Navy Chief: Prosecuting adultery would adversely impact manning
WASHINGTON — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said Friday that the Navy would actively ignore Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) in an effort to improve retention. Article 134, which applies to extra-marital relations, no longer applies in her Navy, the CNO said.
“We never really did a great job of enforcing it in the first place,” Franchetti explained. “Yes, it is on the books but unless we are trying to discharge a sailor for something else, we kind of just ignore it and right now, we cannot afford to lose anyone…for any reason.”
“Hell, we are so hard up when it comes to retention that I have had to personally intervene to keep every known window-licker, furry, beauty queen, weirdo sub guy, and general warm body in our fleet just to keep the lights on,” Franchetti continued. “You think I care if you pull your ship into someone else’s port and offload? Be my guest! Just ask permission first.”
The move is not without controversy. While Franchetti’s decision does not negate or eliminate Article 134 from prosecution in other service branches, there is a chance that it may help recruitment and retention across the military. But some fear that ignoring Article 134 will cause otherwise rock-steady, easy military marriages to fail.