Inspector General explains military whistleblower protection policy

  • Published
  • 23rd Wing Inspector General
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Did you know that as active duty personnel you are free to make a protected communication to a member of Congress or an Inspector General? To better understand this important right, we need to define the elements of the Department of Defense Directive 7050.06, Military Whistleblower Protection. 

These elements include whistleblower, protected communication, lawful communication, unlawful communication, personnel action and reprisal. 

DoDD 7050.06 defines whistleblower as a member of the Armed Forces who makes or prepares to make a protected communication. We can continue to quote excerpts from aforementioned directive but the easiest way to explain complicated legal terms is to define them based on IG expertise. 

Protected communication can be described as any lawful communication to a member of Congress or an IG regardless of the subject of the disclosure. 

Protected communication can also occur between the Armed Forces member and a member of Congress staff, IG staff, personnel attached to Department of Defense audits/inspections, law enforcement, equal opportunity, family advocacy organizations, any person in the member's chain of command, the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, command chief master sergeants and first sergeants. 

Lawful communication is any communication, whether verbal, or written or otherwise transmitted, including complaints, witness statements and testimony, which is not unlawful. 

Unlawful communication is any communication, whether verbal or written or otherwise transmitted, that constitutes misconduct, a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice or a violation of other applicable criminal statutes (technical data, Air Force instructions or standards, DoD directives, etc.). 

Personnel action is any action taken on a member of the Armed Forces that affects or has the potential to a military member's current position or career. 

Lastly, reprisal is when you take or threat to take unfavorable personnel action or withhold or threat to withhold a favorable personnel action on a military member for making or preparing to make a protected communication. 

Individuals should always try to solve their issues and concerns at the lowest level by using the chain of command or any established grievance channel. 

For more information contact the 23rd Wing Inspector General office at (229) 257-3341 or (229) 257-5696. 

The 23rd WG IG is committed to providing members with information on how to report complaints that affect their overall performance without fear of reprisal.