Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1325.06
November 27, 2009
Incorporating Change 3, Effective June 9, 2025
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Handling Protest, Extremist, and Criminal Gang Activities Among Members of the
Armed Forces
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Directive 1325.6 (Reference (a)) as a DoD Instruction in accordance with
the authority in DoD Directive 5124.02 (Reference (b)).
b. Establishes DoD policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for handling
protest, extremist, and criminal gang activities by members of the Armed Forces.
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments (including the
Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security
by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department
of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities
in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. The Department of Defense shall safeguard the security of the United States.
b. A Service member’s right of expression should be preserved to the maximum extent
possible in accordance with the First Amendment of the Constitution and statutory provisions of
titles 10 and 18, United States Code (U.S.C.) (References (c) and (d), respectively) (examples of
which are set forth in Enclosure 2 of this Instruction) and consistent with good order and
discipline and the national security.
