Quote:I asked my wife, because she knows more than I do -- she said that she believes that the armed services prohibits any active member from serving an elected office (or office required by political appointment by the President and approval by congress). They prohibit holding any office that may interfere with military duties.

 

This is pretty much correct.

 

According to the UCMJ a military member is not allowed to participate in any political activity while in uniform.

 

Quote:I googled the question, "can the president be active military" and what I found was that the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which all the military personnel must abide by, prohibits partisan political activity.  

 

Here's some discussion on it: 

 

http://www.democraticunderground.com/dis...104x738636

 

This one is even better: 

 

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/militaryl...tics_3.htm

 

Referencing the bold part above.  It is prohibited as long as the service member is in uniform.  The service member also can not use their official rank/title while participating in any partisan political activity, ie "CDR John Smith, USN".  If "John Smith" wants to participate in a political activity, he is free to do so as long as he doesn't use his rank/title and he isn't in uniform or on duty serving in a military capacity.

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