Knowledgeable Defense for Article 15/ Nonjudicial Punishment
Article 15 of the UCMJ concerns non-judicial punishment for military members. This Article applies when Command deals with minor violations or infractions of the UCMJ. Usually referred to in the Army and Air Force as an “Article 15”, this kind of punishment is often called a “Captain’s Mast” in the Navy and Marines. It’s also often referred to as an NJP (nonjudicial punishment). In summary, Article 15 permits commanders to administratively discipline troops without a court-martial. These punishments can range from reprimand to reduction in rank, correctional custody, loss of pay, extra duty, and/or several restrictions. Receiving an Article 15 does not constitute a criminal conviction, but it can be placed on the individual’s service record. The nonjudicial punishment process is governed by Part V of the Manual for Courts-Martial and by the regulations of each service branch.