What should I do?

So I’m a political science major and for this upcoming semester, I will be taking a politics class on a day I have LLAB and ROTC class.

However, I heard that if you’re in uniform, you’re not really supposed to express your political opinions.

The class is on tuesdays and thursdays and we wear the uniform on Thursday.

My son is in NROTC and has enrolled in many political science courses for his major. It's a non-issue, because Poli Sci is an academic subject that covers political structures, governance, international relations, history, etc. It is not a Twitter free-for-all; the discussion should be academic and based on the day's reading and evidence, not personal biases and beliefs.

The chain of command is very handy for seeking guidance on issues like this, and you will be seeking information from those most likely to know current policy and acceptable practice for ROTC for your service. It won’t be a new issue. You will also then be prepared to counsel those junior to you when the issue arises again, knowing your information comes from official sources and not anonymous Internet forums, which may or may not be accurate or current.

You can also practice your JO skills by researching applicable ROTC uniform wear regs online yourself, and if something is unclear, follow up with COC. Never delegate tasks upward that you have not first attempted yourself.

Here’s some classic pro reading, if you haven’t encountered it yet:


Finally, good for you that you have heard something about uniforms and their relation to political expression, and that you are pausing thoughtfully to explore the issue and ensure you are doing the right thing. Well done.

My two cents and IMHO is it’s a college class you have to attend, not a political rally, you’re not using your uniform to imply DOD endorsement of a candidate or cause, you have no agenda except to complete the requirements of the course. Asking about this with the COC will demonstrate you are starting to think like a JO. Win-win.

Capt MJ said:

The chain of command is very handy for seeking guidance on issues like this, and you will be seeking information from those most likely to know current policy and acceptable practice for ROTC for your service. It won’t be a new issue. You will also then be prepared to counsel those junior to you when the issue arises again, knowing your information comes from official sources and not anonymous Internet forums, which may or may not be accurate or current.

You can also practice your JO skills by researching applicable ROTC uniform wear regs online yourself, and if something is unclear, follow up with COC. Never delegate tasks upward that you have not first attempted yourself.

Here’s some classic pro reading, if you haven’t encountered it yet:

The Doctrine of Completed Staff Work

This memorandum on completed staff work, first issued during World War II, has become the widely accepted definition of what effective staff members do.

govleaders.org

Finally, good for you that you have heard something about uniforms and their relation to political expression, and that you are pausing thoughtfully to explore the issue and ensure you are doing the right thing. Well done.

My two cents and IMHO is it’s a college class you have to attend, not a political rally, you’re not using your uniform to imply DOD endorsement of a candidate or cause, you have no agenda except to complete the requirements of the course. Asking about this with the COC will demonstrate you are starting to think like a JO. Win-win.

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Thank you very much!

learningNavymom said:

My son is in NROTC and has enrolled in many political science courses for his major. It's a non-issue, because Poli Sci is an academic subject that covers political structures, governance, international relations, history, etc. It is not a Twitter free-for-all; the discussion should be academic and based on the day's reading and evidence, not personal biases and beliefs.

Click to expand...

Thank you!!

Capt MJ said:

Finally, good for you that you have heard something about uniforms and their relation to political expression, and that you are pausing thoughtfully to explore the issue and ensure you are doing the right thing. Well done.

My two cents and IMHO is it’s a college class you have to attend, not a political rally, you’re not using your uniform to imply DOD endorsement of a candidate or cause, you have no agenda except to complete the requirements of the course. Asking about this with the COC will demonstrate you are starting to think like a JO. Win-win.

Click to expand...

As usual @Capt MJ provides sage advice.

I would add to her comments about developing a JO state of mind by saying that as much as a Prof/Instr may try, there will inevitably be times when political opinions reveal themselves in discussions of History, Government, foreign policy or political process. Your forbearance in these situations will also be valuable training for your role as a JO. Up and down your chain of command you will find every conceivable political viewpoint. Working in close quarters, especially in times of low military activity and inflamed politics in the civilian world, those opinions can come the fore very quickly.

My son had a similar situation in which he had to wear his uniform to a small Chemistry seminar. At the beginning of the term the Professor had the students fill out a bio sheet. One of the first questions asked by which pronoun the student would like to be referred. He, being a total smarta$$, I'm surprised he didn't write "Sir" as his answer. In most situations, he would have had field day with that, making fun of it. He figured, rightly or wrongly, that she was probably of a political persuasion that was less enamored of the Military, so he resolved to be the best prepared and most thoughtful and helpful student in the class. In spite of the fact that he still thinks it was a goofy question, he ended up with an A. They ended up with a good academic and personal relationship. She probably had a positive change in her perspective on those serving in the military and he is slightly better prepared as issues of sexuality and gender present themselves to him as an Officer.

Best of luck @rayrotc !

something else to keep in mind - you can be a MIDN at USNA and be in uniform 7 days per week, and also major in Political Science.

as stated above, studying Poli Sci isn't the same thing as being an activist.

Your class is offered by the Political Science department-- not a political organization.

The latter comprises actors inside the political process who seek to gain office by winning elections.
The former comprises scholars who are detached from the political process and who seek to understand it using advanced analytical tools, including theoretical models and careful, dispassionate evaluation of data and evidence.

Separate worlds.

Btw, if your professor seems more like a political activist than a dispassionate analyst/scholar, then that's almost certainly a badly taught class and a waste of your time. You can get that type of experience on Twitter for free, and it's worth what you pay for it. Make sure your professors are serious, dispassionate scholars who play it straight.