TO ALMARATTENTION INVITED TO ROUTINEBTUNCLASSUBJ: EXPECTATION OF ETHICAL CONDUCT/UNCLASSIFIED//ALMAR 013/04MSGID/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//

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