- Board question
What are the three types of courts-martial?
Summary, special, and general. The summary court-martial handles minor offenses by enlisted Soldiers and consists of one commissioned officer. The special court-martial is the intermediate level and can adjudge confinement of up to one year and a bad-conduct discharge. The general court-martial is the highest level and may adjudge any punishment authorized for the offense, including a dishonorable discharge and, where the law allows, death.
- Board question
What is the difference between an Article 15 and a court-martial?
An Article 15 is nonjudicial punishment imposed by a commander for minor offenses. It is not a criminal conviction, the commander decides the case, and punishments are limited by the commander's grade. A court-martial is a federal criminal trial with a military judge, counsel, and in most cases a panel. A conviction at a court-martial is a criminal conviction and can include a punitive discharge and confinement.
- Board question
What is the limited use policy?
It restricts how the Army may use certain protected information a Soldier provides in connection with substance abuse treatment, such as a voluntary self-referral or information developed during treatment. That information generally may not be used against the Soldier in a court-martial or as the basis for a characterization of discharge. It does not protect a Soldier from the consequences of independently discovered misconduct.