Ethics & Conflict of Interest Prohibitions

Question 1

All DoD employees and military members are directly or indirectly prohibited from giving, offering, promising, demanding, seeking, receiving or agreeing to receive anything of value to influence any official act. Name several additional prohibitions regarding bribery and graft.

Answer 1

May not: influence commission of fraud on the U.S.

• induce commitment or omission of any act in violation of a lawful duty
• influence testimony given

Question 2

What exceptions to the prohibitions on DoD employees and military members regarding bribery and graft exist?

Answer 2

The payment of witness fees authorized by law and certain travel and subsistence expenses.

Question 3

May DoD employees and military members receive pay, allowances or supplements of pay or benefits from any source other than the U.S. for performing official services or duties?

Answer 3

No (unless specifically authorized by law)

Question 4

When may DoD employees and military members receive additional pay or allowances for disbursement of public money or for the performance of any other service or duty?

Answer 4

Only when specifically authorized by law

Question 5

May civilian DoD employees hold two distinctly different federal government positions and receive salaries for both of the duties of each are performed?

Answer 5

Yes, subject to limitations (absent specific authority, military members may not do so because another government position is incompatible with the military members actual or potential military duties)

Question 6

On or off duty, a DoD employee or military member shall not knowingly solicit or make solicited sales to DoD personnel who are junior in rank, grade or position, or to the family members of such personnel. In the absence of coercion or intimidation, what exceptions apply?

Answer 6

The sale or lease of a DoD employees or military members noncommercial personal or real property or commercial sales solicited and made in a retail establishment during off duty employment.

Question 7

Who is responsible for implementing and administering a comprehensive ethics program to ensure compliance with the DoD’s single, uniform source of standards on ethical conduct and guidance?

Answer 7

Each DoD agency

Question 8

On or off duty, may a DoD employee or military member solicit the sale of insurance, stocks, mutual funds, real estate, cosmetics, household supplies, vitamins and other goods or services to DoD personnel or military members who are junior in rank grade or position?

Answer 8

No (nor to family members of such personnel)

Question 9

DoD personnel or military members are prohibited from engaging in off duty employment or outside activities that 1)detract from readiness or pose a security risk and 2)conflict with official duties
Three other prohibitions are

Answer 9

Receiving honoraria for performing official duties or for speaking, teaching, or writing that relates to official duties.
Misusing an official position.
Certain post government service employment.

Question 10

AFI 51-901 Gifts from Foreign Governments, requires that gifts from foreign governments to AF military and civilian personnel and dependents be reported if they exceed $____ in U.S. retail value.

Answer 10

$305 (failure to do so may result in a penalty not to exceed the retail value of the gift plus $5000)

Question 11

Gifts and gift reports are due within ___ days of receiving the gift from a foreign government to the AF Personnel Center’s (AFPC), Promotions, Evaluations, and Recognition Division, Special Trophies and Awards Section.

Answer 11

60 days

Question 12

What may happen if you knowingly solicit, accept, or fail to report or deposit gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval?

Answer 12

The U.S. Attorney General may bring a civil action against you in any U.S. court.

Question 13

The limit on gifts from foreign governments is set by Congress and changes annually. Who can confirm the current limit for you?

Answer 13

Your ethics counselor

Question 14

What gifts may be given to an official supervisor on an occasional basis by a subordinate or other employee receiving less pay?

Answer 14

1) items other than cash with an aggregate market value of $10 or less
2) food and refreshments to be shared among several employees in the office
3) personal hospitality provided at a residence and items given in connection with it of a type and value customarily provided to friends

Question 15

The market value of a gift to a superior cannot exceed what amount, regardless of the number of employees contributing to the purchase?

Answer 15

$300 (the max contribution one DoD employee may solicit from another cannot exceed $10)

Question 16

What is the rule regarding use of government equipment, property, and personnel?

Answer 16

They shall only be used by DoD employees and military members for official purposes.

Question 17

Agencies may allow DoD employees and military members limited personal use of resources other than personnel (such as computers, calculators, libraries, etc) if the use does not adversely affect the performance of official duties by the military member or other DoD personnel. Five other limitations;

Answer 17

Use must 1) be of reasonable duration and frequency. 2)Be made during the employee or military members personal time. 3) serve a legitimate public interest. 4) not reflect adversely on DoD 5) create no significant additional cost to the DoD or government agency.

Question 18

For what purposes can federal government communication systems and equipment be used?

Answer 18

For official use and authorized purposes only.

Question 19

Do communications approved by commanders in the interest of morale and welfare constitute official uses of federal government communications systems?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

Authorized purposes of federal government communication systems do not include which of the following-all communications made while traveling on government business; checking in with a spouse or minor children; or scheduling doctor, auto or home repair appointments?

Answer 20

All communication made while traveling on government business

Question 21

Authorized purposes for use of federal government communication systems do not include which of the following- extensive internet searches or emailing directions to visiting relatives?

Answer 21

Extensive Internet searches

Question 22

Name three exceptions to the prohibition of gambling, betting, and lotteries for DoD employees or military members while on duty or while federally owned or leased property.

Answer 22

1)activities by organizations composed primarily of DoD personnel or their dependents for the benefit of welfare funds for their own members or the benefit of other DoD personnel or their dependents 2) private wagers among DoD personnel of based on a personal relationship and transacted entirely within assigned government living quarters and 3) lotteries authorized by any state from licensed vendors

Question 23

Military ___ is about knowing what is good and true, and the courage to do and be what and who we ought to be.

Answer 23

Ethics

Question 24

Military ethics is rooted in the three O’s.

Answer 24

Owing, ordering, and oughting

Question 25

The core value of “service before self” is based on the debt and gratitude Airmen owe to whom?

Answer 25

Country, family, service, chain of command, comrades and those who wore the uniform before us.

Question 26

According to Dr. James H. Toner, what is the proper ordering of Airmen’s priorities?

Answer 26

Country, Air Force, unit

Question 27

True or false

Ethics insists upon conditional and contextual obedience to orders.

Answer 27

True (Lawful orders ought to be obeyed)

Question 28

When facing an ethical dilemma, rely on your ___ as a guide to what you ought to do.

Answer 28

Integrity