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Dealing with Business and Industry
Representatives
No matter where you work or what position
you hold, sooner or later you will deal with
business or industrial representatives. You must
remember when doing so that you are representing
the government in these business dealings, and
you must make sure that while you handle them,
you observe the highest ethical standards.
Practices that may be acceptable in the business
world may not be acceptable for naval personnel.
Avoid placing yourself in the position in which
a conflict of interest might arise or be suspected.
Such a conflict of interest may arise or appear to
arise when you accept gratuities or engage in any
activity that would influence or reasonably be
interpreted as influencing the strict impartiality
that must be maintained in all business
relationships involving the government. When
these business relations become personal, it
becomes difficult for you to maintain the
impartiality required in your relations with
business or industrial representatives. You should
at all times make sure any person doing business
or attempting to do business with the DOD, or
representing such entities, does not try to gain
favor or favorable acceptance from you. You
should deny any offers for special treatment from
such persons; follow the rule of strict impartiality
when dealing with such persons in an official
capacity. When you accept gratuities or favors
from those who have or seek business dealings
with the DOD, it may result in embarrassment to
the department and to the naval personnel
involved. It may also affect your judgment as the
recipient and impair the judgment of the public
on the way the government handles its business
dealings. It must be stressed that prohibited
conflicts and apparent conflicts of interest may
sometimes arise even with relationships and
transactions that the personnel involved may
perceive as unimportant. When in doubt about
the propriety of accepting gratuities, attending
functions, or accepting other invitations of a
hospitable nature, you must refrain.
Preferential Treatment
In all your business dealings with other
individuals or firms, special treatment must not
be given unless equivalent treatment is also given
to other individuals or firms who are justifiably
entitled to such treatment.
ACQUIRING CONFLICTING
FINANCIAL INTERESTS
Naval personnel must avoid acquiring or
retaining financial interest that would disqualify
them from performing their duties or responsibili-
ties. The following are some of the more likely
situations in which conflicts of interest might
arise. Naval personnel have government duties or
responsibilities related to business entities—
with which they, their spouse, their minor
children, or household members are associated
with employees, officers, owners, directors,
members, trustees, partners, advisors, or
consultants;
with which they, their spouse, minor
children, or household members are negotiating
or have arrangements
for prospective
employment; and
in which they, their spouse, minor
children, or household members have interest
through ownership of stocks, bonds, securities,
or other financial arrangements, such as trusts,
or through participation in pension or retirement
plans.
Membership in Associations
Naval personnel who are members or officers
of nongovernmental associations or organizations
must avoid activities on behalf of the association
or organization that are incompatible with their
official government positions. SECNAVINST
5760.4 sets policy for the Department of the Navy
regarding participation by naval activities and
naval personnel in the activities of private
associations.
Equal Opportunity
Naval personnel should scrupulously adhere
to the DOD program of equal opportunity
regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, or
national origin, according to equal opportunity
directives.
Reporting Suspected Violations
Naval personnel who have information that
causes them to believe someone has violated the
standards of conduct should report such
information to their appropriate supervisor. The
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