Imagine how you would feel if your assignment to combat was made based on the personal likes and dislikes or financial interests of your superiors. Imagine further how someone else would feel if you made assignments for those reasons. Clearly, how decisions are made and what factors are taken into consideration in making decisions affect our morale and discipline. Just as clearly, how we make decisions and treat others has either a positive or a negative impact on their morale and discipline. Avoiding favoritism and misuse of authority are two good reasons to maintain professional relationships.
Some relationships contribute to high morale and good discipline.
Others do not. Recognizing those relationships that increase morale and discipline is important to you now and will become more important when you become a supervisor and leader. Open communication about careers, duties, performance and the mission is always encouraged. Participation in unit, base or civic activities normally contributes to espirit de corps and has a positive effect on others. But, when relationships have the opposite effect, when they begin to break down or destroy morale, discipline, or respect for authority, they become a matter of official Air Force interest.