Extremist Organizations & Activities
Department of Defense (DoD) policy is to provide equal opportunity and treatment for all military members and civilian employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender or national origin.
Participation in extremist organizations and activities by DoD personnel is inconsistent with the responsibilities of military service and policy.
Military personnel must not actively advocate supremacist, extremist or criminal gang doctrine, ideology or causes, including those that advance, encourage or advocate illegal discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, religion, ethnicity or national origin; or those that advance, advocate or encourage the use of force, violence or criminal activity; or otherwise deprive individuals of their civil rights.
Military personnel are prohibited from supporting extremist organizations as follows:
Participating in public demonstrations or rallies
Attending meetings or activities, knowing it involves an extremist cause, when on duty, in uniform, in a foreign country, if likely to result in violence, or in violation of a commander's order
Recruiting or training members
Fundraising
Creating, organizing or taking a visible leadership role
Distributing organizational literature
Receiving financial assistance from a person or organization that advocates terrorism; the unlawful use of force or violence to undermine or disrupt US military operations; subversion; or sedition
Browsing websites that advocate violence towards the US or DoD or that promotes terrorism while on duty and without official sanction
learn more about military standards
Participation in extremist organizations and activities by DoD personnel is inconsistent with the responsibilities of military service and policy.
Military personnel must not actively advocate supremacist, extremist or criminal gang doctrine, ideology or causes, including those that advance, encourage or advocate illegal discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, religion, ethnicity or national origin; or those that advance, advocate or encourage the use of force, violence or criminal activity; or otherwise deprive individuals of their civil rights.
The Department of Defense requires certain military members and civilian employees to file annual financial disclosure forms to insure employees do not engage in official financial transactions or decision-making that, due to their private interests, present a conflict of interest.
In the United States, the constitutional tradition of a politically neutral military establishment under civilian control includes nonpartisanship by the military and the elimination of undue military influence on the political process.
Private organizations (POs) are self-sustaining special interest groups that operate on military installations with the written consent of the commander.
A Family Readiness Group (FRG) is an organization created to foster a climate of mutual support within the unit. FRG goals include supporting the military mission through support, outreach and information to family members.
FRG mission-essential activities are supported using a unit's appropriated funds.
Under federal law, the Joint Ethics Regulation and service regulations, members of the Department of Defense (DoD) shall not engage in any personal business or professional activity that presents a conflict between their private interests and the DoD public interest.
As a general rule, spouses and other family members of an authorized traveler may not accompany the military member or civilian employee on official business at government expense.
Spouses may travel at government expense in limited situations
Fundraising is the solicitation of funds from or sale of items to military and civilian personnel.
Before any group (to include squadron booster clubs, private organizations, unit advisory councils, etc.) engages in a fundraising activity, either on or off base, prior approval must be obtained from the installation commander or his designee.
DoD employees may not accept or solicit gifts from a prohibited source or given because of their official positions. A gift includes any item having a monetary value.
Government resources and property may only be used for authorized purposes.
With few exceptions, supporting non-federal entities (NFEs) -- even if the government is compensated or reimbursed -- is an improper use of funds and resources.
Although military members have the right, within established limits, to express their individuality through their appearance, the military services have defined what is and what is not acceptable.
Absent an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, or good order and discipline, commanders will accommodate individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs of military members.
“Unprofessional relationships” is a term used to describe personal interaction that results in or reasonably creates the appearance of favoritism, misuse of position or authority, or the abandonment of organizational goals for personal interests.
