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Can my Chain of Command require me to give them all personal information regarding my finances?

Can my Leader require me to turn in a paperwork about how much my wife and I spend? They want to know absolutely everything, including how much we use for groceries, entertainment, and how much we put into savings and how much is in our checking and savings.

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Short Answer

Based on the information you provided ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Discussion

It is a violation of your right to privacy protected under the Fourth Amendment.  It is an order without legal justification and thus, an unlawful order.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

 There is no basis possible that would allow a Leader, or Commander for that matter, to require a Soldier to provide all their financial information.  The only exception would be if the Soldier was under investigation and a warrant was issued ordering the Soldier to comply.

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Mark is a Retired Command Sergeant Major with 26 years of military leadership experience. He held 3 military occupational specialties (Field Artillery, Nuclear Weapons Tech, and Ammunition Ordnance). Mark is one of the leading military authors in the fields of leadership, counseling, and training.

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