https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn en-us 2022-05-10 23:38:48 UTC 2025-11-19 15:04:36 UTC hello@padlet.com dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178434505 Field of Education: Military flight instruction.

Professional Perspective: I am a military educator that not only teaches helicopter initial qualifications to brand new aviators but also upgrades experienced flyers to instructors. Part of my job is also onboarding experienced instructors.

Audience: New schoolhouse instructors; peers, but less familiar with the formality of the helicopter schoolhouse.

Topic: Unprofessional Relationships.

Reason for Topic: A major concern, and cause for scandal, in the Air Education & Training Command is the breakdown in good order and discipline that follows when unprofessional relationships between instructors and students occur.]]> 2022-05-10 23:45:23 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178434505 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178434798 2022-05-10 23:45:43 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178434798 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435078 Often called upon to assist the U.S. Government with analysis, in 2015 the RAND Corporation published An Integrated Survey System for Addressing Abuse and Misconduct Toward Air Force Trainees During Basic Military Training. 

The events sparking this study also spurred the subject of professional and unprofessional relationships to the forefront. The report itself covers background information, survey methodology, and then results from the trainees as well as Military Training Instructors (MTIs). ]]> 2022-05-10 23:46:02 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435078 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435450 - Even outside of training units, unprofessional relationships are investigated and penalized to the maximum extent possible.

- This commander was under investigation for multiple unprofessional relationships. Some fraternizers can quietly erode good order and discipline for years before being caught.

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/air-force-commander-is-fired-for-fraternization-1.668136]]> 2022-05-10 23:46:29 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435450 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435724 - Insular educational communities such as the Air Force Academy are difficult for investigators to pierce.

- Cadets that are victims of sexual assault will not be punished for unprofessional relationships or underage alcohol use.

- Due to the power imbalance in unprofessional relationships taking place in training units, there may be an element of spoken or unspoken coercion.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/07/31/the-air-force-academy-just-dropped-a-huge-barrier-preventing-sexual-assault-victims-from-stepping-forward/]]> 2022-05-10 23:46:47 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435724 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435952 Air Force Instruction 36-2909, Professional and Unprofessional Relationships.

- Para 3.5.2. is most applicable, dealing with technical training.

- Faculty will not form social relationships with trainees or their immediate family members, and any promises or threats regarding a trainee's grade or status are strictly forbidden.

http://pubs.afmentor.com/pubs/afi36-2909.pdf]]> 2022-05-10 23:47:04 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178435952 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178436215 10 U.S.C. Ch 47 is the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the collection of articles by which servicemembers are prosecuted through the military courts system. 

Article 92 (§ 892) refers to failure to obey a lawful order or regulation, such as the Air Force Instruction on unprofessional relationships.

Article 132 (§ 932) covers retaliation, in this context specifically when the junior member in a coercive unprofessional relationship, or a third party, report the misdeed. Additionally, the Air Force Academy article reduces the threat of retaliation against cadets correctly reporting such a relationship.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/subtitle-A/part-II/chapter-47]]> 2022-05-10 23:47:21 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178436215 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178436534 United States v. Estacio is the case wherein a former trainer, Staff Sergeant Estacio, is charged for his wrongdoing in an unprofessional relationship. It is important to note that even after a student is under a military instructor's care, it is unlawful for a social or sexual relationship to exist if that student is still in training status.

https://afcca.law.af.mil/content/afcca_opinions/cp/estacio-38256.u.pdf]]> 2022-05-10 23:47:42 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178436534 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178436790 While not a military source, it is important to note that the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification also provide guidance for ethical conduct.

Principle 1B, as an example, covers that a professional educator will not retaliate against a person making an ethical complaint about the educator's conduct.

https://www.nasdtec.net/page/MCEE_Doc]]> 2022-05-10 23:47:58 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178436790 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178437703 Within our training unit, the squadron commander made it policy that instructors could not accept social media invites from students until one year after those students graduated from our courses.

This is stricter than high level guidance on that specific issue, and ensured that any undue social influence from an instructor would be mitigated, if present, and that the odds of an unprofessional relationship forming were slightly lower when pursued through online means.]]> 2022-05-10 23:48:54 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178437703 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178437921 "Integrity First" is the ethical principle most applicable, which is derived from the USAF's Core Values. 

It is widely known that unprofessional relationships are unsatisfactory, and can end a career while severely damaging unit morale or discrediting a training program. 

Due to this, instructors and students need to act with integrity and avoid or report fraternization.

https://www.airman.af.mil/Portals/17/001%20Home%20Page/005_The_Little_Blue_Book/Profession%20of%20Arms_Final_For%20Screen.pdf?ver=2015-08-21-135633-6 ]]> 2022-05-10 23:49:11 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178437921 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178438164 My connection to these standards is that as a military member, and educator, I am also bound to these regulations.

While unprofessional relationships and the issues surrounding them do not directly interact with my education goals, a foray into acting unethically would completely derail my education goals as well as future credibility in any teaching community.

As I am responsible for onboarding new permanent party instructors to the unit, I owe the "new hire" the background information on why unprofessional relationships are such an issue in the training community. Much of avoiding unethical behavior involves mutual accountability, so establishing that atmosphere early is critical.]]> 2022-05-10 23:49:29 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178438164 dvehslage https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178438721 - Before interacting with students, familiarize yourself with both Air Force and local guidance on this issue.

- Our students are adult learners, which makes our jobs easier. Treat them as adults - but not as friends. Stay professional.

- If you suspect a co-worker of malfeasance, confront them with humility and from a place of caring

- If a student makes flirtatious comments or appears overly friendly, remind them of the established formal boundaries of your professional relationship.

- If these comments are public, in front of other students, immediately work to re-establish a professional atmosphere. I have had to do this by addressing the room and turning the event into an impromptu lesson on ethics and best practices.

- After you have dealt with that situation as directly as possible, update your co-workers (especially supervisors) so you are all on the same page. This helps keep the relatively small instructor cadre on the same page, and also pre-empts having to worry about rumor control.]]> 2022-05-10 23:50:00 UTC https://padlet.com/dvehslage/9p279iu6zcenityn/wish/2178438721