Should Soldiers be allowed to smoke legal tobacco products in the barracks area or other public areas?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:33:32 -0400

Just today a SGM approached me regarding my Soldiers smoking a Hooka with legal tobacco outside the building in a semi-secluded area. He stated that it looked unprofessional, but is a smoker himself who does not use designated smoke areas, but does stay at least 25 feet from the building.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 15 at 2015 10:49 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:49:51 -0400

First, we must ask ourselves if smoking is a professional habit at all? Simply put, it's not. In no way, shape or form. It's just a habit some service members have.

Then, it's a case of what accommodations are made for it. The government policy is no smoking in government owned/controlled buildings, and last I heard within 25' as a matter of safety/health.

It sounds like the service member in question made reasonable attempts "to be as professional as possible" by going to a semi-secluded area.

All that said, the tighter the policy gets, the more people try to control it, the more people will be willing to bypass policy. As long as people are using reasonable judgement, minor differences of opinion about what appears professional in what is essentially a matter that cannot be objectively measured, should stay out of policy.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 15 at 2015 11:10 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:10:35 -0400

Is there more to the story MSG Private RallyPoint Member....there are many ways to smoke tobacco, find another method other than a way that is glamorized on the movie screen with smoking something less than legal, and check the reg again, typically there is no smoking within 50 feet of government buildings, if that has changed, I'd appreciate you learning me.