Cookie ethics crumble, even for a general, Pentagon says
WASHINGTON – The Air Force scolded a general whose hands were caught in the Girl Scout cookie jar.
The one-star officer ran afoul of ethics rules by selling Girl Scout cookies in the office and encouraging a subordinate to retrieve boxes of Trefoils and Tagalongs from the general’s car for a display in the office.
“The brigadier general,” according to a paragraph tucked into a report from the Pentagon inspector general, “received a verbal counseling.” The no-no, a minor one in the constellation of misbehavior by military brass, highlights the ethical minefield senior officers must navigate, serves as a warning shot as cookie-selling season approaches, and darn it, it just isn’t how the Girl Scouts intended their Do-si-dos and Thin Mints to crumble.
“The Girl Scout Cookie program is the largest girl-run and girl-led financial literacy program in the world, and the largest annual fundraiser in the world dedicated to girls,” the Girl Scouts said in a statement to USA TODAY. “To that end, the program is designed to be led and conducted by girls and not led by adult troop leaders, volunteers or parents.”
Or generals.
The Pentagon advises uniformed and civilian officials to mind their ethical Ps and Qs. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis drove home that message with a memo to all who work in the military at taxpayer expense. “I expect all of us to be ethics sentinels, ensuring we uphold not just minimum legal standards, but the highest degree of honor our Nation and our military are known for around the world,” Mattis wrote in September.
Judging by the inspector general’s report, most military brass and senior civilian officials do just that.
The report to Congress shows that investigators substantiated wrongdo- ing in 22 of 83 cases of the misconduct cases involving senior officials it closed from April through September.
The report shows a wide range of ethical lapses. On the low end is the Air Force general who “wrongfully conducted fundraising activities in the workplace by selling the brigadier general’s daughters’ Girl Scout cookies in the office.” The general, who was not identified immediately by the Air Force, was flagged for encouraging “the Executive Officer, a subordinate, to perform activities other than those required in the performance of official duties.”
At the other end of the spectrum are sailors snared in a scandal involving Leonard Glenn Francis, the owner of Glenn Defense Marine Asia. Known as “Fat Leonard,” Francis operated a bribery scheme that netted him tens of millions in contracts in exchange for fancy dinners, pricey booze and prostitutes.
The cases show that somebody’s watching, particularly the actions of senior officers, and complaining about them to the inspector general.
As cookie season approaches, generally running from January to April, the Girl Scouts offered advice to adults – in uniform and civilian attire.
“As a parent or troop leader, you may help by escorting your daughter or her troop from door to door, help set up her cookie booth outside of a retail establishment such as a grocery store,” the Girl Scouts said. “But the actual sale of the cookies is done by the girl.”