R 011900Z MAR 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 013/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/EXPECTATION OF ETHICAL CONDUCT (CORRECTED COPY)//
REF/A/DOC/DOD/30AUG1993//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS IS A SHORT MESSAGE ABOUT AN IMPORTANT TOPIC
- ETHICS.
SO LET ME GET RIGHT TO THE POINT.   IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY PERSONNEL ADHERE TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF
INTEGRITY AND ETHICAL CONDUCT.  THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRUST
IN US AND NONE OF US CAN BETRAY THAT TRUST.  THE STANDARDS OF
CONDUCT CONTAINED IN REFERENCE A ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT WE
RETAIN THE TRUST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
2.  IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL PUT ETHICS ABOVE PERSONAL
GAIN.  MOST ETHICAL PROBLEMS CAN BE AVOIDED BY BEING FORTHRIGHT,
HONEST AND DIRECT WITH EVERYBODY IN EVERY SITUATION, EVERY TIME.
EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT ACTIONS THAT MAY BE PERMISSIBLE FOR
SOME NON-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ARE PROHIBITED FOR US IN ORDER TO
PRESERVE OUR TRUST WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.  HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:
A.  GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.  USE OF "COMPANY" (GOVERNMENT) RESOURCES
SUCH AS PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, AND PROPERTY IS RESTRICTED TO OFFICIAL
USE ONLY (WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS).  WE PAY FOR OUR PEOPLE,
VEHICLES, AND EQUIPMENT WITH TAXPAYERS' MONEY, AND SO WE MUST USE
THEM TO ONLY ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION, NEVER FOR PERSONAL CONVENIENCE
OR OTHER UNAUTHORIZED PURPOSES.
B.  ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.  ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS, WE
CANNOT ACCEPT GIFTS THAT ARE OFFERED BY INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO DO
BUSINESS WITH DOD OR BECAUSE OF THE OFFICIAL POSITIONS WE HOLD.
SIMILARLY, SUPERIORS MUST NEITHER EXPECT NOR ALLOW SUBORDINATES TO
GIVE THEM GIFTS UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES NOT ALLOWED BY REF A.
C.  FINANCIAL INTERESTS.  WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR FINANCIAL
INTERESTS DO NOT CONFLICT WITH CONSCIENTIOUS PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR FLAG
AND GENERAL OFFICERS, PERSONNEL IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE,
PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS, AND OTHER PERSONNEL WHO EXERCISE FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITIES.  WAIVERS MAY BE AVAILABLE IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES
IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE FINANCIAL INTEREST WILL NOT AFFECT THE
INTEGRITY WITH WHICH GOVERNMENT DUTIES WILL BE PERFORMED.  THE
IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT TAXPAYERS MUST BE CONFIDENT THAT WE MAKE
DECISIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE NATION RATHER THAN JUST FOR
OURSELVES, OR A FEW COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS.
D.  FUTURE EMPLOYMENT.  ANYONE NEGOTIATING OR SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
WITH A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER MUST DISQUALIFY HIMSELF OR HERSELF FROM
PARTICIPATING IN OFFICIAL DECISIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND OTHER
ACTIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF THE PROSPECTIVE
EMPLOYER.  THIS RESTRICTION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR PROCUREMENT
OFFICIALS AND OTHER SENIOR DECISION-MAKERS.  WAIVERS MAY BE
AVAILABLE IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE
FINANCIAL INTEREST IS TOO REMOTE TO AFFECT THE INTEGRITY WITH WHICH
GOVERNMENT DUTIES WILL BE PERFORMED.
3.  ADHERENCE TO HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS MEANS NOT ONLY THAT WE TREAT
TAXPAYERS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WITH RESPECT, BUT ALSO THAT
WE TREAT ALL PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.  WHEN TREATING PEOPLE
WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NO ROOM FOR BEHAVIOR
SUCH AS SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.  ADHERENCE TO HIGH
STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT AND PERSONAL BEHAVIOR WILL ENSURE THAT
WE TREAT OTHERS WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT EVERY PERSON
DESIRES AND DESERVES.
4.  I EXPECT ALL COMMANDERS AND SUPERVISORS TO SET A PERSONAL
EXAMPLE OF INTEGRITY AND ETHICAL CONDUCT.  DOING SO WILL CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES SUBORDINATES TO DEVELOP THESE SAME
TRAITS.  IN ADDITION, REMINDING OUR PEOPLE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
IN THIS REGARD IS A USEFUL EXERCISE.  ONE COMMANDER, FOR EXAMPLE,
RECENTLY ORDERED A STAND DOWN TO FOCUS ON PERSONAL BEHAVIOR AND
ETHICS ISSUES.  FINALLY, COMMANDERS AND OTHER SENIOR LEADERS MUST BE
PARTICULARLY AWARE OF ETHICAL STANDARDS AND SHOULD CONTACT GENERAL
COUNSEL AND JUDGE ADVOCATE ETHICS COUNSELORS TO SEEK ADVICE OR
CLARITY ON AN ETHICS-RELATED ISSUE.
5.  I APPRECIATE THE SUPERB SERVICE EACH OF YOU PERFORMS ON A DAILY
BASIS.  YOU CARRY ON A LONG TRADITION OF SERVICE THAT PRESERVES AND
PROTECTS FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
6.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.
UNQUOTE//