The CAP Character Development Program is a Guided and Regulated program to encourage and promote values in living and decision making for our members.
CAPR 265-1 is our guide and incorporates 2 essential elements, "Values for Living" covered in CAPP 265-2 and "Flight Time" covered in CAPP 265-4.
All services and elements of instruction are Non-Denominational.
Commander
Miles J. Barrett
CHC, U.S. Navy
Squadron Chaplain
U.S. Coast Guard Chaplain
Training Center, Cape May
" When you click onto a button or hyperlink below, you will be leaving the CAP.gov domain. LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS, OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES "
Ethics Section:
From Santa Clara University, California
Military Ethics Sites to explore:
CASE STUDY FOR: September 2009
Case 56: The Computer (from Ethics for the Junior Officer selected cases from current military experience 2nd Edition gift of USNA Class of 1964 to USNA Class of 2004, Naval Institute Press Annapolis, Maryland)
Question: Is it wise for an officer to sell a used home computer to an enlisted member? Is it ethical?
An officer allowed a junior enlisted to buy and finance the purchase of the officer’s home computer. The financial terms covered an extended period of time, during which the enlisted was to make monthly payments on the computer to the officer.
RADM John A. Dahlgren, USN, on the night of his death, 12 July 1870 said, “The officer should wear his uniform as the judge his ermine, without a stain.”
Discussion: Is it possible that the officer thought he was doing a good thing, a favor even, for the enlisted member?
What do you think this officer’s peers thought about his actions?
What Happened:
The officer violated the standards of conduct because the purchase spanned a long period of time. If the officer wanted to sell the equipment to the enlisted member, he should not have financed the deal.
Two violations were actually committed. The second, more serious one, is that the officer was the enlisted’s direct supervisor. If the officer hadn’t been the enlisted’s supervisor, it’s possible that action wouldn’t have been taken against the officer.
Discussion:
As an officer, you are permitted a one-time sale within certain limits. Officers should be acutely aware of their relationships with enlisted personnel and should never enter into any type of open-ended or long-term business relationship with them.
The military standard of ethical conduct required of officers is much higher than for executives in either industry or government. Because of this, every action should be examined for its ethics.
This officer should have considered the problems that could result from selling a computer to a subordinate or how that action could be perceived by other personnel. Others might see the enlisted as being coerced into paying the officer’s price for the equipment. Going through this thought process in advance might have avoided the whole situation.
Also seeking the guidance of other senior members of your command and discuss any questionable situation with a legal officer, especially if it involves dealing with an enlisted member. Sometimes, it’s intuitively obvious that some actions by an officer may be illegal or unethical. Sometimes it’s not. Be sure to get advice.
