Consequences of Corruption in the Armed Forces

Building integrity and reducing corruption risk are important parts of building strong, capable, and affordable defence and security structures and forces.
Corruption undermines the defence and security capabilities of every country. Corruption causes waste of money, bad allocation of resources, and the purchasing of inadequate or low-quality equipment. This may endanger the life of personnel and decrease operational effectiveness. Corrupted personnel cannot be trusted. They can be paid the next time by vendors, organised criminals, terrorist organisations, or by potential enemies.
Corruption in the defence sector reduces public trust and acceptance of the military in general and may erode public support for peace-keeping missions. It also reduces resources for civilian sectors of the economy, and can infect other parts of government. Corruption slows down the development and growth of a nation.
Integrity
Integrity has both a technical and a moral meaning.

In a technical sense, we say that ‘the hull of this ship has integrity’. This means that the whole system works properly – the outer skin of the ship does not leak, and that all the various systems that make up and support the hull are sound and function correctly.

In a personal and moral sense, it means that the work has been done honestly and sincerely, and is uncorrupted.
Here, when we say “integrity”, we mean the following:

An individual has integrity if he/she is doing their work competently and honestly, and completely.

A process has integrity if it works as it is intended to, and fits seamlessly into the larger system of which it is a part.

An organisation has integrity if its work is done within proper accountability, competently, to completion, and without diversion of output or resources to corrupt or dishonest ends.
Corruption
Corruption is “the abuse of entrusted office for private gain”.
Countries themselves will often have formal definitions written into their laws. For example, the definition may read like: “The illegal action or inaction by an individual (either human or legal body) authorized to perform State functions directed at illegally obtaining any advantages, benefits, influences, privileges of material or non-material for themselves, or for third parties or groups”.
Whilst there are many definitions, general experience is that most people know what it is, even if there is no formal description. For example in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which is the principal international convention on the subject, there is no formal definition of corruption; instead they give full definitions of what constitutes a public official.
What is more important is to be clear that there are different types of corruption in defence. Measures to address the risks will be effective only where there is an understanding of which particular aspect of the problem is being addressed. The following questions assists that understanding.
Anti-corruption policy in defence and security
1. What are the areas of greatest risk in bribery and corruption for Ministry of Defence and armed forces personnel? (for example, small bribes, expenses, travel, postings, commission on local purchases, ACRs, Issue of NOC, misuse of canteen facilities)? List the top 6 areas.
Areas to explore:

How do you determine the areas of greatest risk?

How are these areas of potential bribery and corruption risk mitigated? Describe the measures currently in place.

What are the sanctions which can be applied to personnel if they are found to have taken part in these top 6 areas of bribery and corruption?
2. Describe the level of commitment to anti-corruption and integrity measures within MoD, Commands, Area HQ as declared by the Defence Minister and the COAS. How do they publish their policy and guidance internally?
Areas to explore:

Do the RM and COAS talk publicly on integrity issues? If so, describe.

What is the level of awareness within the Defence Ministry and across the armed forces of integrity and corruption risk matters?

Give examples of steps taken to address integrity and corruption risk within the Defence Ministry and in the armed forces.
3. Describe the measures in place within the Defence Ministry and armed forces to address integrity and corruption issues, and any major reforms underway to ensure that these issues are tackled. Please list all measures being taken.
4. If there is an anti-corruption policy, describe who is responsible for its enforcement.
Areas to explore:

Is a specific department or individual is responsible for ensuring that this occurs?

What is the effectiveness of this?
5. What institutions exist with the aim of building integrity, and combating and preventing corruption in defence? Describe recent successes.
Areas to explore:

What are the roles of anti-corruption and ethics advisers, external and internal auditors, inspections, prosecutors, etc?