office was President Truman, who was a Colonel in the Army Reserve while in office! During WWII some Congressman went on active duty orders in order to fight in the war, including future President Lyndon Johnson.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/military-members-serving-in-active-political-positions
Service members in reserve component are eligible to serve in office. One of our most interesting reservists in office was President Truman, who was a Colonel in the Army Reserve while in office! During WWII some Congressman went on active duty orders in order to fight in the war, including future President Lyndon Johnson.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/military-members-serving-in-active-political-positions
Military members serving in active political positions? | RallyPoint
We all should know that service members cannot express political opinion in uniform, or as a representative of the US Armed Forces. However, there are many examples in history when members of the Armed Forces were not only politically active, but were even serving in full time political jobs. For example, take former Senator Scott Brown, who served as Senator of Massachusetts while simultaneously serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the MA...
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