VCNO Standards of Conduct

The Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Standards of Conduct (SOC) application is a mobile version of the annual standards of conduct guidance issued by the VCNO. While directed towards Flag Officers, it is an additional resource for "All Hands" to understand, implement, and maintain a comprehensive ethics program. This app update provides an electronic version of the 2024 VCNO SOC guidance with additional tools for Flag Aides and other direct support staff, direct links to hard-to-find references, and a break-down of common ethics issues by practice area.

The app is also useful for Commanding Officers, Judge Advocates/General Counsel, Ethics Officials, and others. In addition to the point papers and references, the app offers interactive "Best Practice" forms, decision trees, and a "Command Coin Log" to track personal, Operations and Maintenance, Navy (OM&N), and Official Representation Fund (ORF) coin presentations.

New to the 2024 update, there is now an interactive ORF calculator to assist Protocol Officers and other personnel with planning ORF events within the appropriate ratios. Additionally, the ORF calculator outputs can be exported to an excel document or imported into the best practice template to assist with routing the ORF request.

The app includes references, useful links, and a "Favorites" section for bookmarking parts of the app you find most useful. The information in the app is not a substitute for legal advice and may not reflect the most current legal and/or policy guidance. Users are advised to consult their Ethics Officials regarding specific legal questions.

SECTIONS OF INTEREST

-- Memorandum for All Flag Officers from the VCNO.

-- Practice Guides include targeted summaries on common ethics issues identified from across the Fleet.

-- Best Practice section provides interactive worksheets and forms to assist with required documentation and staff review of common ethics issues.

-- Command Coin Log allows the Flag Aide to create a running list of personal, OM&N, and ORF coin presentations for easy tracking while on the road or in the office.

-- ORF Calculator is an interactive calculator that allows Protocol Officers or other staff to calculate ORF ratios and export calculations for simple or complex ORF events.