Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure
Ethical guidance through cautionary tales courtesy of the US Department of Defense. Possibly the only public government document that is (intentionally) a spoof of itself. The full document, for 2012, is here: Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure_2012. Here’s a sample, from a separate document entitled “2012 Updates” (In word doc, here: eef_complete_2012-1).
Encyclopedia of Ethical Failures: 2012 Updates
(From DoD IG)
MISUSE OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL
Pointing and Shooting for Personal Gain
An O-5 in communications decided that his day job wasn’t enough, so he started a side business photographing local sports events. While on duty, he asked a subordinate to create photo products for his personal business during official time. The officer also requested a press pass on behalf of the Defense Media Activity, which he then used to gain exclusive entry into sporting events to take pictures in his off-duty time. When he was finally caught for misusing the press pass, he received a letter of concern from command.
Hors D’oeuvres and Wine…On the Taxpayers’ Dime
A member of the Senior Executive Service authorized the use of appropriated funds for two optional, off-site “teambuilding” events: a wine tasting event and a hors d’oeuvres-tasting event. The SES member argued that these events were justified as “necessary teambuilding” events. It turns out that the events were not so “necessary” after all: no employees were actually required to attend the events, which took place off-site. The Inspector General found that the SES had improperly authorized the use of appropriated funds for these events, which were not necessary. She was counseled by her superiors as a result.
A Personal Postal Service
One audacious officer stationed in Afghanistan developed a love for fancy rugs and shotguns produced in Turkey. He liked them so much, in fact, that he created his own courier service to get extra cash from the U.S. to increase his collection. The officer, an O-5, submitted a fraudulent courier order, which requested that an enlisted service-member to personally transport an “important package” from the U.S. to Afghanistan. The enlisted service-member even received preferred seating on a government flight to undertake his “special” task. When the enlisted service-member arrived in Afghanistan, the O-5 told him that the “important package” actually contained $4,000 in cash for the purchase of more rugs and shotguns. The O-5 needed the money to reimburse people from whom he had borrowed funds to purchase rugs and guns, and to buy more of these items for his family and friends.
The enlisted service-member then sat around on the base for 10 days on his courier orders. When interviewed, he stated that he had received no assignments on base, and spent those 10 days watching movies, eating meals, and doing no work. When the command got wind of this misuse of funds and personnel, the O-5 was relieved of his duties and forced to fully reimburse the government for thousands of dollars.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY VIOLATIONS
“I’m Uncle Sam, and I Approved this Message”
An O-5 reservist running for state office decided that the usual suit, tie, and American flag pin didn’t cut it. He took a number of photos of himself in his uniform, including his unit designators, which he then uploaded to his campaign Web site. He also prominently displayed his rank, position, and pictures of himself on a tour of duty in Afghanistan. While he placed a disclaimer on his Web site stating that the DoD did not endorse his candidacy, the disclaimer was not easily visible and was in a very small font. He received a letter of reprimand after being forced to remove the photos.
Coming to a Mailbox Near You — A Hatch Act Violation!
An O-5 running for state office issued campaign mailers of herself in full dress uniform, and listed her rank in the mailers. She also used her military title in campaign E-mails. In none of these circumstances did she list a disclaimer. When the command caught on, she admitted to the uniform violation and received a written reprimand.
FRAUD
Service-member Pockets BAH Money
For two years after his divorce, an active duty service-member continued to list his ex-wife on his Basic Allowance for Housing paperwork, allowing him to pocket extra funds, including a family separation allowance. While the overpayment continued for two years, the service-member continued to keep the money. Once the command caught on, he was court-martialed, sentenced to six months confinement, fined, and reduced in rank.
Veterinarian Technicians Pocket Thousands
An E-6 and E-4, both veterinarian technicians for a service, received Basic Allowance for Housing to which they were not entitled. They lived in base housing while receiving overpayments. They took no action to report the mistake. Overall, the Government lost more than $26,000. Both service-members were reduced in rank and ordered to repay all funds.
CREDIT CARD ABUSE
Sporting Goods Scam Steals from Uncle Sam
It seemed like the perfect scam: Owners of a sporting goods store near a military installation allowed service-members to charge personal items on government purchase cards (GPC). Service-members would overcharge the cards and then split the extra cash between themselves and the store owners. One unlucky E-6 was caught when he charged $1950 on a GPC and pocketed $850, which he used to buy a number of sporting goods. The perfect scam didn’t work out so well for the E-6. He was convicted in a court martial, reduced to E-1, given 18 months confinement, and given a bad conduct discharge.
ENDORSEMENTS
SES Uses Title to Promote Non-Federal Entity
A Senior Executive Service employee served on the board of directors of a non-Federal entity (NFE). While on the board, he listed his official position and DoD contact information on the NFE’s Web site. Prior to this ethical violation, he had failed to request a legal opinion regarding his ties to the NFE. He was counseled and told to remove his title from NFE materials.
TRAVEL VIOLATIONS
A Private Jet? Don’t Mind if I Do…
An O-9 with over 35 years of service in the U.S. military was scheduled for a command visit to a base. His original C-12 flight was delayed, so his staff spontaneously arranged a substitute flight for him: a C-5 that had been previously unscheduled to fly. Despite his many years of experience and his stated commitment to confronting travel abuse issues within his command, he and three members of his staff boarded a near-empty jet to make the command visit on time. The government incurred $38,000 in additional costs for the special flight. The officer was counseled by his command about the violation.
