Are romantic relationships allowed between members with a supervisor/subordinate relationship (even periodically)?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if authorized by the chain of command
• D. Only when both are at the same pay grade

Answer: (B)

In the military, professional boundaries require that people in direct supervisory roles avoid romantic relationships with their subordinates. When one person has authority over another, a romantic relationship can create real or perceived coercion, favoritism, or bias, which undermines fairness, trust, and unit cohesion. It can complicate performance evaluations, career decisions, and disciplinary actions, making the relationship harmful to mission readiness.

Because of these risks, the policy prohibits such relationships outright, even if one might think authorization by the chain of command or differences in pay grade would mitigate concerns. The power dynamic is the key issue, and it isn’t allowed to be offset by consent or administrative permission.