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Command Disciplinary Options
Command Disciplinary Options
Levels Of Disposition. Charges can be disposed of at four levels within the military justice
system: (1) by the unit commander who exercises immediate Article 15, UCMJ, jurisdiction over
the accused; (2) by the summary court-martial convening authority (normally a battalion or
squadron commander); (3) by the special court-martial convening authority (normally a brigade
or wing commander); and (4) by the general court-martial convening authority (normally a
general officer who is commanding). Each commander or convening authority within the
military justice chain has a range of available options and each commander exercises discretion
in selecting one of the available options or makes a recommendation to a higher commander. As
charges progress up the military justice chain, the convening authority has more options
available. Any higher-level convening authority has all the powers and alternatives of any lower-
level convening authority or commander. Thus a summary court-martial convening authority has
available all the options of the immediate commander and additional alternatives as a convening
authority. Similarly, a special court-martial convening authority is empowered to convene a
summary court-martial as well as a special court-martial. Finally, a general court-martial
convening authority possesses all the powers of the subordinate commanders and convening
authorities.