Section 6E - Ethics and Conflict of Interest Prohibitions

Question 1

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 1

Each DoD agency.

Question 2

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

Answer 2

They may also not 1) influence the commission of fraud on the US; 2) induce commitment or omission of any act in violation of a lawful duty; or 3) influence testimony given.

Question 3

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

Answer 3

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

Question 4

May DoD employess and military members receive pay, allowances or supplements of pay or benefit from any source other than the US for performing official services or duties.

Answer 4

No. (Unless specifically authorized by law.)

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Only when specifically authorized by law.

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Yes, subject to certain limitations. (Absent specific authority, military members may not do so because another government position is incompatible with military member’s actual or potential military duties.)

Question 7

On- of 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 of such personnel. In the absence of coercion or intimidation, what exceptions apply?

Answer 7

The sale or lease of a DoD employee’s or military member’s noncommercial personal or real property or commercial sales solicited and made in a retail establishment during off-duty employment.

Question 8

On- of 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 and 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. Name three other prohibitions.

Answer 9

3) Receiving honoraria for performing official duties or for speaking, reaching or writing that relates to official duties; 4) misusing an official position; and 5) certain post-government services employment.

Question 10

AFI 51-901, Gift from Foreign Governments, requires that gifts from foreign governments to Air Force military and civilian personnel and dependents be reported if the exceed $____ in US retail value.

Answer 10

$305. (Failure to do so may result in a penalty not to exceed the retail value of the gift plus $5,000.)

Question 11

Gifts and gift reports are due within ____ days of receiving the gift from a foreign government to the Air Force Personnel Centers (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 US Attorney General may bring a civil action against you in any US 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; and 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 superior cannot exceed what amount, regardless of the number of employees contributing to the purchase?

Answer 15

$300. (The maximum contribution one DoD employees 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. Name five additional limitations.

Answer 17

Use must 1) be reasonable duration and frequency: 2) be made during the employee or military member’s personal time; 3) serve a legitimate public interest: 4) not reflect adversely on the DOD; and 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. (Telephones, fax machines, email and Internet systems.)

Question 19

Do communications approved by commanders in the interest of morale and welfare constitute official uses of federal government communication 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 communications made while traveling on government business. (Communications must be brief and to notify family of official transportation or schedule changes.)

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. (Searches must be brief.)

Question 22

Name the three exceptions to the prohibition of gambling, betting and lotteries for DoD employees or military members on-duty or while on 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, if based on a personal relationship and transacted entirely within assigned government living quarters; and 3) lotteries aurthorized by any state from licensed vendors.