Is it ethical for a retired officer to run for public office, and use comments from his OER as endorsements from the reporting seniors?

Maj Walt Stachowicz — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 20:36:33 -0400

The reporting seniors who wrote the reports are named (all General Officers) but I don't know if they are aware of their quotes being used in campaign literature. Sounds fishy to me.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 8:38 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 20:38:20 -0400

What office??? He is retired. I suppose the issues are a better platform to run on, but a little self-promotion isn't too far afield in today's political circus.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 8:38 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 20:38:27 -0400

Why would it be unethical?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 made Jun 25 at 2016 9:04 PM

CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:04:56 -0400

Maj Walt Stachowicz Generalizations or excerpts tastefully done could be OK. Citing his general success in the military would be much more discrete and correct IMO.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 9:13 PM

Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:13:11 -0400

I would think that he would have let them know in advance of the publication. It would be a little like writing a resume recommendation for someone and then finding out that the person is now a sex offender and trolling your name/company without your knowledge.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 25 at 2016 9:28 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:28:24 -0400

Technically I suspect it is not quite Kosher but Personally I think "Why Not" LOL!

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Jun 25 at 2016 9:33 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:33:13 -0400

I don't see a problem as long as the quotes are accurate.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 9:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:39:16 -0400

Just goes to prove he is a true politician.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 9:58 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:58:26 -0400

Sure. It speaks to his/her character and ability. Were an opponent to discover the OER/NCOER with derogatory remarks that opponent might use it against the veteran so ... its use is valid.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2016 3:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 03:31:36 -0400

Ethical, sure. However, most civilians will not appreciate the comments in an OER. The fact someone would try to use them may represent their inability to communicate effectively with people of different backgrounds. I would need to see which comments were being used to judge more fairly.

Response by Maj Walt Stachowicz made Jun 27 at 2016 8:56 AM

Maj Walt Stachowicz — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:56:22 -0400

I have written many fitness reports (OERs in Army lingo) over the years. They were for a specific period of time, and related to the specific duties performed. None of them were a perpetual blanket endorsement of what a person may decide to embark upon in the future. To publish selected remarks years afterwards and make them look to be endorsements seems to me to be less than wise. Otherwise, why not include remarks from a 6th grade report card?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2016 9:12 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:12:44 -0400

As I read the comments, I get the impression that people think that an performance report is somehow a private communication.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jun 27 at 2016 9:13 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 21:13:28 -0400

I don't see anything wrong with this. If a well-known General officer wrote something good, I don't see a problem using it with 2 conditions. First, it is an accurate quote from an OER. Second, he is not claiming it was written by a General officer but in fact was written when that officer was a different rank. For example, as a 1LT in California, I received an outstanding OER from my company commander, Captain Mark Milley. It would not be completely truthful to attribute those quotes to the current Army Chief of Staff.

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made May 20 at 2017 5:15 PM

PV2 Glen Lewis — Sat, 20 May 2017 17:15:00 -0400

I don't see why it wouldn't be. Every other facet of their lives is fair game for use for or against him. So why shouldn't it be. I expect it would speak to his credibility and dedication to our country.