ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- With 2008 presidential primaries starting as early as January, people in Air Force Reserve Command might want to brush up on the rules governing involvement in political activities.
While the same rules that apply to Airmen in the Regular Air Force do not always affect reservists and Department of Defense civilians, it is important to know when and where these rules do apply.
Airmen on active duty for 30 days or more have the greatest number of restrictions on participating in political activities.
"The Air Force restricts its members in their political participation in order to help promote a more politically neutral Air Force, a long-standing tradition in the United States," said Phil Donohoe, chief of administrative law at Headquarters AFRC.
For military members on extended active duty and reservists on active duty for 30 days or more, the rules limiting participation in political activities follow two basic principles.
First, they cannot participate in partisan political activities in their official military capacities. Partisan politics means any candidacy for any national or state office or a candidacy or issue associated with a political party - Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, etc.
No political activities are ever permitted when in military uniform or in any federal government facility or building, or when using government resources, such as government e-mail.
Second, they cannot openly or privately make speeches, write articles, or engage in electioneering or campaign activity associated with partisan politics.
For example, the Air Force allows its people in active-duty status to attend partisan political rallies while not in uniform as long as they remain a spectator and do not actively participate or make speeches during the rally, even in an unofficial capacity.
People on active duty may write letters to the editor of newspaper expressing personal, nonpartisan views on current political issues in an unofficial capacity. They can also make monetary contributions to a political organization favoring a particular candidate. They cannot give money directly to any partisan candidate.
The rules are less restrictive for DOD civilians. While the main principle of not acting in an official capacity still applies, DOD allows its civilians more freedom to engage in partisan politics in their private lives.
If they are not members of the Senior Executive Service and are acting solely in a private capacity, DOD civilians can manage a political campaign, endorse or oppose a candidate in a political advertisement and speak at a political rally on behalf of a candidate. All of these actions are forbidden for people on active duty for 30 days or more.
Finally, no one can engage in any political activities "inside the fenceline" of any military installation or in any federal building.
"It's important that military members carefully follow political activity guidelines," says Mr. Donohoe. "Failure to follow those rules could result in punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 92, Failure to Obey a Lawful Regulation." Federal civilian employees are restricted by the federal law called "the Hatch Act" which, at its extreme, can result in removal from federal employment for violations.
For more guidance, military people can go to Air Force Instruction 51-902, Political Activities by Members of the U.S. Air Force. For more information on the Hatch Act's rules, civilian employees can refer to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel website at http://www.osc.gov/ha_fed.htm (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)