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

I found my supervisor was collecting Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ) while living in government quarters in Germany. I just learned immediately before I was appointed a WO1 in the reserves and I picked up a 4 year active duty commitment. I reported him and he had some lame excuse (finance center problems) coupled with a poor CID investigation. Others in my career field found out and my first supervisor as a warrant (a CW3) gave me an adverse OER, rating me a 2 for “loyalty” as a payback for what I did, even though my reporting was before I made warrant and outside the rated period. At the end of my four year active duty commitment, I was denied continued service as a warrant officer on active duty. The Army reverted me back to SSG, while I continued a reserve career as a warrant. I had made CW2 before being reverted to SSG and made CW3 In the inactive reserve. I made SFC before I retired. My career manager was attempting me to accept an assignment at Fort Bragg to help me get promoted to 1SG but I elected to retire and did so at the highest rank held. If I were in your case, call the DOD IG fraud hotline. Ask to be carried as a confidential source. There are now safeguards which did not exist in 1982. I can also say that I would not change my decision which I made in 1982 and the supervisor who gave me an unjustified bad OER is still a prick.

I've seen some pretty incompetent people in leadership positions. That in mind, I would confront them kindly pointing out the infraction element and the corresponding law, regulation etc., maybe the individual was unaware (the "something" is not defined here) or overwhelmed and derelict. Keep it as close as possible and escalate in a professional manner as possible according to the situation. In the end, if nothing is done, re-evaluate whether you want to be a party to an organization ripe with corruption.

You put the sonofabitch on report; that is what you do. Date, Time, Place,Who. What, When, and Where. Document your details. That is NOT so hard is it????? It really doesn't matter whether or not the person is Senior to you. When StatenIsland NavSta. was on line I hade a Sr.Chief walk in one morning to my carpentershop drunk on his ass, pick up a ball bat and threaten my first class. He was frozen to the spot. I ordered the Sr.Chioef to put the ball bat down; he refused. I picked uo the phone and called CMAA and had him come down. I front of him the whole dsamend RF5Division I put that no good sonofabitch on report and made it stick. Me???? I'm just a regular old Chief [E-7] one each, a Camel and a cup of hot Navy black. You don't infringe UCMJ; you don't assault personnel. the language is laconic, terse, clear and does NOT need interpretation beacuse there is NO nuance about rank and seniority. I'm a Chief and I could give a good shit less if you're CNO; you don't threaten my people. Life in the Navy [pick one Army Mar.Corps...] is as simple as that.

The most correct answer would be to first approach your leader or supervisor and make sue he or she was aware it was an illegal action that had been observed and could be documented, and then---if the leader or supervisor took no corrective action--report it up channel. As a practical reality that could be the kiss of death for your career. Any action you take to correct the problem better be well thought out and documented. At the same time ignoring the problem perpetuates it, if it truly is a problem. If the leader or supervisor is exercising best judgment in a difficult situation the best course of action may be to support him or her. I think this is why we are issued a brain at birth. Sometimes we have to use our best judgment in following a leader who is doing likewise.

Let us not mistake dealing with compromises of our personal integrity and standards with being a "whistleblower". It is a duty and serious responsibility to report wrong doing - in or out of uniform.

Did anyone contact CID? Fraud is a big part of what they do.

Make a back up of any evidence, take it to your chain of command immediately but keep the backup just in case.. IF nothing transpires for a reasonable amount of time, i.e. the person is still there, nothing said, and even still doing it, contact the legal authority on your base. But again, make sure you use the CHAIN of command first and foremost and go as high as you need before doing an end around to the base police.

I have & would follow "The Honor Code," ie "Not compromise my personal or professional values in favor of expediency." It can be difficult & inconvenient, but, most of us don't have the authority to personally interpret it reinterpret "grey areas."

I was approached by a former S3 officer, who approached me once an asked if I could get him some Molly, I was so shocked that he approached me, I retreated to my office to think about my moves... I ended up confronting him telling him to never ask me something like that again... I spoke to one of his peers as well. In the end, nothing happened to him, but the surly addressed, because it wasn't long before he was transferred... I thought about possible outcomes in a private conversation... Officer vs. Enlisted rarely lands in favor of the later listed.

It is the duty of the witness to absolutely report it. You can report it anonymously straight to JAG. I'm sure they will investigate and take appropriate actions as necessary.