Navy and Marine Corps Fraternization Policy

1. Navy and Marine Corps Fraternization Policy University of PennsylvaniaNaval Reserve Officer Training Corps

2. HISTORY • “Custom” is a long established practice, which has attained the force of law within the military. • Proper social interaction among officer and enlisted members enhances unit morale and esprit de corps.

3. HISTORY (con’t) • Unduly familiar personal relationships: • Undermine respect for authority • Inhibit mission accomplishment • Experience has demonstrated that seniors must maintain thoroughly professional relationships with juniors at all times.

4. HISTORY (con’t) • Custom recognizes the need to prevent use of senior grade or position that results in (or gives the appearance of): • Favoritism • Preferential treatment • Personal gain • Custom requires that junior personnel recognize and respect authority.

5. FRATERNIZATION DEFINED • A term traditionally used to identify personal relationships that contravene the customary bounds of acceptable senior-subordinate relationships. • Also includes improper relationships and social interaction between officer members of different grades and enlisted members of different grades.

6. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS FRATERNIZATION POLICY • Personal, unduly familiar relationships that do not respect differences in rank and grade are prohibited.

7. FRATERNIZATION POLICY (con’t) • Relationships that are unduly familiar between officers of different rank/grade or between enlisted members of different rank/grade are prohibited. • These relationships may sacrifice good order and discipline or be of such nature that they bring discredit on the Naval Service.

8. FRATERNIZATION POLICY (con’t) • Commands are expected to take administrative and disciplinary action as necessary.

9. PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIPS NAVY • Personal relationships that are unduly familiar between: • Chief Petty Officers (E-7 to E-9) and junior personnel (E-1 to E-6) • Officers and enlisted personnel • Staff/Instructor and Student Personnel • Recruiters and recruits/applicants

10. PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIPS (con’t) NAVY • If such relationships exist: • A senior’s objectivity can be called into question. • It can result in actual or apparent preferential treatment. • It can undermine the authority of the senior member. • It can compromise the chain of command.

11. PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIPS (con’t) MARINE CORPS • Mirrors Navy policy, except that the same provisions apply to the relationship of noncommissioned officers (E-4 to E-5) with their subordinates (E-1 to E-3). • Personal relationships between officers and enlisted are prohibited.

12. Surrounding circumstances often determine whether the conduct in question is appropriate or not.

13. PROPER RELATIONSHIPS • Appropriate personal relationships are an important part of building unit morale and esprit de corps. • Examples: • Officer and enlisted personnel playing on the same command sports team. • Other command-sponsored events.

14. INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS • Behaviors considered unduly familiar and inappropriate: • Dating • Shared living accommodations • Intimate or sexual relations • Commercial solicitations • Private business partnerships • Gambling and borrowing money between officers and enlisted members

15. CONSEQUENCES • Article 134, UCMJ • Article 133, UCMJ • Article 92, UCMJ

16. OTHER REMEDIES • Non-punitive • Formal or informal counseling • Transfer of one or both parties • Evaluation or Fitness Report comments • NJP • Court-martial

17. MARRIAGE & OTHER RELATIONS • Conduct not excused by subsequent marriage. • Okay if married before commissioned. • If married or related, must maintain official relationship while on duty. • Must not be in the same chain of command.

18. NROTC Fraternization • Midshipmen are not allowed to establish relationships with enlisted (MECEPS, OCs, members of the fleet) or officers • Possible Exception: If you start the relationship when you are in an equivalent grade eg: The marriage exception • Any questions should be addressed to your unit advisor

19. On Cruise • Midshipmen are subject to the UCMJ fraternization articles while on cruise (Both Navy and Marine Options) • In most cases, any type of social contact with enlisted personnel is prohibited during Marine Option Cruises • Midshipmen from NROTC Philadelphia HAVE gotten kicked out of cruises such as CORTRAMID in the past for fraternization and were subject to an investigation

20. Midshipmen Dating • Midshipmen ARE allowed to date other midshipmen within the unit, however keep the following in mind • NROTC unit staff must be aware of the situation • In most cases, two midshipmen that are dating will be moved to separate companies within the battalion • Both MIDN must act professional to each other during all ROTC-related functions

21. Fraternization Consequences for MIDN • Besides being covered under the UCMJ for the MIDN, other consequences include: • Aptitude Probation • LOA • Disenrollment from the Program

22. RESPONSIBILITY • Fraternization is a gender-neutral concept. • Seniors throughout the chain of command will: • Provide guidance on appropriate relationships. • Ensure all personnel are aware of the current policy. • Provide annual indoctrination/ training. • Address prohibited behavior.

23. RESPONSIBILITY (con’t) • Responsibility is shared by all individuals, but ultimately rests on the senior. • The leader must be careful to avoid even the perception of fraternization. • When allegations are made, the CO must carefully study both the case at hand and the fraternization directives.