New Army Fraternization Policy and Its Effect on Scouting
(no name) ((no email))
Sat, 13 Mar 1999 15:26:45 -0600
"I heard about that...doesn't it say now that we have to have
separate Packs, Troops and Crews for our enlisted families and for
our officer families on our bases??"
"No, it says that I can't drive to Roundtable with COL Pete Miller,
can't say "Hi" to him, nor can I sit beside him even though he's my
Assistant Scoutmaster! Sergeants and Colonels can't work together
except for him telling me what to do. I guess we're going to have
to switch roles...he becomes the Scoutmaster and I become the
Assistant to make this work!"
NO!! It does NOT say that, and if someone's implying it, they don't
understand the impact of this new policy!
Hi Scouters!
I've been working on a set of articles for several national
publications, including SCOUTER, dealing with the impact of the
military's revision policies on fraternization between its members.
This has some SERIOUS implications for us as Scouters, especially
those military Scouters whom must "teeter between" their
obligations as military members with their civic duty as a member
of a youth program (like Scouting) along with their parental and
personal responsibilities.
The final set of articles will be released to SCOUTER first, then
will be sent to several Army publications and to some other
organizational publications. The BSA's official SCOUTING magazine
expressed no interest in the articles.
A short (negative, I'm afraid) history:
After the Tailhook scandal, military leaders from all five branches
of our military started with a long hard look as to how military
members socially interact with each other: officer to officer,
enlisted to enlisted, officer to enlisted, and all members of the
military to "outsiders." At that time, it was determined that other
than to remind military members that they are not in college and
therefore their behavior dealing with members of the opposite sex
has to be on more professional bounds, nothing more needed to be
done.
Then, the series of first racial incidents, followed by the "Drill
Sergeants" incidents at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (and some other
locations, eventually) placed the military on even more shakier
ground with regard to sexual expression and dealings with military
members after duty hours. This was further capped by the military
and civil trial of former Sergeant Major of the Army Gene McKinney
and then by several generals/admirals being accused and/or
convicted of sexual misconduct. A review of the military's policies
on fraternization was ordered by the Secretary of Defense in the
fall of last year.
The military has had a very close relationship with both on and
off-base youth programs and has basically had a "hands off, but
will assist" policy. Military members have been frequently given
time off to work with youth programs, alongside other military
members, officer and enlisted. It is an unwritten rule that "in
dealing with youth programs, the rank goes away." During the day,
I may be working with Sergeant First Class Jones, Chief Warrant
Officer Stonelege, and Colonel Martin; at night, when we attend
Roundtable together or during our Troop meetings, it is Mark Jones,
Diane Stonelege and Crystal Martin that works with Mike Walton.
The same went with other youth programs, like youth sports, as well
as in other informal relationships between soldiers and leaders of
soldiers. It was not uncommon, for instance, for a commander of an
unit to bring his senior enlisted person to the Officers' Club (or
the other way around to the NCO Club) for food and drink after
work. It builds the relationship and trust which MUST be there
between soldiers and those whom lead and guide them. They are seen
as more than just leaders....but also as individuals, with
families, friends and "their own circle" of experiences.
Each service passed their own revision of their policy dealing with
these relationships; it is important to note that despite their
wanting to wait for the implementation, that these policies start
NOW. The Army's policy is within Army Regulation 600-20. Many of
the policies in the regulation deal with dating and marriage
between service members; and with personal and business
relationships. However, there is another part of the regulation
that needs to become "knowledge" by us in the youth agency field,
either professionally or as a volunteer:
The Army's policy (the one I'm CLOSELY dealing with as a member of
the Army) prohibits relationships between permanent-party soldiers
(those stationed on the installation usually for one year or more)
and initial-entry trainees, whether stationed on the same post or
not. This impacts a lot of Districts whom routinely ask for
volunteers and get soldiers to work with local on-base Packs,
Troops or Crews while they are "off" from training but not
"off-post" somewhere. These new soldiers are now prohibited from
volunteering, because they will be in contact with "military
Scouters" whom are "permanent party individuals." This was
something which was revealed during several investigations as a
root cause for inappropriate conduct between "experienced soldiers
and leaders, people who know better" and "someone brand new to the
"system," trying their best to get through the initial training and
on their way to their first duty station".
The policy also prohibits any relationship between soldiers of
different ranks, if the relationship appears to compromise
supervisory authority, or could result in special treatment. They
are also prohibited if they will have an adverse impact on unit
morale or the ability of a command to accomphish its mission.
Relationships between Army Reserve or Army National Guard members
are exempt from the new policy if the relationships are based
primarily on civilian acquaintanceships. Personal relationships
between (Regular) Army and Reserve component soldiers are also
allowed with the same stipuation.
Army officials state that this new policy is NOT INTENDED to keep
normal "team building", like Scouting, family gatherings,
unit-based social functions or athletic competitions from
occurring. A "unit-based social function" is one like unit
picnics, hails and farewells, "right-arm" or "bring your boss"
nights."
Again, the impact of the Army's new Fraternization policy upon
Scouting is the following: with exceptions of new trainees,
Scouters of all ranks and grades will CONTINUE to be able to work
together as SCOUTERS for the good of the program and it's youth.
If there are "military Scouters" residing in your District or
Council that is not aware of the policy change, have them to get a
copy of _Army_Times_ or check with their personnel officer to get a
copy of the new regulation, which should be hitting the field
within the next couple of weeks.
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs,
Patrick T. Henry, stressed that the Army has always emphasized the
importance of sound professional interpersonal relationships. "The
nature and structure of our Army demands that officers and enlisted
work together in teams and units under trying circumstances. Unit
cohesion is essential to build the confidence and trust necessary
for units to fight and win on the battlefield. Good professional
leadership and common sense will make these new policies work for
the good of the Army."
This is NOT "military opinion" but only my results from two and a
half months of researching, talking with current and former
Military Scouters and with Public Affairs people up and down the
Army's chain. The full text of the Army's revision can be found on
the US Army's website at http://www.army.mil or through Military
City Online at http://www.militarycityonline.com or keyword: MCO
through America Online (tm).
Hope this helps you and your unit/District/Council in separating
the myths associated like "now we're going to have to have Troops
and Packs for enlisted and officers!!" from fact: things are
cautiously going the same way it has been.
Settummanque!
(c) 1999 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3068
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonmi@usarc-emh2.army.mil
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