Per DOD Instruction 1325.06, Handling Dissident and Protest Activities Among Members of the Armed Forces, and Air Force Instruction 51-508, Political Activities, Free Speech and Freedom of Assembly of AF Personnel, service members are prohibited from participating in off-base demonstrations under any of the following circumstances: 1) they are on duty; 2) they are in a foreign country; 3) the activities constitute a breach of law and order (for example, local curfew violations, active participation in organizations that advocate or espouse supremacist, extremist or criminal gang doctrine, ideology or causes); 4) where violence is likely to result; and 5) in uniform.
Military members who fail to adhere to these requirements are subject to punishment under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, with a maximum sentence of dishonorable discharge, two years of confinement and total forfeitures of all pay and allowances. Additionally, failure to obey local, state or federal law subjects military members to UCMJ action or civilian criminal liability with follow-on adverse administrative action by the Air Force that could result in a discharge under other than honorable conditions.
