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It is not strictly unlawful to floss and profit while in the military, but it violates Department of Defense (DoD) regulations to do so while in uniform, on duty, or while implying DoD endorsement. Making money off a social media trend or side hustle requires strict adherence to ethical guidelines. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]The military allows side businesses, but any personal content creation or commercial “hustle” must carefully avoid several legal pitfalls: [1, 2]Do Not Profit in Uniform: Federal ethics regulations ban using your military uniform or official position for private financial gain. Producing or monetizing “flossing” videos while wearing a military uniform can result in disciplinary action under Article 92 (Failure to Obey an Order) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). [1, 2, 3, 4]Do Not Endorse Products: You cannot use your rank, title, or military affiliation to endorse commercial products or services. This applies even if you are off duty. [1, 2]Do Not Film On Duty: Using government time, equipment, or government-owned spaces for a personal side business is considered theft of government resources. [1, 2]Operations Security (OPSEC): You can never monetize or share information that compromises military operations, security protocols, or classified information. [1, 2]Command Approval: Most branches require service members to obtain command approval for official outside employment or commercial business activities. [1]To ensure you are safely compliant with DoD Instruction 5400.17 and the Joint Ethics Regulation, it is highly recommended to include clear disclaimers stating that your views do not represent the Department of Defense. [1, 2, 3, 4]If you’d like, let me know:Is your side hustle online/social media or a physical service?Are you looking to monetize this as an independent creator or represent a brand?I can help you outline the specific DoD ethics guidelines you need to follow.
