Scenario: No Harm, No Foul

Group Size: 4-15

Scenario

You are a Section Commander deployed overseas in a small camp. The national and coalition policy stipulates no fraternization, even for service couples residing in the same camp. You, and several others, know for a fact that one of your colleagues, whose service spouse also resides in the same camp, is breaking this rule.

Categories

• Principles: Obey and Support Lawful Authority
• Values: Integrity, Loyalty, Courage, Excellence
• Cultural themes: Service, Identity, Leadership, Teamwork
• Misconduct types: General Misconduct
• GBA Plus themes: Gender, Marital Status
• Audience: Canadian Armed Forces

Facilitator’s Guide

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the ethical principle of “Obey and Support Lawful Authority” in an operational setting.
• Discuss the ethical values of loyalty and the ethos expected behaviour of duty in an operational setting.

Facilitation Questions

1. What would you do in this situation? What are the considerations?
   • Allow open discussion from the group.
   • Ethical concerns: You are going to jeopardize your loyalty to a peer by reporting them.
   • Personal factors: Your peer has now put you in a situation where you have a responsibility to take action.
   • Environmental factors: The rules forbid fraternization in the camp, even for service couples. Due to the fact that this has now become common knowledge, there is a possibility that the actions of the service couple may change the environment and attitudes of others in the camp.
2. What is the ethical dilemma in this situation?
   • Although this situation relates to discipline, you are still facing an ethical dilemma.
   • The fact that other people in the camp know about their indiscretions makes your decision to act even more difficult. No doubt you will struggle between your responsibility to report a breach of regulations and your loyalty to a peer.
3. What are some potential courses of action that could be taken in this scenario?
   • Option 1: Approach your colleague, express your concern, and ask them to act upon it.
   • Option 2: Report your colleague to the chain of command. Your working relationship with them will now possibly be difficult.
   • Option 3: Ignore the situation. There is a possibility that the morale in the camp could be affected since no one else is addressing the issue.

*Note to facilitators: Please review DAOD 5019-1, Personal Relationships and Fraternization and discuss as it applies to CAF members in relation to this scenario.