Commentary - Be careful what you post; it could hurt your career

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Be careful what you post; it could hurt your career

Posted 7/15/2012

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Commentary by Staff Sgt. Frances Kriss
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/15/2012 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- Social media quickly became a widespread form of interactive communication and has been incorporated in the way people conduct business, including the military.

Since it was a fairly new concept a few years ago, we had the freedom to post whatever opinions we had on our personal social media sites without any kind of reprimand or punishment.

There are now strict policies in place to regulate social media and whatever is posted online can land service members in deep trouble. Certain actions can be punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

An example occurred last year when a staff sergeant assigned to the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron received an Article 15, got a stripe taken away, had to pay $500, and received a reprimand for posting inappropriate comments on Facebook.

Another example that appeared on national media was Marine sergeant who affiliated himself with the tea-party and criticized President Barack Obama on his private Facebook page. His security clearance was suspended and he now faces an other-than-honorable discharge.

It's important to remember that we all raised our right hand and recited an oath, where we said we will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over us. Therefore, there are certain comments we shouldn't announce publicly.

There are also limitations when it comes to political, religious and ideological views.

Use common sense when you post on social media sites--it has the potential to reach thousands and possibly millions of people around the world.

In addition, once something is posted, it's really difficult to take it back. Even if the post is deleted, there's no guarantee that no else saw it, shared it, or re-tweeted it.

Being on social media is like being on the spotlight. If you post on your profile section that you're affiliated with the Air Force or have pictures of you in uniform, then you are essentially representing every Airman in the United States.

We must keep in mind that whether we are active duty, Guard or Reserve, in or out of uniform, we still represent the Air Force and the U.S. armed forces. We have an image to uphold and we want to continue being America's highest-rated U.S. institution.

Bottom line, be careful posting opinions on social media sites because it's now punishable under the UCMJ and one small remark or photo is not worth ruining a career.

Comments

7/27/2012 7:51:56 AM ET
Why is the US Military so obsessed with punishment and can hurt your career When it comes to honoring accomplishments and commraderie that goes MIA. Everything is get your dental form done or else pass PT or else dont post this on facebook or else do this CBT or else... Blah blah blah. No wonder they got pay out re-enlistment bonuses.

SSGT JB, Michigan

7/23/2012 10:58:11 AM ET
@Patrick- I believe the marine in question actually created a facebook group that was for service members against Obama- or something like that. I agree with you- he made it blatent that he was affliated with the armed forces and criticized the CIC.

Lt Kirchner, Hill

7/21/2012 11:32:12 AM ET
Chris, when we're in uniform we have restricted freedom of speech because that uniform should remind us we have only one focus, the mission. I think that goes without saying since the first day we entered service. It's part of the UCMJ, too, if I'm not mistaken.So it isn't very smart to go on a Facebook account that has my name, rank, service and pictures of me in uniform to post hate speech about the President and support a specific political party. That's just asking to get slapped. Not sure if that's happened in the examples in the article, but how else would they find out who he was?

Patrick, MO

7/20/2012 8:43:59 AM ET
The whole system is a faileure already. Again where is the freedom of speech and why is the UCMJ created this way there are so many contradiction. Only saying this because I just read this morning on the news that the pentagon allowed military folks to participate in a gay pride parade in uniform. In uniform really The AFI sais I can't hold my wife's hand on base or I can't go to any political rallies in uniform or I can't go to a bar in uniform but they are allowing uniformed personnel to participate in a gay pride parade I'm losing my faith here folks someone needs to step up and revise all the laws because this is embarassing that's why all the other countries are laughing at us.

Chris, JBSA

7/20/2012 3:14:44 AM ET
Once again the story is the medium and not the message.This same story came out about sexting last year in the Army times. Some people had their careers ruined over it. Digging deeper revealed that it was not the medium of their conversations but rather the content that got the offenders into hot water for adultery and fraternization which were illegal before people started texting each other. Same thing here Social Media outlets are all new and flashy and intimidating but the Service Members got in trouble for age-old offenses not for new ones.

Mike, Afghanistan

7/19/2012 3:56:43 PM ET
For example a serviceman can click like on a political facebook page which MANY do or could tell the world their political ideology on the personal info section on their facebook which MANY do. Or what about servicemen that simply post Bible verses on their facebookIt's funny how you agitators cause the rest of us to be swamped in useless e-mails about regulations and don't even bother to read them...You are absolutely allowed to click Like on your preferred party's facebook page. That has never been an issue. You are allowed to declare your preference for a politcal party.What you are not allowed to do is sew dissent in our ranks against our Commander-in-Chief. The line is clear to me.

os, Nellis

7/18/2012 4:21:27 PM ET
Fact-you are not permitted to like political candidates on facebook.It is a violation of the UCMJ.SAF GCA said just that.

John, USA

7/18/2012 3:25:35 PM ET
The story really doesn't hit anything new-the policy all along has been to remember you are a representative of the armed forces and to use common sense in your postings. The problem with the article is there are two examples of career enders and there's really nothing that sheds any light on what was career ending about it. Posting inappropriate comments doesn't give one bit of context because we don't know what those inappropriate comments were. My guess is it was pretty egregious, but who knows really except the individual and the individual's lawyer. Nothing here says you can't post anything about your political religious or personal views and frankly who's the supervisor, commander or agency who's going to patrol facebook much less spend the time to slap anyone who has an opinion. You're only going to come under scrutiny if you lose your bearing and say something you know you wouldn't be able to say in uniform at work.

LA, Virgina

7/18/2012 12:39:17 PM ET
I've seen worse by several service members. It seems like he got railroaded or there is more to this story.

Jim TN, TN

7/17/2012 5:20:08 PM ET
Dave the fact included about the pro Tea Party Marine was relevant because he was representing himself as a Tea Party social media activist when he made his disparaging comments about our President. It was a national news story. You don't remember? When a fact is relevant to the story it should be included.

SW, Ft Bragg

7/17/2012 4:31:15 PM ET
Seriously, now what freedom are we defending? It seems to me that as time goes by there are less and less things we can say or do. Do you realize that we can't even voice our opinions about sexual orientation anymore? So gay individuals have all the rights now but straight folks cannot even make a comment because it may be taken as derogatory by the gay person. Also religious stuff, I see all kinds of news that people put flags in front of their house or have bible study yet they are sued. This is absolutely ridiculous and nothing against this article but it just triggered a lot of comments I had on this subject of what we post, say or do. Freedom of speech should be left alone no matter what we say. So what if he criticised the president? Certain laws need to be changed to allow us trully freedom of speech. I am an immigrant and became an American citizen so please reply to this comment and explain to me what freedom of speech is because I honestly don't understand.

Chris, JBSA

7/17/2012 4:26:08 PM ET
SSgt Kriss Dave from Washington has a good point. The fact the Marine criticized the President on social media was the problem. The affiliation was not. I think most people understand that but you might create the perception you have some slant. Even if the guy gave 100K to the President's campaign and then criticized him he would still be in hot water. Might just be an unintended ancillary fact with that situation with the Matine, but that tidbit adds nothing of value to the intended message.

MA, LAFB

7/17/2012 12:49:50 PM ET
I think this article is a great reminder for all airmen to keep in mind when using social media. Often we get too comfortable when using these sites and forget that what we say online can have an impact on us or our respective service.

Raquel, San Antonio Texas

7/17/2012 11:45:08 AM ET
Bill, I think you have it confused. You would be correct if the article spoke of a dishonorable discharge. But they are talking about a General discharge Under Other Than Honorable conditions. OTH discharges can be accepted in-lieu of court-martial proceedings at the service-member's request. Persons facing OTH are guaranteed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice the right to have their discharge heard by an administrative discharge board which is similar to a court-martial, but is not a public forum.

DJ, Texas

7/17/2012 8:46:01 AM ET
What does affiliation with the Tea Party have to do with the Marine getting discharged? He might have also been a member of a number of organizations. The Marine affiliated himself with the American Humane Society and criticized President Obama. Why highlight the Tea Party when it is completely acceptable to be a member of the Tea Party? When the Tea Party has never advocated for the violent overthrow of our nation's government?

Dave, Washington DC

7/16/2012 2:16:06 PM ET
For those who care, the UOTHC discharge is an administrative discharge and not initiated by a court martial. The Marine in question more than likely was charged with an Article 134 violation. No sloppy work at all

John, Pensacola

7/16/2012 1:12:16 PM ET
Although much of this is common sense, it is unclear where the line is drawn. For example, a serviceman can click like on a political facebook page which MANY do or could tell the world their political ideology on the personal info section on their facebook which MANY do. Or what about servicemen that simply post Bible verses on their facebook? My overall point is that I hope the social media policy will be more clearly defined so that basic freedoms will remain intact. Otherwise, anyone can go on a political or religous witch hunt on anyone in our military and that would be a disaster.

Kevin, OH

7/16/2012 11:30:59 AM ET
Bill, the article did not say anything about a dishonorable discharge, it said an other-than-honorable discharge. OTH is the most severe administration discharge...Big difference.

Jack Hatfield, Las Vegas

7/16/2012 9:43:16 AM ET
so we fight for freedom and yet we have to keep our freedom of speech in check

John Smith, My TARDIS

7/16/2012 7:20:53 AM ET
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. -Thomas JeffersonIt would seem un-American to me to not say what may need to be said. Just be willing to accept the consequences of what you say and ask yourself if it's really worth it.

My Own Person, TX

7/15/2012 3:03:32 PM ET
With regard to the USMC sergeant the only way anyone can receive a dishonorable discharge is by approved sentence of a general court martial.Someone should have caught that before it went live. Sloppy work.

Bill, MD

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