Nine Airmen receive nonjudicial punishment in fourth quarter of 2010

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Misty Flores
  • Air Force Flight Test Center Staff Judge Advocate Office
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Commanders imposed nonjudicial punishment on nine Airmen under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice during the fourth quarter of 2010.

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 service members 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 fourth quarter of 2010.

- An Airman Basic, through neglect, crashed a government owned vehicle in violation of Article 108, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: forfeiture of $723 pay per month for 2 months, suspended 30 days extra duty and a reprimand.

- A Senior Airman was derelict in the performance of his duties by wrongfully leaving a patrol vehicle unattended with unsecured weapons in violation of Article 92, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: suspended reduction to the grade of Airman First Class, forfeiture of $961 pay per month for 2 months, 30 days extra duty and a reprimand.

- A Staff Sergeant was derelict in the performance of his duties by wrongfully consuming alcohol within eight hours of his scheduled duties in violation of Article 92, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: reduction to the grade of Senior Airman, suspended forfeiture of $1099 pay per month for 2 months, 15 days extra duty and a reprimand.

- An Airman First Class was derelict in the performance of her duties by wrongfully leaving a patrol vehicle unattended with unsecured weapons in violation of Article 92, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: suspended reduction to the grade of Airman, forfeiture of $811, 15 days extra duty and a reprimand.

- An Airman wrongfully drove a passenger vehicle with a suspended license in violation of Article 134, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: reduction to the grade
of Airman Basic, suspended forfeiture of $723 pay per month for 2 months, 15 days extra duty and a reprimand.

- An Airman First Class wrongfully used a controlled substance in violation of Article 112a, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: suspended reduction to the grade of Airman, forfeiture of $810 pay per month for 2 months to be paid over duration of 4 months and a reprimand.

- A Senior Airman aided and abetted in the trespassing of a barred individual in violation of Article 134, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: suspended reduction to the grade of Airman First Class and a reprimand.

- A Senior Airman made a false official statement to her supervisor in violation of Article 107, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: reduction to the grade of Airman First Class, suspended forfeiture of $961 pay per month for 2 months and a reprimand.

- A Technical Sergeant was derelict in the performance of his duties by disobeying a no contact order in violation of Article 92, UCMJ. The commander imposed the following punishment: suspended reduction to the grade of Staff Sergeant, forfeiture of $411 pay and a reprimand.

All punishments are set by the guidelines in the Manual for Courts-Martial; however, punishments are up to the discretion of the issuing commander. In the case of persuasive extenuating or mitigating circumstances or 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 be automatically remitted at the end of that period, if the member does not violate the conditions of his or her suspension or any other article of the UCMJ.