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The DOs and DON’Ts of Politics in the Military

Corps Connections, Features  //  August 29th, 2012  //  By Cpl. Daniel Wetzel

It is important for Marines to know their part in politics during election years. The Department of Defense has outlined rules about engaging in partisan political activities. Be smart, know your part.

Every few years Marines and other service members have the opportunity to support their favorite political candidate by voting. As important as it is to vote, Marines also need to know what they can and can’t do in politics.

The Department of Defense has a longstanding, well-defined policy regarding political campaigns and elections to avoid the perception of DoD sponsorship, approval or endorsement of any political candidate, campaign or cause. The department encourages service members to fulfill the civic obligation to vote, but makes clear members of the Armed Forces on active duty should not engage in partisan political activities.

| More: Be in the know this election day. |

Below is a list of what service members can and cannot do each election year. This list is not all-inclusive.

Remember, supporting a candidate is ok but endorsing one is not — not even on Facebook.

For more information, click here.

For voting information visit http://www.fvap.gov/.

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  • John Forbes

    That is about right. Now all of this social media is new but basicaly the thought seems to be they can’t stop what you do on your own site but you can not put things on other sites. I do understand that there could be some confusion but the simplest way to go is if you want to talk politics stay on your personal sites, don’t re-post what other people say, and don’t pretend that you reprisent the government.

  • John Forbes

    No you are not allowed to wear it to a “gay” rally, “strait” rally, or any other political rally!

  • thecrudesamoan@gmail.com

    It’s good to be a civilian again. By the way, every person who has ever served and has a web presence is being monitored daily. Sorry to say, but we’re liabilities to some, threats to others, and I don’t think it will be long before privacy infringement rights go straight out the window.

    Semper Fidelis.

  • Tim Christopher

    So much for “FREEDOM”

  • http://twitter.com/LuisRAgostini Luis Agostini

    Actually I’m kind of confused about the part where you are allowed to express a personal opinion, I’m assuming through social media since that’s what this blog is all about, and allowed to like/follow candidates/party pages, but cannot post to a candidate/political party page or tweet/retweet (republishing a link to the party/candidate web site). On Facebook, if a Marine likes a certain page, which according to up top a Marine would be allowed to do, it will show up on his/her timeline as a published link to a direct page. According to up top, that breaks the rules and is punishable by UCMJ. Also I am assuming this means you are allowed to express personal opinion only on your personal social media profile, just not comment on the political party/candidate’s social media site?

  • http://www.facebook.com/gilberto.gonzalez.372 Gilberto Gonzalez

    lol full bird corporal Evan!

  • Edohiguma

    It’s a partisan event. It’s about political actions and legislation, making it purely political.

  • Edohiguma

    But they’re not campaigning for sexual orientation. They’re campaigning for political action. “Gay rights” require legislation. It’s not a mere “social issue” as some people seem to believe. A social issue is solved by society itself, which is not the case here, thus they’re campaigning for a political idea and that means, by logic, they’re not allowed to wear uniform during such events.

  • http://www.facebook.com/robertpiper Robert Piper

    What’s funny is that as easy as this is to understand, Marines will still do something they shouldn’t.

  • 4thRecline

    There is a difference between political parties and sexual orientation. Giving the impression that the Marine Corps supports republicans opposed to democrats, or the opposite, is a lot different than giving the impression that the Marine Corps supports the rights of its homosexual members to freely pursue homosexual relationships.

  • Derek Coe

    Why do you want to cause a big problem for OBAMA, he’s on the right side of every issue. Go ahead and vote for and you will see that to GOP is going to cause a big problem for everybody. Don’t base your vote on HATE.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jeremy.vought Jeremy Vought

    Exactly…I’m confused.

  • CPT Hardcore

    That assumes that all members of the military are anti-Obama or pro-GOP which is hardly the case. You can say what you want personally, but if in uniform don’t forget that the President is our Commander-In-Chief. Check your politics at the door.

  • jambay

    I’m glad to see that there are “Do” and “Do Not” but to be honest, as much as I would like to do as much and more as there is on the “Do” list, there a a few things on the “Do Not” list that you can’t restrict… regardless of affiliation. If I am in uniform, and am “captured” in a photo/video, have something to say, I cannot be responsible for the interpretation other than my presence at an event. Hopefully my family – including the corps, understands.

  • Tim Rubel

    DoD Directive 1344.10 needs to be updated. I don’t believe it addresses commenting on Websites. A website discussion is none other than a discussion and should not be construed as encouraging others in the same command to also voice their opinion. What the USMC and other services want its to be able to maintain good order. IF we the military all speak up we could cause a big problem for OBAMA.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mark.krug Mark Krug

    Can you say totally confusing and contradictory…

  • http://www.facebook.com/nate.gumbert Nate Gumbert

    DoD Directive 1344.10, February 19, 2008 spells out everything a Serive Member is and is not permitted to display, participate, donate and everything in between. Great knowledge for everyone. Semper Fi ! ! !

  • http://www.facebook.com/kwalkner Karon Walkner

    They seem to pretty easy to avoid. I just hope that all the guys and girls that are not home vote anyway!! I know it’s tough, but since you are defending the country, you need to have your say too!! VOTE!

  • Charge55

    Gay is not a party… If it was a democratic gay parade then no you couldn’t. It is just a parade. That is the line I think they are drawing here.

  • WTG!!!

    SUPERMAN!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Franklin-Robinson/292200712 Franklin Robinson

    the difference is that a republican rally is partisan political event, while a Pro-gay march is a non partisan event. One supports a specific political party while the other is about Social Issues.

  • Simon Boulanger

    Best advices ever as usual. Who is responsible to make them in force?

  • Simon Boulanger

    Best advices ever, as usual.

  • Radglock

    Hahaha….if only the DoD leadership followed these rules and stayed apolitical while in uniform. I love the Corps and will always hold her dear, but it is so nice to be a civilian who is allowed to actually effect change in a nation that sorely needs it. Get involved, Devil Dogs!! You all are the future leaders of our country.

  • mamabear

    what about a bumper sticker? is that considered campaigning for a candidate?

  • Full Bird Corporal Evan

    So I can’t wear my uniform to a Republican rally… but the gays can wear their uniform in pro-gay marches…

    seems legit…

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This entry was posted on August 29th, 2012 at 11:08 am and is filed under the Corps Connections, Features category. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.