a. Hazing, as defined by the reference, is any conduct whereby a military member or members, regardless of Service or rank, without proper authority causes another military member or members, regardless of Service or rank, to suffer or be exposed to any activity which is cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning/ or harmful. Soliciting or coercing another to perpetrate any such activity is also considered hazing. Hazing need not involve physical contact among or between military members; it can be verbal or psychological in nature. Actual or implied consent to acts of hazing does not eliminate culpability of the perpetrator.
b. Although hazing can occur during unauthorized initiations, "congratulatory acts," or "rites of passage”. Those types of events are not prerequisites for hazing. The following is a list of actions that may constitute hazing: physically striking another to inflict pain outside of a supervised training exercise; piercing another’s skin in any manner (such as "pinning," "tacking on, or "blood wing(ing)"); verbally berating another for the sole purpose of belittling or humiliating; encouraging another to excessively consume alcohol or encouraging another to engage in illegal, harmful, demeaning or dangerous acts; playing abusive or ridiculous tricks; threatening or offering violence or bodily harm to another; branding; taping; tattooing; shaving; greasing; painting; requiring excessive physical exercise beyond what is required to meet standards; or the forced consumption of food alcohol, drugs, or any other substance.