MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- The Iowa and New Hampshire caucuses officially mark the opening stretch for candidates racing to call the White House home. They mark the time citizens start looking ahead to the presidential election, when 10 months later, Americans and service members will know who their Commander in Chief will be for the next four years.
Election-year politics has always stirred strong passions and convictions in Americans. It also stirs a desire to support a particular candidate, one whose political views most closely match your own.
So just how active can you be in supporting a campaign without compromising military professionalism or breaking Department of Defense regulations?
The answer can be found in DoD Directive 1344.10, and some knowledgeable advice from base Public Affairs and Legal Assistance Offices.
Directive 1344.10 states, "As a matter of long-standing policy, DoD personnel in their official capacity may not engage in activities that associate DoD with any partisan political campaign or election, candidate, cause or issue."
The directive goes on to state, "All military personnel, including National Guard and reserve forces, acting in their official capacity may not engage in public commentary, including speeches and written submissions offered for publication, concerning political campaigns or elections ... shall not distribute political campaign or election literature while in uniform, while acting in their official capacity, or while on a military installation."
How much leeway do Marines and Sailors have in appropriately supporting a political campaign? Can a service member display a candidate's poster at work or ask for campaign contributions?
According to the base Public Affairs Office, it's a matter of tact and professionalism. While it's perfectly acceptable to have a bumper sticker on your privately owned vehicle supporting a candidate, or to wear a political T-shirt, it's not appropriate to make politically charged comments in the office or pass out a candidate's flyers to your fellow Marines. Erring on the side of propriety and caution during this most volatile of political seasons is your best bet.
"There is no restriction on expressing personal opinions on political candidates or issues," explained Lt. Col. Laulie Powell, Marine Corps Base Hawaii staff judge advocate.
Exercising the right to support a candidate is an important freedom and part of the principles a service member swears to uphold and defend. However, doing so at the expense of mission effectiveness and a cohesive atmosphere at work or in the unit is not acceptable.