Topic: Abuse of Authority within a Relationship

[InkerThinker]

Hello, i'm a first time writer, long time reader...and first time p/o....

& i've been searching (on the internet) and on army.ca for the answer to my question... which is best used in an example...

can someone be charged with abuse of authority if the higher ranking person (i.e. WO) comes to a house of a military spouse who is of a lesser (rank) (i.e. pte) wants to carry on a sexual relationship. even if the spouse agrees to it  (the WO came to that person's house because he knew the Pte's schedule and knew that he would not be at home with his spouse which would be when the relationship occurd)

*the ranks are incorrect but are used as this example

i guess what i'm asking and what i want clarified is what is the definition of abuse of authority  (does it have to be their direct boss or is it rank related, does it have to be on base or can it take place off base...)

[corp_express]

That's terrible.
Use you chain of command and cirumvent the individual in question, notify his superiors of the problem in question. Obviously you should no longer be working together anymore. I think any officer has the authority to lay a charge.

[Eye In The Sky]

That's terrible.
Use you chain of command and cirumvent the individual in question, notify his superiors of the problem in question. Obviously you should no longer be working together anymore. Any officer has the authority to lay a charge.

Whoa whoa whoa! 

To start, not all Officers have the authority to lay a charge.  COs set out who can lay a charge, who are Delegated Officers/Presiding Officers, whatever the term is now, etc in ROs, etc.  QR & O Vol II, Chap 107, Art 107.02 refers:

http://admfincs.mil.ca/qr_o/vol2/ch107_e.asp#107.02  DIN Link

http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/qro-orf/vol-02/chapter-chapitre-107-eng.asp#cha-107-02   InterNet link

Secondly, what is the Service Offense you are so confident is being committed here?  Abuse of Authority?  I just checked and in QR & O, Vol II, Chapter 103, I don't see that listed as a Service Offense.

http://admfincs.mil.ca/qr_o/vol2/tofc103_e.asp  DIN link

http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/qro-orf/vol-02/tc-tm-103-eng.asp InterNet link

I am no expert in this area, but I think your advice is out to lunch.

Aside from this hypothetically involving a WO being friendly with a Pte's wife, the OP said *even if the spouse agrees to it*.

Take some time to familiarize yourself with QR & O Vol II and *Stay in your lanes* seems to be the best advice I can give you.

[Greymatters]

This is one of those issues that the CF doesnt like to get involved in.  If this is actually going on, and you want to act like the adult the CF expects you to be, these types of issues should be dealt with between the two (or three) of you rather than dragging in the whole command structure.

That said, with the sparse information offered, you really cant expect to get good advice on your situation, but trying to press charges is not your first option.  The first issue you need to sort out is your home life.  If this an 'unwanted' visit to the home environment, then you report it to the appropriate law enforcement and seek legal advice.  If this is a 'wanted' visit, then you should be discussing the issue with the spouse and finding out what issues need to be dealt with there... 

[InkerThinker]

Aside from this hypothetically involving a WO being friendly with a Pte's wife, the OP said *even if the spouse agrees to it*.

Take some time to familiarize yourself with QR & O Vol II and *Stay in your lanes* seems to be the best advice I can give you.

eye in the sky: this example is based on a true event, i don't want to say too much due to persec which is why i changed the ranks around...

so from what you are saying, is that there is nothing i can do (because it's not a Service Offense), and from the military side there's nothing wrong?

greymatters: my first option has been dealt with (the b**** is gone) i did not want the person to come to my house in the first place and if i was present i'd obviously would of stopped it

[Eye In The Sky]

eye in the sky: this example is based on a true event, i don't want to say too much due to persec which is why i changed the ranks around...

so from what you are saying, is that there is nothing i can do (because it's not a Service Offense), and from the military side there's nothing wrong?

My trg and knowledge in the area is far to limited to offer you advice on what you should do.  From my time and experience, my first thought is...have you considered talking to a Padre about it?  Doesn't involve the CoC, no accusations against a superior, etc.  Other than that advice militarily speaking, anything else I say is out of my lane.  I'd have to leave that advice to those of higher rank, experience and knowledge than me.

Its a crappy situation, but firing from the hip now might come back to haunt you later.  Again, my first thought was a Padre.  In the past few years, I've had a pretty crappy situation fall on me, and the BEST thing I did was talk to the Padre before deciding my course of action.  The Padre engaged my CoC at the highest level and THAT made a huge difference in itself.

And...I have to add, good on you for maintaining your self discipline and not taking matters into your own hands in a way that would be bad for your career.   

[PMedMoe]

The only place I can see any abuse of authority, is the fact that he used his knowledge of your schedule to time his visit to the spouse.  Other than that, not much can be done through the military.

[Kat Stevens]

It's not abuse of authority, insider trading maybe.   *** hole crap-birds like this exist at all rank levels.

[InkerThinker]

...have you considered talking to a Padre about it?

Wow, I never would of thought about a Padre (not being very religious myself)

and as for the "self discipline" i have thought a lot about just handling this 'man to man' but so many people have told me that there are better ways... so i've listened to them (good advice i hope)

*** hole crap-birds like this exist at all rank levels.

He's more of a "D**** Bag" in my eyes, he thinks of himself as quite the gigalo just makes me want to slap that smirk right off his stupid face... (again self discipline comes into effect)

Eye in the Sky: Is there a number or something I can use to find out the nearest padre? Closest Base would be Borden...

[Kat Stevens]

DON'T GET PHYSICAL WITH THIS GUY!  From experience, you will never win if you crap kick someone with more rank than you, regardless of the reason. Even if you are found to be in the right, he will have friends with long reach. One of the perks of rank, I'm afraid.

[FormerHorseGuard]

If you want to contact the padre, i would call his or her office and make an appointment.  Do you work on or off base?
I am sure the padre would come see you and your spouse and discuss the opitions and offer some sort of official help.
MY  former Padre called it the purple net, ( colour of the background of the cap babdge) they  have no power in the chain of command but have direct access to the CO and can discuss things at the highest levels avoiding  charges or face to face contact with the problem person. if you need some more help just call the padres office
 in Borden at  705-423-2318

[ArmyRick]

I reccomend you seek advise from an HA or talk to a padre. I know alot of COs and RSMs that will "get involved" and put a stop to horse **** behaviour like that!

[Teflon]

I think another side of the issue is maybe the member needs to speak to his wife as well. If this is a case of  "even if the spouse agrees to it" it seems to me there are bigger problems in the marital relationship then what rank the spouse decides to sleep around with.  And this is an area that a Padre / Social Worker / Marriage Councillor or Divorce Lawyer would be of far more assistance with.

[beach_bum]

I think another side of the issue is maybe the member needs to speak to his wife as well. If this is a case of  "even if the spouse agrees to it" it seems to me there are bigger problems in the marital relationship then what rank the spouse decides to sleep around with.  And this is an area that a Padre / Social Worker / Marriage Councillor or Divorce Lawyer would be of far more assistance with.

I have to agree with this one.  Whether or not you liked this person coming to your house, obviously your spouse welcomed him.  Other than the obvious "relations" occuring there is no legal wrong doing here.  I don't see how it involves the military at all.

[Staff Weenie]

The CF does not have any explicit legal involvement in infidelity that I know of - the Yanks do, and have regularly prosecuted folks for exactly this situation (I read about a Col from Strat Bomber Comd who was taken out for an extra-marital affair with a Pte)..

The issue of consent is the key here - the actions between the 'WO' and the 'wife', both consenting adults, are probably not going to be relevant. If said WO was to at all make any comments to you at work, or treat you in a fashion that differs in the slightest from all the other subordinates, then it becomes an issue for the CF.

I would also wonder if a NDA Art 129 could be used, in that such conduct is clearly prejudicial to the maintenance of good order and discipline within a unit. Somehow, I doubt that the rest of the unit is unaware, so it has probably been discussed, and impacts on how the WO is perceived, and perhaps even obeyed. I had to deal with a 'wife-swapping' free sex group in a unit, and had a 2Lt tell me that what happens off base is his business. The advice I rec from legal was that once troops within the unit are aware of it (they were), and it begins to impact upon order, discipline and even morale (they all hated him), it becomes a CF issue to deal with.

Let the system deal with it properly, but for your own sake, see the Padre or other resource.

[Eye In The Sky]

Closest Base would be Borden...

This line leads me to ask this question...are you in the Res Frce?

This could change thinks, if *the WO* is Res Frce, as the CSD is pretty specific about when a Reservist is subject to the CSD.

Not that it changes how much of a fool he is.  For the record, if I were in your position, his face would be in SERIOUS need of surgery, and I'd happily be incarcerated.  I don't have much "self discipline" when it comes to Mrs EITS and dickheads.

[Kat Stevens]

It takes an order of God, signed off by the Easter Bunny to charge a WO, and for a 129 not worth the effort.  He'll just get promoted and posted out of the way for a couple years.

[medicineman]

It kind of does involve the military, even if it's that bit on the PER about "Ethics", not to mention if this predatorial dweeb is doing wives of troops in his command (or anyone else's for that matter), it's pretty hard on morale.  Not sure if it's still on the books in the US UCMJ, but adultery was a chargeable offense in the US and for this very reason, as it undermines morale of troops, be they home or away.  I've seen my fair share of guys sent home from overseas because of fecal cephalics like that.  Strangely enough, the person was kept in unit lines when the spouses came back ...but I guess it's politically incorrect these days pound the snot out of someone.

 

MM

[CDN Aviator]

It kind of does involve the military, even if it's that bit on the PER about "Ethics",

If that was the case, there are many military member's whos actions on civvy street would land them a low rating in the ethics department. That being said, using this incident as a justification for a low ranking for AF16 wouldnt make it very far and would lead to a pretty justifiable redress.

[ArmyVern]

eye in the sky: this example is based on a true event, i don't want to say too much due to persec which is why i changed the ranks around...

so from what you are saying, is that there is nothing i can do (because it's not a Service Offense), and from the military side there's nothing wrong?

greymatters: my first option has been dealt with (the b**** is gone) i did not want the person to come to my house in the first place and if i was present i'd obviously would of stopped it

Stop!

If your spouse confirmed "the event" and confirmed "the deed" actually occured AND the supervisor is in your immediate Chain of Command - then you have a VERY valid complaint; your very first CoA should be to speak with the "supervisor" (not that I'd call their act 'good leadership') who committed the faux pas and request that either he request a move outside of your immediate CoC or, failing that, that you request an immediate move outside of his CoC. There are 'conflict of interest' and 'conduct prejudicial' concerns with this situation.

If this supervisor is indeed within your CoC there is now indeed a conflict and ergo the supervisor should rightly be the one reporting that a conflict now exists. He had to report such if a Cpl in his section was screwing another Cpl (or another Cpls wife) in the section and effect a move of one or the other. The very same is applicable to himself as it is the same circumstances (only worse as this person may be in a position of immediate authority over you).

If the supervisor in question refuses to action or bring forward your request - ask to immediately consult with the next higher in the CoC. If he refuses to make that appointment for you ... immediately seek out an HA or circumvent him entirely and present yourself at the door of his supervisor.

If this person is in your CoC (or is your supervisor) - this equals "a poisoned work enviornment" which is indeed grounds for an official harassment complaint. If, during the course of the Admin Investigation into your Harrassment Complaint, it is determined that there may have been any service offenses committed - the Admin Invest will be ceased and handed over appropriately for a Disciplinary Investigation.

[mariomike]

I had to deal with a 'wife-swapping' free sex group in a unit,

I haven't heard it called "wife swapping" or "key party" much since the '70's. 
I think it's called "swinging" now.

[CDN Aviator]

AND the supervisor is in your immediate Chain of Command

Stop indeed. The Op said that the "WO" had knowledge of his wife's schedule/whereabouts. The OP never said that this "WO" was in his or her CoC.

[Technoviking]

All of us sitting by the computer have no knowledge of all the particulars of the event.  That said, information is power, and no, we aren't the ones needing information: your superiors do.  Bring this up to your superiors.  If you cannot do so, speak to a padre.  They do more than religious services, they also do social.  If there is the possibility of "shenanigans", then an investigation may be ordered.  If the investigation reveals probable service offence, then charges "may" be laid.  Which section of the NDA?  I don't know: the investigation would reveal that.

Now, if the person to whom you refer was not subject to the code of service discipline during the time of the alleged "shenanigans", then there is nothing that can be done per se.  Of course, if elements of a service offence are found to have occured when said person was subject to the code, then there could, hypothetically, be grounds for a charge laying authority to lay charges.

All that to say: talk to someone.

[ArmyVern]

Stop indeed. The Op said that the "WO" had knowledge of his wife's schedule/whereabouts. The OP never said that this "WO" was in his or her CoC.

That's EXACTLY why that sentence was preceeded by the word IF.

Simply put, "If the incident is factual AND the supervisor is in your immediate CoC ..."

[Eye In The Sky]

Although I am *not* a Supervising Instructor Corporal  I still have a feeling that this might be a Res Frce mbr(s).  Still waiting in the OP to confirm if he can...