Posted on Oct 29, 2024
A friend offered to update my command photo with the Legion of Merit I received after I retired. Does this seem ethical?
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Although I was, in fact, awarded the medal, I feel uneasy about photoshopping my rack after the fact.
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Ethics
Ethics
Posted 2 d ago
Responses: 6
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Much in line with what LTC Kevin B. and COL Randall C. said. They gave you the letter of the law, but you were asking about ethics, so I will answer that part of the question.
First, ethics are personal. So the most important answer to your question is your own. Do YOU feel it is ethical? It appears by your post, "I feel uneasy about..." that you do not feel it is ethical to do. If that is the case, nothing us armchair quarterbacks say should make one whit of difference. Never EVER let anyone convince you that something you feel is unethical is not. Going the other way - you think it is ethical, but they point out that it is not - is a different story, but I digress.
Having gotten that out of the way, I would say that it really depends on your intent. If the intent is to hang above your mantle or for your wife's wallet, then I see nothing unethical about it, personally. If the intent is for distribution in ANY way outside of immediate friends and family - and then only with the caveat that the photo is altered and not for distribution - then we start getting sketchy. And if it is for social media, campaign materials, business cards, dating apps, or anything of that ilk, it goes beyond sketchy to straight up wrong.
But that is just *my* take on it.
First, ethics are personal. So the most important answer to your question is your own. Do YOU feel it is ethical? It appears by your post, "I feel uneasy about..." that you do not feel it is ethical to do. If that is the case, nothing us armchair quarterbacks say should make one whit of difference. Never EVER let anyone convince you that something you feel is unethical is not. Going the other way - you think it is ethical, but they point out that it is not - is a different story, but I digress.
Having gotten that out of the way, I would say that it really depends on your intent. If the intent is to hang above your mantle or for your wife's wallet, then I see nothing unethical about it, personally. If the intent is for distribution in ANY way outside of immediate friends and family - and then only with the caveat that the photo is altered and not for distribution - then we start getting sketchy. And if it is for social media, campaign materials, business cards, dating apps, or anything of that ilk, it goes beyond sketchy to straight up wrong.
But that is just *my* take on it.
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COL Francis Petrell Colonel, I will let a couple of knowledgeable individuals weigh in on this topic.
LTC Kevin B., COL Randall C.
LTC Kevin B., COL Randall C.
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SFC Sfc Darwin Maring, USA Ret
If you earned it, it does not matter if he photoshops it in. Penciled in, painted in, decl it in, you earned it.
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LTC Kevin B.
Sgt (Join to see), COL Francis Petrell,
According to DODI 5040.02 and Army Regulation 640-30, photographs cannot be altered except in clearly indicated circumstances (and adding an award is not one of those circumstances). DODI 5040.02 even goes so far as to specifically state "Official DoD imagery shall not be altered to misinform or deceive. Anything that weakens or casts doubt on the credibility of official DoD imagery in or outside the DoD shall not be tolerated." A DA photo falls within the definition of official DoD imagery.
If someone is retired and the photo is being kept for personal purposes, I suppose this alteration is rather harmless. However, any official use of the photo could be problematic.
According to DODI 5040.02 and Army Regulation 640-30, photographs cannot be altered except in clearly indicated circumstances (and adding an award is not one of those circumstances). DODI 5040.02 even goes so far as to specifically state "Official DoD imagery shall not be altered to misinform or deceive. Anything that weakens or casts doubt on the credibility of official DoD imagery in or outside the DoD shall not be tolerated." A DA photo falls within the definition of official DoD imagery.
If someone is retired and the photo is being kept for personal purposes, I suppose this alteration is rather harmless. However, any official use of the photo could be problematic.
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COL Randall C.
COL Francis Petrell - Completely agree with Kevin's response.
If you're doing it as a personal keepsake, go for it! There is nothing unethical at all.
While the prohibitions on alterations/modifications are directed at "persons acting for or on behalf of the DoD", if there is anything that intersects with the photo and an "official" representation of you, then I would avoid it (in essence, you become someone acting on behalf of the DoD).
If you're doing it as a personal keepsake, go for it! There is nothing unethical at all.
While the prohibitions on alterations/modifications are directed at "persons acting for or on behalf of the DoD", if there is anything that intersects with the photo and an "official" representation of you, then I would avoid it (in essence, you become someone acting on behalf of the DoD).
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