What is the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 15?

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 15 is an important part of U.S. military law and it is applicable to service members of all branches of the military nationwide, including in Tennessee. This article gives commanders the authority to non-judicially reprimand and/or punish troops for minor offenses without a trial. In Article 15 of the UCMJ, commanders are given the authority to decide what type of punishment is appropriate for an offense. This punishment could range from a minimum of a verbal reprimand to a maximum of 30 days of restricted duty or extra duty. During Article 15 proceedings, commanders have the right to choose the punishment for a given offense. In addition to the ability to mete out punishment, Article 15 of the UCMJ also gives commanders the authority to decide how to dispose of the charges. Disposition may include dropping the charges, administrative separation, or referring the case to a court-martial. The purpose of Article 15 is to allow commanders to adjudicate minor offenses quickly and without excessive formalities. Article 15 proceedings are not considered criminal proceedings, so they do not have the same due process rights as criminal proceedings. However, service members facing an Article 15 have the right to counsel and a right to an appeal.

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What is the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 15?

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