Lesson 6: SOB_Professional_and_Unprofessional_Relationships

Professional and Unprofessional Relationships

Defining Professional and Unprofessional Relationships

Professional Relationships

• Reflect USAF standards of conduct and the Core Values.

• Maintain respect, integrity, and accountability.

• Support mission effectiveness and proper military structure.

Unprofessional Relationships

• Can occur on or off duty.

• Undermine authority or leadership roles.

• Lead to favoritism, poor morale, or mission failure.

• May violate UCMJ or policy.

Avoiding Unprofessional Relationships

• Limit personal or social interactions with subordinates and superiors.

• Be cautious in relationships with recruiters, instructors, and trainers.

• Keep boundaries clear and appropriate.

Policy on Professional and Unprofessional Relationships: Fraternization (Officers Only)

• Fraternization is a type of unprofessional relationship between an officer and an enlisted member.

• It violates the customary bounds of acceptable behavior and:

  • Prejudices good order and discipline.

  • Discredits the armed services.

  • Operates to the personal disgrace or dishonor of the officer involved.

• Fraternization negatively affects unit cohesion and mission readiness.

Clarifications regarding Fraternization:

• Marriage between an officer and an enlisted member is not considered fraternization.

• Customs and courtesies must still be maintained, regardless of personal relationships.

• These rules apply to conduct both on and off duty.

Prohibitions Relating to Unprofessional Relationships for Officers

Officers Cannot:

• Compromise the chain of command.

• Undermine good order and discipline.

• Create the appearance or reality of favoritism or partiality.

• Damage morale or unit cohesion.

• These restrictions apply to interactions with enlisted personnel, other officers, and civilians.

Effects of Unprofessional Relationships on Unit Cohesion

• Compromise of the chain of command.

• Perception or reality of partiality or favoritism.

• Undermining of good order, discipline, authority, and morale.

• Erosion of trust and respect within the unit.

• Pay and allowance gone.

Legal Consequences of UPRs

Violations may result in punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), specifically:

• Article 92 – Failure to obey a lawful order or regulation.

• Article 133 – Conduct unbecoming of an officer.

• Article 134 – Conduct that brings discredit to the armed forces.

Maximum Punishment:

• Dismissal from service.

• Up to 2 years confinement.