Fall has arrived and annual elections are around the corner. Each year, the Defense Contract Management Agency reminds personnel of two things. First, DOD and agency leadership encourages and actively supports DOD personnel in their civic duty to vote. Second, the department has a longstanding tradition and policy to avoid the perception of DOD sponsorship, approval, or endorsement of any political candidate, campaign, or cause. Show The department’s guidance is driven by many things. The policy bedrock is found in the federal Hatch Act and DOD Directive 1344.10, which cover partisan political activities by civilians and military service members, respectively. Outside of these established rules, DCMA employees should also remember that their behavior can have a profound effect on their workplace, and they ultimately represent the government to customers, industry and the general public. Policies regarding virtual and online activity are routinely updated to reflect changes in the cyberspace area. In August, DOD released its first department-wide social media policy, DOD Instruction 5400.17, Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes. While the new policy provides direction for official social media accounts, it also helps draw a clear line between official and personal online presence. Everyone at DCMA has a role in building and maintaining strong teams, and ensuring DOD remains apolitical in reality and in public perception. Employees are encouraged to discuss appropriate behavior with their supervisors and local leadership. DCMA’s Office of General Counsel has ethics counselors ready to assist, and they maintain a comprehensive Hatch Act page for employee information (login required) at https://dod365.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/DCMA-PH-GC/SitePages/POLITICAL-ACTIVITIES-%26-THE-HATCH-ACT.aspx ARLINGTON, Va. - With the 2020 election season in full swing, the Department of Defense officials are reminding military members and civilian employees of limits to what kinds of political activity they can participate in. Those limits are outlined in the Hatch Act and in DoD Directive 1344.10, said Army Maj. Johnny Davis, with the Pennsylvania National Guard's staff judge advocate office. Generally speaking, he said, civilian employees and military members acting in their official capacity may not engage in activities that associate the Department of Defense with any partisan political campaign, election, candidate, cause or issue. "The Hatch Act is designed to guard against the misuse of federal employment to promote partisan politics," said Davis. That doesn't mean, however, that military members and civilian employees can't participate in politics, vote or exercise their political beliefs -- including placing yard signs in front of one's home, Davis said. "Freedom of speech allows you to place any yard signs and flag you wish at your home unless [you] live on post, then garrison regulations can restrict such displays," he said. Both military members and civilian employees can also sign nominating petitions for candidates, express personal opinions about candidates and issues, attend political events as a spectator and donate to campaigns. However, they can do so only if they don't act as - or aren't perceived as acting as - representatives of the armed forces or DoD in carrying out these activities. That means that while military members can attend a political event, doing so in uniform is prohibited, said Davis. Those prohibitions extend to social media as well, said National Guard officials. Service members and civilian employees may not post, like, or share a post soliciting political contributions -- including invitations to fundraising events -- nor can they send to subordinates or a subset of friends including subordinates, any message directed at the success or failure of a political party or group or partisan candidate. Additionally, the use of any official title or position when posting messages directed at the success or failure of a political party, candidate in a partisan race or partisan political group, is also prohibited. That includes posting from a social media account that mentions or shows current service in the Guard, said Guard officials. Military members and federal employees who violate the Hatch Act are subject to a range of disciplinary actions, including removal or debarment from service, reduction in grade, suspension, letter of reprimand or a fine of up to $1,000, Davis said. This directive contains the DoD policies on political activities of members of the Armed Forces on active duty. To view the directive in its entirety, go to DoD Directive 1344.10. Hatch ActThe Hatch Act contains restrictions on political activity by Federal Government employees, and by employees of certain state and local government agencies. To view the more detailed information, go to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel website. Can cadets in uniform participate in political activities?No, cadets cannot participate in political activities in uniform.
Where can I find DoD directives?Q: Where can I find DoD Directives and Instructions? A: You may download DoD directives, instructions, manuals, pubs, forms, and other issuances from the Official DoD Issuances website sponsored by Washington Headquarters Services.
Can you run for local office while in the military?A member on active duty may hold and exercise the functions of a civil office under paragraph 4.4. when assigned or detailed (while on active duty) to such office to perform such functions, provided the assignment or detail does not interfere with military duties.
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