NCOs playing on-line games with their Soldiers = Fraternization?

I actually have mixed feelings about fraternization in general. It was not unusual when I was in and rarely caused any problems. People tended to group together more by age, background, education and career plans than by rank. You simply had to be mature enough to know that on base you had to follow protocol and respect the chain of command. The idea that familiarity breeds contempt assumes that if you really get to know your leaders you won't have respect for them. That would seem to be saying that the leaders are worthy of contempt.

We are all adults and; if an Officer bonds and has a relationship with an NCO (dating) then, those two must understand their limits. The Army is no judge for such personal matters and should neither accept or reject them; this matter is private and personal. The Army can prevent adultery and it can deter undue command influence or conflict of interest through rules and regulations. If the Army interferes in personal and private matters then, personnel will engage each other behind the curtains (in hiding) and violate the regulation.

That's... a very nice barn door...

Anyone remember "America's Army"? Online game developed by the Army back in 2002? It's got 40 some-odd variants now. One of them requires you to be able to use an IFAK, and you can qualify to use the CROWS system. There's also some squad/team play.

How about the Engagement Skills Trainer for the squad training scenarios? There's a new one, the EST-3000, that can be set up pretty much anywhere, and multiple ESTs can be linked to add weapons slots. No crew served weapons yet...

How about Virtual Battle Space? Downloadable from the MilGaming website, it's fully accredited by the Army for training. It's fully networkable up to company/platoon level.

https://milgaming.army.mil

Is it just me, or are we about to send mixed messages again?

I don't do any online gaming, but my child does. The thing I noticed and made sure of was she did not have to show her real identity, age, or gender, just gamer's name, so I think unless they are sitting side by side or tell one another who they really are, what's the problem. Breaks up long hours of being bored or lonely.

IAW updated AR 600-20 it is considered "Improper Relationship"

CSM Michael J. Uhlig I started an online gaming community in late 2002 whilst an NCO. No thought was given to who could participate, because the nature of such an organisation is virtual and anonymous unless someone chooses to identify themselves. I started it with a couple of fellow NCOs and a SPC(P) that I knew, but none of us ever thought about fraternisation with regards to the SPC -- online, we used each other's callsigns.

I got out two years after starting the group and served as its leader for over twelve years. In that time, we didn't have a single incident where fraternisation led to real-world implications, problems, charges, UCMJ, etc. We did, however, have two cases of verified Stolen Valor that were duly reported.

That organisation still exists to this day, with ~2k members when I departed in June 2014 and over 10K past and present members total. This was for online gaming. The opportunities in this community to network, get advice from service members, and to build bonds was on par with Rallypoint, albeit oriented towards video games. Over 50% of our members were active duty, retired, or prior service, and not just from America either. We even had a genuine Iraqi Republican Guard soldier (Desert Storm era) who came over to the US after the war. That organisation had members from all branches, from new recruits (military recruits, not gamers) all the way up to full-birds. We had a German general for a few months but time zone issues led to him departing.

In some ways, online gaming can enhance the soldiers fighting skills: shoot, move, communicate, kill all plays out with the ability to respawn. Unfortunately, most games don't allow for enough of a "punishment" for dying making it often wise to simply run out into the middle of a firefight to draw fire or capture a point not worrying if you die because you will simply respawn in a few moments.

Hell I used to be the DD for my team leader. You take care of your soldiers they'll take care of you.

CSM,

I don't have an issue with it so long as it's simply team building. It could actually be a benefit seeing as how some games take an absorbent amount of strategy to win.

It can get out if hand especially if a clan were to form with some team members not taking part or if all they talk about during duty hours is the game.

Another interesting question would be Facebook friending your soldiers. I see that all the time where they are tagging each other at the club/bar like it's the cool thing to do not knowing how horribly unprofessional it is.

Not at all.  It's video gaming.  As long as all parties know it can't effect the work place I say go for it.  I have even tried to meet my soldiers online to play GTA5.