Military Standards, Discipline, and Justice
What to know
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is the foundation of military justice, supplemented by the Manual for Courts-Martial. Know the three types of courts-martial (summary, special, general) and their convening authorities and maximum punishments at a conceptual level. Understand nonjudicial punishment (Article 15), the role of the commander in discipline, administrative actions (letters of reprimand, Article 15, demotion, discharge), and the rights of the accused, including the right to counsel and appeal. Know the difference between military and civilian jurisdiction, and the concept of lawful orders and the duty to obey them.
Traps
Questions often blur nonjudicial punishment with courts-martial, or attribute sentencing authority to the wrong level. Another trap is assuming an Article 15 is a criminal conviction-it is administrative, though it can be recorded. Watch for items that confuse the types of discharge (honorable, general, other than honorable, bad conduct, dishonorable) or that misstate who may impose nonjudicial punishment.
Worked example
A member accused of minor misconduct may receive an Article 15 from the commander rather than a court-martial. If a question asks whether the member has a right to trial by court-martial instead, the answer is generally yes-nonjudicial punishment is offered, not imposed without the member's consent in most cases.
Rule of thumb
Article 15 is administrative punishment by the commander; courts-martial are judicial proceedings with convening authorities.