Scenario: Difficult to Ignore

Group Size: 4-15

Scenario

You are an instructor at a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) training establishment. You work with another instructor who is a very popular character amongst the school staff. Very quickly, you develop a friendship with this individual. 

After several months, you begin to suspect that he has an alcohol-related problem. Although he is never late for work, he always seems exhausted in the mornings and his eyes are often bloodshot. His eyes are often glassy after lunch, and you know he keeps a large bottle of mouthwash in his desk. Several times, when working late, he was giddy, and his breath smelled of alcohol. You approached him, but he denied having a problem. 

You let it go, but during a course party, a few students recount some stories. They give evidence that, on more than one occasion, he appeared at the quarters after-hours drunk and made sexual advances towards students.

Categories

• Principles: Obey and Support Lawful Authority
• Values: Integrity, Loyalty, Courage, Excellence
• Cultural themes: Service, Identity, Leadership, Teamwork
• Misconduct types: Sexual Misconduct, Abuse of Power, Harassment, General Misconduct
• GBA Plus themes: Disability
• Audience: Canadian Armed Forces

Facilitator’s Guide

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the ethical obligation of “Obey and Support Lawful Authority” in a CAF training establishment or at a workplace.  
• Discuss how the value of loyalty, integrity and courage can be in opposition to integrity as well duty, a professional expectation in the CAF ethos in certain situations.
• *Note to facilitators: Please review DAOD 9500-1: Response to Sexual Misconduct and discuss the “duty to report” as it applies to CAF members in relation to this scenario.

Facilitation Questions

1. What would you do in this situation? What are the considerations? 
   • Allow open discussion from the group.
   • Ethical concerns: You are concerned, not only for the health of a member of the teaching staff, but also for the safety of the students. As a friend, you want to make sure that he gets help and that he does not incriminate himself or jeopardize his career. Does abuse of power come into play in this scenario?
   • Personal factors: Although the required action is clear (you want to help him), the sensitivity of the issue and the fact that he is a colleague and a friend make your intervention more uncomfortable.
   • Environmental factors: Your friend’s conduct will affect the reputation of the training establishment. He is not setting a good example for the candidates nor for junior staff members. It is possible that other members of the school are aware of his situation but are choosing to ignore it.
2. What is the ethical dilemma in this situation?  
   • At first glance, this case seems like a right and wrong situation. The required action is clear. 
   • However, it is a competing values dilemma because of the difficulty in differentiating your loyalty to a colleague who needs help versus your responsibility as a CAF member to look after someone’s well-being. Furthermore, it is ethically unacceptable to do nothing, especially since his behaviour is beginning to impact on the candidates. In addition, his behaviour in the quarters cannot be ignored.  
3. What are some potential courses of action that could be taken in this scenario? 
   • Option 1: Talk to him and mention that his behaviour is having an impact on the candidates. Recommend seeking professional help from a Medical Officer (MO) or someone else in the chain of command. He might deny having a problem and refuse to comply. Advise him that if he refuses, you have the duty to involve the chain of command.  
   • Option 2: Speak to someone in the chain of command yourself and voice your concerns. The chain of command will have to handle the situation. Your friend will most likely be removed from the school. You might become a “target” for turning in a fellow instructor.
   • Option 3: Ignore it and do nothing. However, your inaction does question your true loyalty to your friend. If the situation deteriorates and becomes more problematic, you could become accountable.