Posted on Jul 12, 2015
Should Active, Reserve, & Guard personnel be afforded the same rights of free speech & assembly in political elections & campaigns?
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In 1970, while a fairly new sailor in San Diego, I let it slip that I wanted to walk in a regularly scheduled, annual parade with some civilian friends to help "demonstrate" against animal abuse. My division CPO said I'd be written up and stand Captain's Mast, if I did. I would have been on weekend Libs and in civvies. Needless to say, I did not go. Granted, this was 1970, at least two worlds away from today in any category you may choose. But is our military still muzzled when it comes to political issues and political campaigns? Can they or should they be allowed to actively participate in such activities? I firmly believe that the upcoming 2016 presidential election has every likelihood of being the most contentious AND the most critically important election in my lifetime, thus far. Do you agree or not, and, if so, how have things changed since 1970, as far as the individual serviceman's or servicewoman's rights to participate in public elections? Thinking back now, I may have been in violation of the UCMJ when I ran for and was elected to my city's Board of Aldermen in the early 1990s. What are or should be the rules in this matter?
Posted in these groups: 
Politics
Constitution
Politics Constitution
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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Volunteering for military service should in no way minimize our rights to have and express our opinions so long as the manner in which we choose to express them does not take away from our military bearing or ability to perform our duties.
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Service members have freedom of speech but its not absolute like anything else and of course, use common sense. I can attend a political rally of choice of candidate but not in uniform and not when I am supposed to be at work. In other words, what I do in my personal time is my business. I am not going to get up on a podium and say The POTUS is on his way out so what do I need to be loyal too, his political party? I think not. Another issue is the NG and reserve members are not in the jurisdiction of UCMJ unless they are on orders or on drill. They are basically civilians, but on another note, they should also exercise common sense for what they do in their personal time, can shed a negative light on their place of employment and their military unit.
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I am not so sure about that UCMJ comment not applying to NG and Reservists not on drills or ADT. I swear I can remember some getting hung out to dry for bringing shame on the unit will "off-duty."
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Doesn't the Hatch Act cover political participation? I never registered for a political party until I retired.
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