If you found out your Leader or Immediate Supervisor was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?

In 1986 my reporting official a female 1st Lt was in the office speaking with a MSgt at his desk right across from mine. She was showing him photos and told him she could get him more photos and videos for a very low price. I looked up from my work and she flashed a photo my way and said you can't see these. The photo was a nude sex scene of her and a male engaged in intercourse. I thought for a moment and thought to myself I'd had basic trainees discharged for less. I informed the Lt to cease and desist her activity and that she was under apprehension. I then told our admin specialist to call the SP's and our boss a Major. She said you can't stop me. I responded with"Ma'am you are in direct violation of the UCMJ and are to remain here until the SP's arrive". Which she did. As it turned out she and several other officers were involved in a porn for sale ring. She was courts martialed and dishonorably discharged along with several others.

Depending on the specific circumstance I would approach the individual and tell them to turn themselves in or I am immediately reporting it if I am good friends with this person. If there is an anonymous Fraud, waste or abuse program I would use that. I would have to be honest. If it is a pen.... No. I blew the whistle on 2 cops ditching a dead body Jan 12, 1993 and got hammered for it. Got the job back through arbitration with back pay but the whistleblower usually is the one penalized.

If it was an obvious violation of a law or regulation, I would report him/her to the appropriate authorities. If it was a border line situation, I would ask him where he intended to go with his actions. In Viet nam, two guys in my platoon found a teenage woman in a village. That was a very rare occurrence as the locals seemed to effectively hide young women. They started to remove her top. I stepped in and reminded them that they have women in their family so think before you go to jail. They slinked off knowing fully well that had I come by and they were touching her, they would have been charged with whatever violation this fell under.
In my business, I had a maintenance guy take a piece of equipment. Others turned him in. He had to be fired even though, had he simply asked for the item, he could have had it. Sadly, common sense is sometimes not to common.

FRY HIS ASS!

If someone is doing something illegal, it needs to be reported.

I did, and it led to my decision to retire after facing clear threats of reprisal by senior personnel. When O6s and above pull this kind of crap, it's time to leave. Too much good old boy CYA activity. But now that I'm out, I can address it without fear of reprisal.

Point of fact -- I've read too damn much in the course of my life. However, when I deal with situations like this, I recall a line that was constantly quoted about Kim Philby the KGB plant in MI6 during WWII through the mid 50s. EM Forester in one of his books wrote, "I would betray my country before I betrayed a friend." I spent time thinking about that and decided that I didn't like EM Forester and really had issues with anyone who thought that way. It hurts to have to do something like that, but it will hurt worse to ignore it. Bending rules to deal with on-going reality is one thing; hence my refusal to aggressively seek violators of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. If I didn't ask and you didn't tell me, then I didn't know. But, on the other hand, when one of my soldiers came close to telling me about an adulterous relationship, I made certain to tell him in no uncertain terms that as soon as he told me anything like that, I would have to read him his rights and go from there.

With superiors, it gets a bit trickier perhaps, but I made a practice of reacting immediately to anything that struck me as a problem area by just seeking clarification. "Could explain that to me SGM/ LT/ CAP/ COL because I don't see how we can do that..." probably kept a few people I worked for out of jail. And, of course, me out of jail. But, I also was prepared to go up the chain of command and the IG channels if needed. It kept me grounded.

Frankly, far more problems in civilian life and my obstinate and recurring problem with ethical standards -- I had some, lots of people in business have none -- made my civilian career a bit daunting at times. Came to an end when the corporate overlords got really tired of me raising issues and decided to go another way. I took a deep breath, continued working and solving problems until they shut down my computer access, and followed the ghost of Elvis out of the building. When CID interrupted my day to ask me to meet and answer some questions about various fraud, waste, and abuse issues that'd I had made noise about internally, I left them pay for my iced tea and was honest.

We're not saints, prophets or martyrs in the service. But, like LTC Vindaman, we actually have some more morality and ethics pounded into us in various ways and except for our own socio-, psycho, and weak souls, we gain them of life. We discover we can't stand anymore at our peril, but in the case of people like General Kelly or General Mattis or an infinite number of other former members of this, our extended military family, we find life much more pleasant not dealing with the psycho- and sociopathic types that rise to the top in a lot of organizations where service to something greater is not the be-all and end-all of our lives and existence. I will willingly fight and die for my country and my brothers and sisters, but my willingness to sacrifice starts to pale in the service of the shareholder value and the perks and privileges of the deranged, demented and destructive.

Well, I wouldn’t jump the whole chain of command like LTC V did. I will confront him on the spot and also depending on the circumstances. For example, he/she’s drinking and driving (heck no!). I don’t care what rank you are I’ll take your keys away and I can deal with the consequences the following day. However, if we are in a combat zone and my CDR just shot an innocent civilian (innocent or not) I would keep my mouth shut until CID comes to get my statement. Obviously you don’t want to have a gun show with your CDR. Either example was crappie I know. But it always depends on the circumstances and he/she has the benefit of the doubt. Now, as a whistleblower in terms of fraud/waste/abuse you go and immediately report.

I only had one such experience in 3 years, and it arose in BCT (1971). Due to having a couple of years of military school, I was appointed a trainee platoon leader (I was not grateful for this distinction). Three weeks in, two guys in "my" plt came to me wanting to report our E-6 D.Sgt. to the CO. He had been extorting money (base pay in 71 was $129/mo.) under the guise of a "loan", and/or hitting them up for assignations with wives or girlfriends. Wanted to know how best to proceed. Explained the concept of chain of command and other ramifications of what it meant to start something like this. Would I take the matter to the Sr. D. Sgt, a very colorful E-7, but with an air of character about him).
Thanks guys, this was not part of my plan of "invisibility" but agreed. It was a LONG walk down the hall to his office and related the issue. He sighed and said "Well, this man has stubbed his toe before" (inwardly I was much relieved as I now had credibility. For obvious reasons, he asked if we might settle this at his level. Knowing a good offer when I heard it, asked what he had in mind We obviously could take this higher if he didn't hold up his end, as a "balance of terror" now existed. "Would that be acceptable?". This Pvt. E-1 asked to verify with the guys, but it sounded like a good plan if the problem stopped and there were no "punishments" for having reported it.

The D.Sgt. was gone that night and not one word was spoken about it by us or his staff, who he had to brief. I told the guys there is to be no gloating, no discussion, no nothing & no D. Sgt. ever mentioned it or meted out any special "attention".

The Sr. D. Sgt never once asked for the trainees names and I was kept in my "position" until graduation.

If you lack a moral compass and backbone you do nothing. As for me my moral compass can’t be purchased, it is not for sale. Unfortunately it is the way of the army to promote bad behavior and tarnish those who would stand for right. All you can do is go to bed at night knowing your honor and integrity are in tact. If that isn’t enough for you..... then you need to recalibrate your compass.