Questions About Proper Use of Military Rank in School Board Race

I am a resident of the Happy Creek District and have been following the race to fill the district’s seat on the Warren County School Board. In a recent Letter to the Editor, titled “Why Vote for Colonel Joseph Stahl?”, Colonel Stahl lays out his vision for Warren County Schools. From this letter, I might conclude that he thinks the citizens of Happy Creek District should vote for him for the Warren County School Board because he is a retired Colonel. Now, he has certainly earned the right to use his rank while seeking office. However, I am disappointed he disregards Department of Defense Directives concerning the proper use of military rank and photographs in uniform while running for office. Specifically, DoDD 1344.10, paragraphs 4.3.1.1 and 4.3.1.2, allow candidates for office to do the following:

4.3.1.1. Use or mention, or permit the use or mention of, their military rank or grade and military service affiliation; BUT they must clearly indicate their retired or reserve status.

4.3.1.2. Include or permit the inclusion of their current or former specific military duty, title, or position, or photographs in military uniform, when displayed with other non-military biographical details. Any such military information must be accompanied by a prominent and clearly displayed disclaimer that neither the military information nor photographs imply endorsement by the Department of Defense or its particular Military Department (or the Department of Homeland Security for members of the Coast Guard); e.g., “John Doe is a member of the Army National Guard. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.”

I have reached out to Colonel Stahl’s campaign via social media to bring this to their attention, but I have received no reply. The photographs of Colonel Stahl (then a Lieutenant Colonel) do not contain the required disclaimer. Even the recently published Letter to the Editor does not indicate his retired status, as required. His full signature should be Joseph M. Stahl, Colonel, USAF (Retired). How can we expect someone to lead and do the right thing in office when they aren’t doing it while seeking office?

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/134410p.pdf

https://dodsoco.ogc.osd.mil/Portals/102/Documents/Political%20Activities%20Docs/2024%20FAQs%20_Military.pdf?ver=W3-Ox7lej-w_BNJCpTp8UQ%3D%3D

David Leonard
Front Royal, VA

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