Trial Defense Services

The authority of commanders to give an Article 15 is found in Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. An Article 15 is considered non-judicial punishment, because it is not a judicial proceeding. Non-judicial punishment is a military justice option available to commanders. It permits commanders to resolve allegations of minor misconduct against a soldier without resorting to higher forms of discipline, such as a court-martial. The commander has complete discretion about whether to impose an Article 15. A soldier may, however, refuse to accept the Article 15 and instead demand trial by court-martial.

No, you are only agreeing to let your commander decide whether you are guilty and, if guilty, what punishment you should receive. If you plead not guilty, your commander must listen to your side of the case. You may present your own case or have a non-lawyer act as your spokesperson. You can present witnesses or other evidence (such as statements, police reports, pictures, and diagrams) on your behalf to help explain your side of the story. You may also present evidence regarding your duty performance, reputation for truthfulness or honesty and other facts that indicate you are not guilty or deserving of a light sentence.

Possible maximum punishments at an Article 15 are much lower than what a court-martial could adjudge. For example, you cannot be sentenced to confinement at an Article 15 hearing. Also, unlike at court-martial, if found guilty at an Article 15 hearing, you will not have a federal conviction. Additionally, most Article 15s (especially first time Article 15s for minor offenses) will not affect your ability to remain in the Army. Court-martial convictions can result in discharge, either by a punitive discharge adjudged by the court or administrative discharge after the court-martial.

There are three types of Article 15s, they are:

SUMMARIZED: Any company grade commander may administer this type of Article 15. Soldiers who are read a summarized Article 15 are not entitled to consult with a defense attorney. They may, however, turn down the Article 15 and demand trial by court-martial. The maximum punishment authorized at a summarized Article 15 is any combination of:

Extra Duty for 14 days;

Restriction for 14 days;

Oral reprimand or admonition

COMPANY GRADE: Any company grade commander may administer this type of Article 15. The maximum punishment authorized at a company grade Article 15 is any combination of

Extra duty for 14 days

Restriction for 14 days

Oral reprimand or admonition

Forfeiture of 7 days base pay

Reduction in rank of 1 grade (E-4 & below only)

FIELD GRADE: A commander in the rank of Major or above may administer this type of Article 15. The maximum punishment authorized at a field grade Article 15 is:

Extra duty for 45 days

Restriction for 60 days (maximum of 45 days if combined with extra duty)

Oral reprimand or admonition

Forfeiture of ½ base pay per month for 2 months

Reduction in rank to E-1 (E-4 & below) or reduction in rank of 1 grade (E-5 & E-6 only)

Usually the punishment begins immediately, even if you appeal the Article 15. The commander has the authority to delay the punishment under certain circumstances (leave, illness, AWOL, or field exercises).

Your commander may suspend any or all punishment for a period not to exceed 6 months. If the punishment is suspended, it does not take affect. You are, in essence, on "probation" for the suspension period. As long as you do not engage in any misconduct, the suspended punishment will not take affect. However, if you engage in misconduct of any kind, the commander can withdraw (vacate) the suspension and the original punishment takes effect. You do not have a right to contest or appeal the vacation of the suspension. Furthermore, the violation action will not preclude further judicial punishment for the same misconduct in the future.

If you are found guilty during an article 15 hearing, you have the right to appeal to the next higher commander. For example, if the imposing commander is your company commander, the appellate authority is usually the battalion commander. The appeal must be submitted within 5 days of the date of the decision. The commander considering your appeal can overturn a finding of guilty, lessen the punishment, or keep the punishment the same. The commander acting on your appeal cannot make your punishment more severe.

There are three grounds on which to make an appeal, they are:

There was not enough evidence to find you guilty

The punishment imposed was too severe; or

The commander did not follow proper procedures.

You appeal by checking the appropriate block on Line 7 of your DA Form 2627 immediately after your imposing commander announces your punishment. He will ask you whether you want to appeal. If you wish to appeal, it is recommended that you check Block 7(c) which states "I appeal and submit additional matters". If you are not sure if you want to appeal, we recommend you check the "I appeal" block. You ordinarily will not personally appear before the commander who will consider your appeal. Appeals are normally made in writing, stating the reasons for the appeal and why relief should be given. If you need assistance preparing an appeal, contact the Trial Defense Service office.

A finding of guilty at an Article 15 hearing will be filed in your military records; however, the rules vary depending on your rank.

If you are in the grade of E-4 and below, the Article 15 will be filed locally in a non-judicial punishment file. The Article 15 will be destroyed two years from the date of imposition or upon your PCS/ETS, whichever occurs first.

If you are in the grade of E-5 or above, the imposing commander will determine whether the Article 15 will be filed in either the restricted or performance fiche of your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). Article 15s filed in your OMPF will likely have adverse affects on your future military career. Consult the Trial Defense Service for more details regarding the career ramifications of this important filing determination.

The Article 15 process is discussed in detail in Part V of the Manual for Courts-Martial and in Chapter 3 of AR 27-10. These materials are available for review at the Trial Defense Service office.