CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member 21701 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Historically, officers were SO a-political they often chose not to vote at all.  In recent years that seems less and less the case.  To what extent should an officer be involved in politics privately, personally, or publically? 2013-12-16T07:43:06-05:00 CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member 21701

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Historically, officers were SO a-political they often chose not to vote at all.  In recent years that seems less and less the case.  To what extent should an officer be involved in politics privately, personally, or publically?

2013-12-16T07:43:06-05:00 2013-12-16T07:43:06-05:00 Col Joel Anderson 21706

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Personal opinion, none. <br /><br />5 U.S.C. <br />United States Code, 2011 Edition<br />Title 5 - GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES<br />PART III - EMPLOYEES<br />Subpart B - Employment and Retention<br />CHAPTER 33 - EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT<br />SUBCHAPTER II - OATH OF OFFICE<br />Sec. 3331 - Oath of office<br />From the U.S. Government Printing Office, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gpo.gov">http://www.gpo.gov</a><br />§3331. Oath of office<br />An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”<br /><br />Now we could go down the path of privately and personally but that would merely distract one from the issue. You take an oath freely and as a result, you take on an obligation that is larger than anything personal or private.<br /><br />Lets have a hay day with this one.

2013-12-16T07:56:00-05:00 2013-12-16T07:56:00-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 21711

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think that officers should vote, and I think that officers should be allowed to vocalize their opinions in appropriate contexts. However, they should never do it in their capacity as officers ie they shouldn't wear their uniforms to stump speeches nor should they pimp their credentials as if they give gravitas to their position or candidate. <div><br></div><div>I think that the slew of retired GOs and senior FGOs who are all over the news channels are detrimental to good civil-military relations. The AVF has ensured that most citizens don't serve, and it has seen to it that most of the United States is clueless to the military as a whole. Because of this, one GOs opinion spouted off on Fox News or MSNBC will be seen as gospel truth to those whose biases are already confirmed by choosing either Fox News or MSNBC. It's bad ju-ju. </div>

2013-12-16T08:24:52-05:00 2013-12-16T08:24:52-05:00 CPT Aaron Kletzing 21717

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Actively serving officers should not express their political views in ways that may cast undue and inappropriate influence on their subordinates and those around them.

2013-12-16T08:32:40-05:00 2013-12-16T08:32:40-05:00 LtCol David Gran 22353

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think active duty officers, and those that can still be called back to active duty, should focus on the profession of arms, keep their mouths shut, and stay out of politics.   However, I believe that every American should vote in every election small or large.  You can still keep your politics to yourself. It's your personal business how you vote.<div><br></div><div>The question of Veterans or Retiree's I think becomes a little more cloudy.  If we stay till retirement we spend only 20-30 years of our lives in uniform of a life that hopefully lasts 3-4 times that.  Even for lifers, that a relatively small, albeit powerful and influential, part of our lives.  We have many Veteran's that run for local office or even Congress.  I think we need more Veterans in Congress representing not only their home districts, but also our national security requirement to fund our military and to provide a voice on Veteran issues.  I'm not suggesting that everyone run for Congress or dust off their uniforms and stand of a big rock and broadcast their beliefs.  My opinion is that the Veteran Subway Owner, or Real Estate Agent, or Wal-mart employee should have a voice as a citizen. That is how we continue to serve our country after the uniform is put away in the foot locker. Every voice counts. Every vote counts.  The right to vote is an incredible privilege... I would say almost a duty.</div>

2013-12-17T10:28:00-05:00 2013-12-17T10:28:00-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 298493

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think this topic applies to both officers and enlisted, although officers will usually draw the most visibility for public statements due to their rank/position.<br /><br />Privately, they can (I might even go so far as to say should) exercise the right to vote, as they will have their personal ideas/preferences about the direction of the country they are part of. But in public discourse where they are likely to be in a spotlight as an active service member, it should be like a black hole.<br /><br />Upon retirement/separation, anything goes.

2014-10-28T18:48:37-04:00 2014-10-28T18:48:37-04:00 MSgt Timothy Johnson 424259

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>O's and E's should vote and refraine from discussing voting. In private is 99% your business. I say 99% because In private you may be planning an illegal activity. I'm not going there. But this is my way of looking at it and it has done me well.

2015-01-18T20:17:14-05:00 2015-01-18T20:17:14-05:00 2013-12-16T07:43:06-05:00