AR600-20

4–18 Employment and volunteer work of spouse

a. The Army affirms the rights of a spouse of a soldier to pursue and hold a job, attend school, or perform volunteer services on or off a military installation. No DA official will, directly or indirectly, impede or otherwise interfere with these rights. Moreover, no DA official will use the preferences and requirements of the Army or any other DOD component to influence the employment, educational, or volunteer service decisions of a spouse. Neither will such decision of a spouse, nor the marital status of the soldier affect, favorably or adversely, the performance evaluations, assignments, or promotion opportunities of the soldier.

(1) In discharging their responsibilities, members of military promotion, continuation, and similar personnel selection boards are prohibited from considering the marital status of a soldier, or the employment, educational, or volunteer service activities of a soldier’s spouse. AR 135-155, AR 135-205, AR 140-158, and AR 600-8-29 provide specific policies governing board conduct.

(2) Personnel decisions, including those related to the assignments of soldiers, will not be affected favorably or adversely, by the employment, educational or volunteer services activities of a soldier’s spouse, or solely by reason of a soldiers marital status. AR 140-10, AR 614-30, AR 614-100, AR 614-200, and AR 690-700 provide specific policies. Exceptions may be-

(a) Necessary to alleviate the personal hardship of a soldier or spouse upon the request of the soldier concerned, such as when a family member requires specialized medical treatment or educational provisions or similar personal preference accommodations.

(b) Needed to facilitate the assignment of dual-military couples to the same geographic area.

(c) Required by law such as instances in which a prohibited conflict of interest may exist between the official duties of a soldier and the employment of the soldier’s spouse. DODD 5500.7-R, The Joint Ethics Regulation, provides specific policies.

(d) Made by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), with the concurrence of the General Counsel, on a case-by-case basis, for reasons of national security, that marital status is an essential assignment qualification for particular military billets or positions.

(3) Performance appraisals on soldiers, including officer and enlisted evaluations reports, will not contain any information regarding the employment, educational or volunteer service activities of the soldier’s spouse, or reflect favorably or adversely on the member based solely on the soldier’s marital status. AR 623-1, AR 623-105, and 623-205 provide specific policies.

b. Violations of this policy provide a basis for disciplinary action under the UCMJ in addition to appropriate administrative sanctions.