Can soldiers who are officers and enlisted loan money to each other?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only with permission
• D. Only if the loan is below a set amount

Answer: (B)

Lending money between someone in a supervisory role and a subordinate creates real or perceived obligations that can undermine good order and discipline. When officers and enlisted members interact, professional boundaries must be maintained to prevent favoritism, coercion, or pressure, which can erode trust in leadership and the chain of command. AR 600-20 addresses these boundaries and generally prohibits financial arrangements like loans between officers and enlisted personnel to avoid any appearance of improper influence. There isn’t a permission or threshold that makes a loan acceptable—the policy aims to keep such financial relationships out of the command environment. If someone needs financial help, they should use approved channels (for example, Army Emergency Relief or other official resources) rather than private loans between ranks.