In the Army it is called "FRATERNISING" with the men of lowere ranks and is a no no.
They might be reluctant to send them into battle or to their deaths if they see tham as anything other than a resource.
Remember the Witchtower can and often does, pull the rug out from under the feet of the R&F, and will use the DOS and other higher overseers to do their filthy footwork.
If a DO is ordered to get out the long knives and start a series of "war crimes" executions on the congos, he might be reluctant to do so if he sees the CO and POS as real friends, rather than another robot resource for the Borganization.
Just look at how elders who are good friends often protect each other and their kids from DF even if it were deserved.
On another thread I suggested that the WT is now discouraging close friendships, this would appear to be part of the same trend.
HB