Army Regulation 600-20

Army Regulation 600-20
Title	Army Regulation 600-20
Abbreviation	AR 600-20
Publisher	Department of the Army
Subject	Command and leadership; Soldier rights; Equal opportunity; Military justice
Firstissued	1973
Latestrevision	multiple revisions

Army Regulation 600-20

Army Regulation 600-20 is a principal doctrinal publication governing leadership, command relationships, Soldier rights, and standards of conduct across the United States Army. It articulates policies on command and control, civil liberties within uniformed service, protection against harassment, and the responsibilities that bind members of the Army to lawful orders and ethical norms. The regulation interacts with jurisprudence, administrative policy, and institutional practice to shape routine operations at installations, combat commands, and training centers.

Purpose and Scope

The regulation defines the Army’s authoritative guidance on leadership, command influence, and the balance between authority and individual rights. It frames responsibilities for commanders at the brigade and division levels, and for senior officials across institutions such as United States Military Academy, Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, U.S. Army Cyber Command, and U.S. Army Materiel Command. It addresses interrelations with federal law and executive direction exemplified by Title 10 of the United States Code, Presidential Executive Orders, and adjudicatory precedents from the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The scope covers administrative separation procedures that may involve entities like Defense Finance and Accounting Service and coordination with agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for civilian-military interactions.

Command and Control of the Army

This section prescribes the framework for command responsibilities, span of control, and the exercise of authority by commanders from company level through major combat units. It delineates the relationship between commanders and staff officers in headquarters such as U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command. The regulation addresses control measures used in operations involving partners like NATO and interagency missions with Department of State personnel, and requires compliance with operational law as articulated by the Judge Advocate General's Corps. Commanders are charged with maintaining order consistent with rules of engagement promulgated in theaters such as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and with oversight responsibilities similar to those seen in historical command frameworks at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Benning.

Soldier Rights and Responsibilities

This portion codifies rights afforded to Soldiers including religious accommodation, political activities under U.S. Constitution protections, and protections during administrative processes analogous to those in civilian tribunals like Civil Rights Division (United States Department of Justice). It balances those rights against responsibilities such as obedience to lawful orders, performance standards in units like 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Cavalry Division, and obligations under international instruments such as the Geneva Conventions. Provisions guide commanders when addressing conduct that implicates family support programs at installations like Fort Campbell and when coordinating with agencies such as the Army and Air Force Exchange Service for quality-of-life matters.

Equal Opportunity and Harassment Prevention

The regulation outlines mandatory equal opportunity policies to prevent discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics, establishing complaint procedures and command responsibilities akin to those enforced by Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Department of Defense Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity. It mandates command climate assessments, training curricula used at centers like U.S. Army War College, and corrective actions modeled after practices in institutions such as National Guard Bureau headquarters. The policy interfaces with federal statutes including Civil Rights Act of 1964 and directives from Secretary of Defense issuances to ensure enforceable remedies and oversight.

Military Justice and Discipline

This section connects command authority to the military justice system, detailing processes that parallel those adjudicated under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and supervised by the Judge Advocate General's Corps. It sets standards for nonjudicial punishment processes like those under Article 15, separation boards similar to administrative boards at Presidio and referral procedures to courts-martial comparable to historical cases heard at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base tribunals. Commanders are instructed on investigation standards, protection of due process rights, and coordination with investigative entities such as Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Implementation and Administration

Implementation responsibilities assign duties to specified offices and staff sections across commands, including the Office of the Secretary of the Army, Installation Management Command, and help desks at garrisons like Fort Riley. Administrative guidance covers recordkeeping, training schedules, and oversight metrics similar to compliance frameworks used by Government Accountability Office. It prescribes roles for inspector general functions as practiced by the Office of the Inspector General (U.S. Department of Defense), periodic reviews, and alignment with broader Department of Defense directives emanating from authorities such as the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Category:United States Army regulations