Military Justice System

As a member of the United States Armed Forces, you are expected to abide by a strict set of rules and regulations at all times. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action, including a court-martial. One of the most commonly cited articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is Article 92, which addresses failure to obey an order or regulation.  UCMJ Article 92 states that “any person subject to this chapter who--(1) violates or fails to obey any lawful general order or regulation; (2) having knowledge of any other lawful order issued by a member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order; or (3) is derelict in the performance of his duties; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”   What does this mean in practice? Essentially, it means that any service member who disobeys a lawful order or regulation can be subject to disciplinary action. This can include a range of punishments, from a reprimand or reduction in ra...

UCMJ Article 94: Mutiny and Sedition   The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is a set of rules and regulations that govern the behavior of members of the United States military. It lays out various offenses and the punishments that can be imposed on service members who violate them. One such offense is mutiny and sedition, which is covered under Article 94 of the UCMJ.   Article 94: Mutiny and Sedition   According to Article 94 of the UCMJ, any service member who "with intent to usurp or override lawful military authority, refuses, in concert with any other person, to obey orders or otherwise do his duty or creates any violence or disturbance is guilty of mutiny." Additionally, any service member who "with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of lawful civil authority, creates, in concert with any other person, revolt, violence, or other disturbance against that authority" is guilty of sedition.   In simpler terms, UCMJ Mutiny refers to a grou...

Article 91 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) outlines the offense of disrespect towards a superior commissioned officer in the United States military. This offense occurs when a member of the armed forces behaves in a disrespectful or insubordinate manner towards an officer who is superior in rank or position. This offense can carry serious consequences, including disciplinary action and reduction in rank. The Article 91 UCMJ defines disrespect towards a superior commissioned officer as behavior that is intended to be, or can reasonably be perceived as, disrespectful or insubordinate towards a superior officer. This can include verbal disrespect, such as using abusive language or failing to address a superior officer by their proper rank or title. It can also include nonverbal disrespect, such as failing to salute a superior officer or intentionally ignoring their orders or commands.   The punishment for disrespect towards a superior commissioned officer can vary de...