Five Airmen receive Article 15 nonjudicial punishment in third quarter of 2011 Published Oct. 24, 2011 By A1C Jurrell Harrison Air Force Flight Test Center Judge Advocate EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Commanders imposed punishment on five Airmen under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice at Edwards during the third quarter of 2011. Nonjudicial punishment is a tool that provides commanders with an essential and swift means of maintaining good order and discipline. It also promotes behavior changes in servicemembers without the stigma of a court-martial conviction. Article 15 punishment is ordinarily offered for less serious violations of the UCMJ. If a commander believes an Airman has committed a specific offense or offenses under the UCMJ, he or she will administer appropriate punishment. The following Article 15s were processed at Edwards during the third quarter of 2011: A non-commissioned officer wrongfully drove a vehicle upon a highway in willful disregard for the safety of persons or property, in violation of California Vehicle Code, Section 23103, by traveling 90 mph in a 60 mph zone, assimilated into Federal law by 18 United States Code, Section 13. The commander imposed the following punishment: Suspended reduction to the grade of Senior Airman, forfeiture of $1,115.00 payable over four months, 30 days extra duty and a reprimand. A non-commissioned officer, absented himself, without authority, from his place of duty and was derelict in the performance of his duties by negligently failing to file leave paperwork, in violation of Articles 86 and 92, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: Reduction to the grade of Senior Airman, forfeiture of $1,162.00 pay per month for one month and a reprimand. A Senior Airman, without authority, failed to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty, in violation of Article 86, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: Suspended forfeiture of $530.00 pay per month for two months, 30 days extra duty and a reprimand. A Senior Airman, who knew of his duties, was negligently derelict in the performance of those duties on multiple occasions, by failing to submit and process required paperwork, in violation of Article 92, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: Suspended reduction to the grade of Airman First Class, forfeitures of $500.00 pay per month for two months and a reprimand. An Airman First Class, without authority, failed to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty, in violation of Article 86, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: Suspended reduction to the grade of Airman, 15 days extra duty and a reprimand. The punishments for offenses are set by Congress and put forth in the Manual for Courts-Martial; however, individual punishments are imposed at the discretion of the issuing commander. In the case of persuasive extenuating or mitigating circumstances, or for first-time offenders, occasionally a suspension will be granted to the offender. A suspension is the postponement of the application of all or part of the punishment for a specific probationary period. The punishment will automatically be canceled at the end of the probationary period contingent upon the member not violating any articles set forth in the UCMJ or the conditions that were set by the commander upon the suspension of the punishment.