Posted on Jul 9, 2015
Official On-line Conduct From the Chief of Staff of the Army - what is the communities thoughts regarding this announcement?
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Just received this official e-mail regarding on-line conduct while in the Army. Thought this could help active Army and other branches with ethical decisions regarding responses on RP:
Leaders,
The evolution of the Internet, social media, and other electronic
communications media over the last decade has altered how people communicate and interact. Protected by a sense of anonymity and lack of accountability, some individuals in society are participating in inappropriate and potentially harmful interactions using electronic communications. For
organizations, this type of behavior undermines trust within and damages
their public reputation.
The Army must take the initiative to clarify its standards for Online Conduct. As members of the Army Team, our individual interactions offline and online reflect on the Army and our values. Therefore, it is crucial that we act responsibly and understand that Army standards of conduct apply to all aspects of our life, including Online Conduct. Harassment, bullying, hazing, stalking, discrimination, retaliation, and any other type of misconduct that undermines dignity and respect are not consistent with Army Values. Individuals who participate in or condone misconduct, whether offline or online, may be subject to criminal, disciplinary, and/or administrative action.
As Soldiers, we exemplify the Army Ethic, and living by and upholding the Army Ethic applies to our day-to-day interactions, at the office, in the field, on deployment, and at home, both in person and across Social Media. I am concerned with the trend I am seeing regarding online bullying, cyber-stalking, and retaliation; this behavior is unprofessional and should not be acceptable to any of us. This does not mean that we should encourage our Soldiers to abstain from using social media platforms. It just means that we have to be a part of the conversation and, as with everything else we do, set the standard for what is right.
Join with me to turn the tide; let's work together to protect each other and tackle these issues to retain a culture of professionalism; both off and online.
Army Strong!
Raymond T. Odierno
General, 38th Chief of Staff
United States Army
The Strength of our Nation is our Army
The Strength of our Army is our Soldiers
The Strength of our Soldiers is our Families
This is what makes us "Army Strong"
Leaders,
The evolution of the Internet, social media, and other electronic
communications media over the last decade has altered how people communicate and interact. Protected by a sense of anonymity and lack of accountability, some individuals in society are participating in inappropriate and potentially harmful interactions using electronic communications. For
organizations, this type of behavior undermines trust within and damages
their public reputation.
The Army must take the initiative to clarify its standards for Online Conduct. As members of the Army Team, our individual interactions offline and online reflect on the Army and our values. Therefore, it is crucial that we act responsibly and understand that Army standards of conduct apply to all aspects of our life, including Online Conduct. Harassment, bullying, hazing, stalking, discrimination, retaliation, and any other type of misconduct that undermines dignity and respect are not consistent with Army Values. Individuals who participate in or condone misconduct, whether offline or online, may be subject to criminal, disciplinary, and/or administrative action.
As Soldiers, we exemplify the Army Ethic, and living by and upholding the Army Ethic applies to our day-to-day interactions, at the office, in the field, on deployment, and at home, both in person and across Social Media. I am concerned with the trend I am seeing regarding online bullying, cyber-stalking, and retaliation; this behavior is unprofessional and should not be acceptable to any of us. This does not mean that we should encourage our Soldiers to abstain from using social media platforms. It just means that we have to be a part of the conversation and, as with everything else we do, set the standard for what is right.
Join with me to turn the tide; let's work together to protect each other and tackle these issues to retain a culture of professionalism; both off and online.
Army Strong!
Raymond T. Odierno
General, 38th Chief of Staff
United States Army
The Strength of our Nation is our Army
The Strength of our Army is our Soldiers
The Strength of our Soldiers is our Families
This is what makes us "Army Strong"
Posted in these groups: 
RallyPoint
RallyPoint
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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MSG (Join to see)
I agree... when I joined there were a number of things that didn't have to be codified... I guess it is the price we pay for today's society and the all-volunteer Army during time of war...
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General, I am all for professionalism. And I am all for standing up for one another, encouraging one another, having each other's back.
I do not stand for anything less than professionalism.
I do not stand for anything less than professionalism.
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MSG (Join to see)
The question will be how to enforce this... while at the same time allowing people ti have a modicum of a private life. Still, if people wanted privacy, the service ain't the place for that!
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COL Charles Williams
MSG (Join to see) - Well, first we put the rules in the regulations, and then it can be enforced.... via the UCMJ. It is a start.
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I've noticed a decline in professionalism and proper customs and courtesies over the last five years or so. At first I attributed it to social media. The more I've contemplated this though, I feel like it's more about the demographic we're currently recruiting. The current generation of recruits come from what I've dubbed the 'generation of entitlement.' They feel as though everything is owed to them. Respect and courtesy has gone out the window.
As I've tried to figure out why this is, I've come back around to social media. Their ability to hide behind technology has made the younger crop of our military increasingly bold in their words and actions. Allow some time for that to effect the mentality outside of social media, and we're presented with a large number of newer recruits that pay no mind to the traditions of the service they're a member of.
I'm hoping this statement, and some follow on action will help to quell this trend. I have a feeling that unless there is an action imposed, not much will be done.
As I've tried to figure out why this is, I've come back around to social media. Their ability to hide behind technology has made the younger crop of our military increasingly bold in their words and actions. Allow some time for that to effect the mentality outside of social media, and we're presented with a large number of newer recruits that pay no mind to the traditions of the service they're a member of.
I'm hoping this statement, and some follow on action will help to quell this trend. I have a feeling that unless there is an action imposed, not much will be done.
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SFC (Join to see)
I couldn't agree more SSG. I too feel an urgent need for our CoC's to be extended to the internet and social media, and have attempted to appeal to the military pride and respect we all have and expect for/of each other here on RP, and most are understanding, but I'm wondering if those who think about this matter as I do are a dying breed. I don't support censoship and I'm all for free speech, but jeeez, what has happened to such abstarct concepts as manners, common courtesy and respect, even for those one may disagree with these days? I also feel it cannot be right for our active duty leaders to now (in addition to everything else they have to monitor, control, correct and memorialze in reports, etc., etc.) to waste their valuable time monitoring and reacting to social media infractions that wouldn't even be happening if people remembered their upbringing and/or military training in my view.
-Ed Boles
Warriors forever!
-Ed Boles
Warriors forever!
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Discipline is one of the hallmarks of a well prepared military and for what its worth, I agree with the CoS of the Army.
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" including Online Conduct. Harassment, bullying, hazing, stalking, discrimination, retaliation, and any other type of misconduct "
Hello open ended, vague, likely to be both abused and ignored equally.
SO now we have a personal and biased opinion that will decide if a SM has violated some wonky rule.
Great, what a time to be alive (and out of the army)
Some officer with a chip on his or her shoulder can now with full force of UCMJ damage the career of a SM with impunity. "But Sir what law or UCMJ regulation did I violate?" Your FB post about fellow SM who have been departed after failing to take advantage of the Fast track to citizenship as well as committing several serious felony crimes was Harassment, bullying, bigoted"
"Captain Erik Juan, Enrique-Marquez all I said was He beat his wife, sold drugs, committed robbery and was deported according to US law"
Exactly, sign your admission of guilt here, here, and initial here.
Hello open ended, vague, likely to be both abused and ignored equally.
SO now we have a personal and biased opinion that will decide if a SM has violated some wonky rule.
Great, what a time to be alive (and out of the army)
Some officer with a chip on his or her shoulder can now with full force of UCMJ damage the career of a SM with impunity. "But Sir what law or UCMJ regulation did I violate?" Your FB post about fellow SM who have been departed after failing to take advantage of the Fast track to citizenship as well as committing several serious felony crimes was Harassment, bullying, bigoted"
"Captain Erik Juan, Enrique-Marquez all I said was He beat his wife, sold drugs, committed robbery and was deported according to US law"
Exactly, sign your admission of guilt here, here, and initial here.
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If I was still active duty or "active" reserve I would not have a FB page and probably not a RP page. OPSEC is too important and it's the little things that can cause problems.
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