DAFI 36-148: DISCIPLINE AND ADVERSE ACTIONS OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES

DAFI 36-148 — index record

Number	DAFI 36-148
Title	DISCIPLINE AND ADVERSE ACTIONS OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES
Published	January 15, 2026
Certified current	January 15, 2026
Office of primary responsibility	AF/A1
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	UpdateContact, July 27, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (47 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Department of the Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 36-1, Appropriated Funds Civilian Management and Administration, and provides guidance for taking disciplinary and adverse actions against certain civilian employees paid with appropriated funds. Use this instruction with the requirements in Title 5 United States Code, Chapters 43 and 75, and the Office of Personnel Management's implementing regulations in Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 752, Subparts A through D, Adverse Actions. It applies to Title 5 United States Code employees of the Department of the Air Force (which includes the Regular Air Force, United States Space Force (USSF), Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard). The Chief of the National Guard Bureau will determine the extent to which this instruction will apply to the Title 5 National Guard employees of the National Guard Bureau or whether such disciplinary and adverse actions will be governed by separate regulations issued by Chief of the National Guard Bureau. It does not

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been rewritten and should be completely reviewed. Changes include addition of USSF roles and responsibilities, addition of an office symbol section in Attachment 1, updates to references, and deletion of certain language to comply with Executive Order (E.O.) 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, dated 20 January 2025, and E.O. 14168, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government dated 20 January 2025.

Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 6
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
Chapter 3—ADMINISTERING DISCIPLINARY AND ADVERSE ACTIONSp. 12
Chapter 4—SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONSp. 14
Chapter 6—ADMONISHMENTp. 28
Chapter 7—LETTERS OF REPRIMANDp. 29
Chapter 8—SUSPENSIONp. 31
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 36
Attachment 2—DOUGLAS FACTORS GUIDEp. 41
Attachment 3—THE TABLE OF OFFENSES AND PENALTY GUIDEp. 44

All 80 contents entries

Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 6
1.1. Department of the Air Force Policyp. 6
1.2. Employees covered in this Instruction:p. 6
1.3. Employees excluded from this Instruction:p. 6
1.4. Actions covered in this Instruction:p. 6
1.5. Non-Discrimination Statementp. 6
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
2.1. Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services (AF/A1):p. 7
2.2. Director, Civilian Force Management Directorate (AF/A1C):p. 7
2.3. Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Personnel (SF/S1):p. 7
2.4. Director, Civilian Policy and Management Directorate (SF/S1C):p. 7
2.5. Air Force Personnel Center:p. 7
2.7. Office of the Judge Advocate General (AF/JA):p. 8
2.8. Air Force General Counsel (SAF/GC):p. 8
2.9. The National Guard Bureau – Judge Advocate (NGB-JA):p. 9
2.10. Installation Staff Judge Advocate:p. 9
2.11. Commanders/Civilian equivalents:p. 9
2.12. Civilian Personnel Sections:p. 10
2.13. Civilian Personnel Officers:p. 10
2.14. Supervisors:p. 10
2.15. Employees:p. 11
Chapter 3—ADMINISTERING DISCIPLINARY AND ADVERSE ACTIONSp. 12
3.1. General Informationp. 12
3.2. Guidance Applicable to Disciplinary Actionsp. 12
3.3. Distinguishing Disciplinary from Performance-Based Actionsp. 12
3.4. Distinguishing Disciplinary from Non-disciplinary Actionsp. 12
3.5. Governing Requirementsp. 12
3.6. Standards for Taking Disciplinary or Adverse Actionsp. 12
3.7. Burden of Proofp. 12
3.8. Representationp. 13
3.9. Applying Requirementsp. 13
Chapter 4—SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONSp. 14
4.1. Penalty Selectionp. 14
4.2. Douglas Factorsp. 14
4.3. Aggravating Factorsp. 14
4.4. Formal disciplinary actionsp. 14
4.5. Non-disciplinary adverse actionsp. 15
4.6. The Table of Offenses and Penalty Guide (Attachment 3)p. 15
4.7. Penaltiesp. 15
4.8. Combination of Offensesp. 15
4.9. Multiple Offensesp. 16
4.10. Prior Offensesp. 16
4.11. Penalty Supportp. 16
4.12. Authorityp. 16
4.13. Reviewing and Coordinating Disciplinary and Adverse Actionsp. 17
5.1. Notice of Proposed Adverse Actionp. 18
5.2. Advance Notice Periodp. 20
5.3. Employee Representationp. 20
5.4. Employees' Responsep. 21
5.5. Consideration of Timely Responsep. 22
5.6. Notice of Decisionp. 23
5.7. Delivery of Noticep. 24
5.8. Recording Actionsp. 24
5.9. Appeal, Complaint, and Grievance Rightsp. 25
5.10. Documentationp. 26
5.11. Investigative Leave and Notice Leavep. 26
Chapter 6—ADMONISHMENTp. 28
6.1. Purposep. 28
6.2. Performance Discussions and Counseling Sessionsp. 28
6.3. Steps in Considering and Giving an Admonishmentp. 28
6.4. Documenting an Admonishmentp. 28
Chapter 7—LETTERS OF REPRIMANDp. 29
7.1. Purposep. 29
7.2. Difference from Letters Stating Standards or Requirementsp. 29
7.3. Steps in Considering a Reprimandp. 29
7.4. Document the Reprimand in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folderp. 30
7.5. Removal of Reprimandp. 30
Chapter 8—SUSPENSIONp. 31
8.1. Purpose:p. 31
8.2. When Considering a Suspensionp. 31
8.3. Suspensions for 14 Days or Lessp. 31
8.4. Suspensions for More Than 14 daysp. 31
8.5. Indefinite Suspensionsp. 32
9.1. Furlough for 30 Days or Lessp. 33
9.2. Reduction in Grade or Payp. 33
9.4. Removalp. 34
9.5. Procedural Requirementsp. 34
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 36
Attachment 2—DOUGLAS FACTORS GUIDEp. 41
Attachment 3—THE TABLE OF OFFENSES AND PENALTY GUIDEp. 44

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DAFI 36-148

DAFI 36-148 — index record

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