ALCOAST 337/20 - SEP 2020 COAST GUARD MEDIA/SOCIAL MEDIA OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL, AND PERSONAL USE GUIDANCE

R 141454 SEP 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N05700//
ALCOAST 337/20
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ:  COAST GUARD MEDIA/SOCIAL MEDIA OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL, AND PERSONAL USE GUIDANCE
A. Coast Guard External Affairs Manual, COMDTINST M5700.13 (series)
B. CG Social Media Handbook
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 030930 FEB 20/ALCOAST 035/20
D. Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces, DoD Directive 1344.10
1. This ALCOAST applies to all Coast Guard active duty personnel and civilian employees,
and to reserve members subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, who post on social
media or engage in other public communication online in an official, unofficial or personal
capacity. Commanding Officers and Officers in Charge shall disseminate this guidance as
soon as possible to discuss the updates to policy, answer questions, and set expectations
of acceptable behavior in the social media environment. This guidance will be incorporated
into the next revision of REF (A).
2. Definitions. IAW REFs (A) and (B), Coast Guard personnel are allowed to participate
responsibly in official, unofficial, and personal online activity, including posting and
sharing content on social media sites subject to some limitations imposed by operations
security (OPSEC) and information security (INFOSEC), to include sensitive security
information and information that is otherwise classified. Coast Guard personnel are
often in the best position to share the Coast Guard story.
   a. “Official” refers to content posted by Coast Guard personnel pertaining to their
official duties.
   b. “Unofficial” refers to content about the Coast Guard posted by Coast Guard personnel
when not speaking in their official capacity. These communications are not initiated
by the Coast Guard or reviewed through any official Coast Guard process and do not
involve content approved or released by a responsible Coast Guard authority. If you
are speaking as a Coast Guard member or about Coast Guard operations or issues, but
are not doing so in your official capacity, such content is “unofficial”.
   c. “Personal” refers to content posted where you are not speaking as a Coast Guard
member and the Coast Guard is not the subject.
3. Media Engagement. The Coast Guard regularly empowers its personnel to serve as
spokespersons for the Service. All personnel are encouraged to talk about the things
they do, and the ways they execute and support Coast Guard missions. Those personnel
who acted, or are responsible for the actions, should talk about it. For guidance on
conducting media interviews in an unofficial or personal capacity, Coast Guard personnel
shall contact their local public affairs office prior to conducting an interview.
4. Social Media Use Activity Requirements and Accountability. Personnel are encouraged
to engage responsibly in unofficial online activity about the Coast Guard and related
topics consistent with their professional expertise, experiences and knowledge. Personnel
are also encouraged to professionally and respectfully correct errors and misrepresentations
made about the Coast Guard. In addition to ensuring Coast Guard content is accurate and
appropriate, personnel must be careful when posting Coast Guard-related content on social
networking sites, blogs, or on other websites since the lines between personal and
professional lives often blur in the online space. Coast Guard personnel represent the
Coast Guard at all times, and their speech and conduct must consistently embody our core
values and commitment to each other, our Service, and our Nation. Coast Guard personnel
have an obligation to maintain appropriate communication and conduct with officer and
enlisted personnel, peers, superiors, and subordinates regardless of whether the
communication is conducted via social media, through the media, or other forms of
communication, such as e-mail, instant messaging, or texting. Members should always
use their best judgment and avoid inappropriate behavior.
   a. When a Disclaimer is Appropriate. Ordinarily, Coast Guard personnel are not required
to post a disclaimer disavowing government sanction or endorsement on their personal
social media account, whether for personal or unofficial activity, like posts about
shipmates’ activities or achievements, or factual posts about a member’s own activities.
Coast Guard personnel who use their social media accounts to post opinions about Coast
Guard policies, programs or activities shall include the following disclaimer when the
author’s Coast Guard affiliation is discernible: “These views are mine and should not
be construed as the views of the U.S. Coast Guard.” Having a disclaimer does not excuse
conduct that is otherwise in violation of law, regulation, or policy.
   b. Limitations on Content. Coast Guard personnel must avoid inappropriate and/or
offensive behavior on social networking platforms or through other forms of communication
that harm good order and discipline or bring discredit upon themselves, their unit,
or the Coast Guard.
   c. Accountability. Members who violate laws, regulations, or policies pertaining to
the inappropriate and prohibited online conduct may be subject to administrative or
disciplinary action, or may be subject to action under the UCMJ. Examples of behavior
that may violate the UCMJ include, but are not limited to:
      i. Posting targeted online content which is defamatory, threatening, harassing
or which discriminates based on a person’s race, color, sex, gender, age, religion,
national origin, sexual orientation, or other protected criteria is prohibited and
may be punished under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ);
      ii. Article 134 prohibits a variety of conduct that is offensive or indecent that
is found to be prejudicial to good order and discipline or of a nature to bring discredit
upon the Service; and
      iii. In addition to Articles 92 and 134, other articles of the UCMJ punish conduct
which constitutes disrespect or insubordination towards Coast Guard civilian or military
leaders (Articles 88-91), cruelty and maltreatment of Coast Guard personnel of lesser
rank (Article 93), sexual misconduct related to indecent viewing, visual recoding, or
broadcasting (Article 120c), or conduct unbecoming an officer (Article 133). Inappropriate
online conduct may also violate other state or Federal laws, and may expose Coast Guard
personnel to civil liability.
5. Political Activities. Political activities are activities directed at the success or
failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political
group. All Coast Guard personnel must be aware of the limitations that affect their
participation in political activities including using social media for political purposes.
Civilian employees cannot use social media for political activities while on duty, including
teleworking, or in any federal workplace. There are significant restrictions on political
activities by military members at all times. For guidance on limitations on political
activities, please consult REFs (C) and (D) and contact your servicing legal office.
6. Other Responsibilities.
   a. Coast Guard personnel must abide by Coast Guard regulations and policies concerning
OPSEC, INFOSEC, official information that is otherwise classified or protected, and the
Privacy Act. The guidelines for release of information outlined in Chapter 2 of REF (A)
apply equally to all modes of public engagement including unofficial and personal use of
the internet. Coast Guard personnel must consider the impact of any text, imagery, or
video content on operational or information security before posting online.
   b. Coast Guard leaders at all levels (Commanding Officers, Officers in Charge, etc.)
shall investigate, and if appropriate, hold accountable violators of the policy set forth
in this document and other official Coast Guard policies and guidance on media, online,
and social-media use.
7. Reporting inappropriate online behavior. Inappropriate online behavior should be
reported to the chain of command, Coast Guard Investigative Service, or Civil Rights
Service Provider. Members who have been subjected to online behaviors of sexual harassment
and would like to maintain privacy are encouraged to report incidents to their Chaplain,
a local Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or Victim Advocate.
8. RDML Jon P. Hickey, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.