IG Corner: Unprofessional Relationships Published March 18, 2011 By Lt. Col. Natalie Bonetti 341st Missile Wing Inspector General MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Professional relationships are essential to the effective operation of the military and in meeting mission requirements. Since the nature of both the Global Strike Command and military mission requires absolute confidence in command and unhesitating adherence to orders, certain kinds of relationships are prohibited, which means military members are not entirely free to associate with anyone they choose. Unprofessional relationships can exist between military members or between military and civilian members and may occur between males, between females, or between males and females. They not only compromise military authority, but they also create an appearance of impropriety, meaning they adversely affect or have the reasonable potential to adversely affect the military by eroding morale, good order, discipline, respect for authority, unit cohesion, or by compromising the military mission itself. Relationships between supervisors and subordinates have a high risk of becoming unprofessional. Particular areas of concern include shared living accommodations, shared vacations, shared transportation, frequent off-duty activities such as playing sports or drinking alcohol together, lending or borrowing money, gambling, flirtation, and sexual or romantic relations and communications (text, e-mail, etc.). Such arrangements often lead to allegations of abuse of position or favoritism and degrade respect for supervisory and command authority. Remember, it is the senior member's primary responsibility to maintain the professionalism of a personal relationship. Two Articles of the UCMJ are primarily used to define what is and is not a proper military relationship. While Article 92 covers "unprofessional" relationships and applies to everyone, Article 134 covers "fraternization" and only applies to officers. Specifically, Article 134 prohibits an unprofessional relationship between an officer and enlisted member. From the military's perspective, officers have a heightened responsibility to avoid fraternization or any relationship that puts the mission and integrity of the officer corps in jeopardy. AFI 36-2909, Professional And Unprofessional Relationships, requires that commanders ensure all personnel are briefed at least annually on the concepts in this instruction. Any allegation of an unprofessional relationship can ultimately destroy careers and result in jail time, loss of pay and allowances, and all military benefits. At a minimum, it can destroy reputations and compromise future promotions. It is every leader's duty, whether officer or enlisted, to define, practice and enforce the standards of behavior and to swiftly educate or discipline violators no matter the rank and no matter the circumstance. For questions or concerns about unprofessional relationships, you should contact your commander or first sergeant for advice. You may also contact your local IG office at 731-7076/7091 or 24-hour Hotline at 731-6669.