Politics and you Published Dec. 6, 2007 By Capt. Tony Wickman 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Next year is an election year, especially for the U.S. presidency, and the political machinery for the various candidates is ramping up for the home stretch. As the diverse assortment of elections approach, Team Vance members may want to become more active in choosing their local, state and federal officials. The important thing is to remember the rules governing participation in political activities. While the Department of Defense and the Department of the Air Force encourages all military and civilian members to engage in the political process, there are specific rules and guidelines about what servicemembers or DoD civilians can and cannot do. Regardless, everyone is encouraged to register to vote, study issues and candidates and vote when the time comes. "Beyond the basic political activities, such as registering to vote and voting, Team Vance members need to be aware of and understand the rules governing political activities as they apply to military members and federal civilian employees," said Maj. Robert Rushakoff, 71st Flying Training Wing Staff Judge Advocate. "If you know the rules beforehand, the ethical problems should take care of themselves." DoD Directive 1344.10, Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty, Air Force Instruction 51-902, Political Activities by Members of the US Air Force, and the Hatch Act are key references among the many laws, directives and policies explaining what military members and DoD civilian may engage in with regard to political activities. According to Major Rushakoff, in some situations, the rules differ slightly between the various categories of military members - active duty, Reserve and National Guard, as well as draws distinctions between military and civilian workers. "Members of the Armed Forces as well as government civilians may attend political meetings and rallies," said the major. "However, servicemembers can only attend as spectators and not in uniform, cannot make public political speeches, serve in any official capacity in partisan groups, or participate in partisan political campaigns or conventions." "The general rule of thumb is that any public or outward involvement in or support of partisan political activities by military members is likely prohibited by law or directive," Major Rushakoff said. According to the Hatch Act, federal civilian employees may be active in and speak before political gatherings or serve as officers of political parties or partisan groups. They are also permitted to manage campaigns, distribute literature, write political articles and serve as a spokesperson for a party or candidate. Individuals can visit http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/defense_ethics/resource_library/2007Deskbook/ for more information. Individuals needing more information or who have questions can contact the 71st FTW Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at 213-7404 or e-mail 71ftw.ja@vance.af.mil. Per AFI 51-902, the following list of "Dos" and "Don'ts" for political activities by Team Vance servicemembers identify several actions that are either permitted or prohibited. Air Force members may: 1. Register to vote, vote, and express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces. 2. Make monetary contributions to a political organization or political committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates, subject to limitations under Title 2, United States Code, Section 441a and Title 18, United States Code, Section 607. 3. Attend political meetings or rallies as a spectator when not in uniform. 4. Join a political club and attend its meetings when not in uniform. 5. Serve as an election official, if such service is not as a representative of a partisan political party, does not interfere with military duties, is performed while out of uniform and has the prior approval of the major command commander or equivalent authority. This approval authority may be delegated, but not below the level of installation commander. 6. Sign a petition for specific legislative action or a petition to place a candidate's name on an official election ballot, if the signing does not obligate the member to engage in partisan political activity and is done as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Armed Forces. 7. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing the member's personal views concerning public issues, if those views do not attempt to promote a partisan political cause. 8. Display a political sticker on the member's private vehicle, or wear a political button when not in uniform and not on duty. 9. Write a personal letter, not for publication, expressing preference for a specific political candidate or cause, if the action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign on behalf of a partisan political cause or candidate. Air Force members may not: 1. Use official authority or influence to interfere with an election, to affect its course or outcome, to solicit votes for a particular candidate or issue, or to require or solicit political contributions from others. 2. Be a candidate for or hold civil office, except as authorized in the AFI. 3. Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, conventions or make public speeches in the course of such activity. 4. Allow or cause to be published, partisan political articles signed or authorized by the member for soliciting votes for or against a partisan political party or candidate. 5. Serve in any official capacity or be listed as a sponsor of a partisan political club. 6. Speak before a partisan political gathering of any kind for promoting a partisan political party or candidate. 7. Participate in any radio, television or other program or group discussion as an advocate of a partisan political party or candidate. 8. Conduct a political opinion survey under the auspices of a partisan political group or distribute partisan political literature. 9. Perform clerical or other duties for a partisan political committee during a campaign or on election day. 10. Solicit or otherwise engage in fund-raising activities in federal offices or facilities, including military reservations, for a partisan political cause or candidate. 11. March or ride in a partisan political parade. 12. Participate in any organized effort to provide voters with transportation to the polls, if the effort is organized by or associated with a partisan political party or candidate. 13. Attend, as an official representative of the Armed Forces, partisan political events, even without actively participating. 14. Engage in the public or organized recruitment of others to become partisan candidates for nomination or election to a civil office. 15. Make campaign contributions to a partisan political candidate. 16. Make campaign contributions to another member of the Armed Forces or an officer or employee of the federal government for promoting a political objective or cause. 17. Solicit or receive a campaign contribution from another member of the Armed Forces or from a civilian officer or employee of the United States for promoting a political objective or cause. 18. Use contemptuous words against the office holders described in Title 10, United States Code, Section 888. 19. Display a large political sign, banner, or poster on the top or side of a member's private vehicle (as distinguished from a political sticker). 20. Sell tickets for, or otherwise actively promote, political dinners and other such fund-raising events.