Ethics- political activities Published April 1, 2016 By 7th Bomb Wing Staff Judge Advocate DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Department of Defense Standards of Conduct Office (SOCO) recently updated its summary of the rules that regulate the political activities of both civilian and military personnel at DoD. Included in the summary is guidance on social media, which will likely play a prominent role during the election cycle. Although civilian and military personnel may generally express their personal views on public issues or political candidates via social media platforms, they may not engage in political activity while on duty or in the workplace. Guidance for military personnel is found in DoD Directive 1344.10 and AFI 51-902. Military members and some civilian employees must also refrain from suggesting that others "like," "friend," or "follow" a partisan candidate, and cannot forward invitations to partisan events or fundraisers. As a reminder for DoD civilians, participation in political activity is regulated by a number of sources, including the Hatch Act and DoD policy. Because the application of these rules vary depending on the civilian employee's position or office, it is extremely important that employees who are engaging in political activity know which rules apply. For more information, please see the links below: SOCO's Political Activity Guidance (2016): http://go.usa.gov/cs2ZQ Social Media and Political Activities Guidance for Military Members http://go.usa.gov/cs2Zw The Hatch Act: FAQ on the Use of Social Media and Email: http://go.usa.gov/cs2Bx Final Notes: Bottom line; follow the applicable rules and regulations when engaging in political activities. Ensure your participation in the political activity is not done while on duty or in uniform. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact: Dyess Legal Office E-mail: 7bw.ja.admin@us.af.mil Phone: 325-696-2232