Soldier – August 2019

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[email protected]

@soldiermagazine

http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2019 53

It’s wrong

on all

counts

Fury at hubby’s workplace fling

I

WAS an Army wife for 18 years until

my marriage broke up recently.

This was caused by my husband

having a relationship with a single female

soldier he works with.

I know this is against the rules but

when I told his boss he said that because

I had reported it when we had been

separated for a week my husband was

not breaking any rules.

I believe that separated or not, such a

relationship is against Army regulations.

The Servicewomen concerned is single

and he’s married; she is a private and he

is a sergeant.

It’s wrong on all counts.

So how often does the Army allow this

sort of behaviour to go on unpunished?

It needs to be investigated because

wives should be able to rely on the

support of those in authority. – Name

and address supplied

Michelle Brewer, Discipline Policy,

Personal Services, replies: When a

perceived inappropriate relationship

is brought to the attention of a

commanding officer, he or she should

consider the facts of the matter and

identify whether the actions of the

personnel involved have breached

the Service test.

This states: “Have the actions

or behaviour of an individual

adversely impacted – or are they

likely to impact – efficiency and/or

operational effectiveness?”

The overriding imperative is

to sustain team cohesion and

maintain trust and loyalty between

commanders and the soldiers they

are in charge of.

And it is just as important for these

high standards of social behaviour to

be imposed during peacetime as well

as on operations.

When faced with an allegation

of social misconduct, COs should

exercise their professional judgement

and experience.

They must also be mindful that

Service personnel have a right to a

private life.

How serious the issue will be

regarded depends on the individual

circumstances – but if it involves an

abuse of position, trust or rank, or

taking advantage of an individual’s

separation, it will be viewed as being

particularly serious.

If it is judged that the conduct

breaches the Service test (even

in cases of consensual behaviour)

administrative action may be taken.

However, this must not be done

to impose one person’s morality on

another; disapproval is not enough to

justify action.

There must be a potential or actual

adverse effect on the workplace.

53-sol-aug Talkback1.indd 2 25/07/2019 14:43