Articles Of UCMJ

UCMJ Article 112a criminalizes the wrongful use, possession, distribution, manufacture, or introduction of controlled substances into military installations, aircraft, vessels, or vehicles. This provision was added in 1982 to create a specific drug offense under the UCMJ, separating drug-related misconduct from the more general offenses of Articles 92 and 134. Because drug abuse undermines discipline, readiness, and the health of the force, Article 112a is one of the most heavily…

UCMJ Article 112 makes it a crime for any service member to be drunk while on duty. The offense applies to all members of the armed forces regardless of rank or position. Because the military requires absolute readiness and discipline, intoxication while performing official duties directly threatens unit safety, mission success, and public trust. This article is different from Article 111, which punishes drunken or reckless operation of a vehicle,…

UCMJ Article 111 punishes service members who operate a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel in a drunken or reckless manner. The article is designed to protect service members, military property, and the public from the dangers of impaired or reckless operation. Because military personnel often operate government vehicles, aircraft, or vessels in high-risk settings, misconduct in this area undermines readiness and safety. The provision applies both on and off duty, in…

UCMJ Article 110 punishes any service member who willfully, wrongfully, or negligently endangers a U.S. vessel. Ships are among the most valuable military assets, and their safety is critical not only to national defense but also to the lives of the sailors and Marines aboard. Any act that places a naval vessel in jeopardy, whether intentional or reckless, strikes at the core of military discipline and readiness. This provision is…

UCMJ Article 109 punishes service members who willfully or recklessly waste, destroy, or damage property that does not belong to the United States military. Unlike Article 108, which deals with U.S. government property, Article 109 applies when the property is privately owned, civilian, or otherwise non-military. The purpose of this article is to ensure that service members respect civilian property rights and maintain discipline both in garrison and in operational…

UCMJ Article 108 addresses misconduct involving U.S. military property. The article criminalizes damaging, selling, destroying, misusing, or losing military property, whether through negligence or intentional acts. Because military property belongs to the United States and is essential for readiness, accountability for its proper care is critical. The article applies broadly to weapons, vehicles, aircraft, equipment, and any other property owned by the U.S. government. By punishing misconduct involving property, Article…

UCMJ Article 107 punishes service members who knowingly make false official statements or entries, or who sign official documents knowing the information is false. Military justice depends on accuracy and honesty in official matters. Any deliberate falsehood in official documents, records, or statements undermines discipline, trust, and the integrity of the armed forces. This provision is broad and applies to oral statements, written documents, and official records. Whether made to…

UCMJ Article 106 criminalizes acts of spying against the United States in time of war. A spy is someone who, without lawful authority and under false pretenses, collects or attempts to collect information with the intent of communicating it to the enemy. Spying undermines national security and places military operations at risk. Because of its gravity, spying under Article 106 is one of the very few UCMJ offenses that expressly…

UCMJ Article 105 punishes service members who, while in the hands of the enemy as prisoners of war, engage in misconduct that harms the United States or provides aid to the enemy. Unlike ordinary prisoner discipline issues, this article targets serious acts of betrayal or disloyalty that occur during captivity. The law recognizes that being taken prisoner is not itself a crime, but misconduct while in captivity can endanger fellow…

UCMJ Article 104 criminalizes any act of providing aid, comfort, or intelligence to the enemy. This provision is one of the most serious in military law because it addresses direct betrayal of the United States in times of armed conflict. Unlike lesser offenses of misconduct, aiding the enemy strikes at the heart of loyalty and allegiance, placing the lives of fellow service members and the success of missions at risk….

UCMJ Article 103 punishes misconduct involving captured or abandoned property during military operations. When U.S. forces seize enemy property or encounter abandoned property in the field, it is not for individual use or profit. Such property belongs to the United States and must be safeguarded, collected, and properly disposed of according to orders. Misuse or theft of captured or abandoned property undermines discipline, damages relations with civilians, and may violate…

UCMJ Article 102 criminalizes the act of forcing a safeguard. A safeguard is a formal protection or guarantee issued by a commander to protect persons, property, or places from harm by U.S. military forces. Safeguards are often written documents, posted orders, or designated guards assigned to enforce protection. Violating or forcing a safeguard undermines the honor and credibility of the U.S. military, threatens diplomatic relations, and can amount to a…

UCMJ Article 101 punishes the improper use of countersigns, parole words, or watchwords used in military operations. A countersign is a security measure used by guards and sentries to distinguish friend from foe, especially in combat or high-security environments. Misuse of these words can endanger an entire command by allowing enemy infiltration or causing confusion within friendly forces. The article covers two primary forms of misconduct: (1) using a countersign…

UCMJ Article 100 punishes any service member who compels or attempts to compel the surrender of a command, unit, post, military property, or personnel to an enemy through misconduct, cowardice, or neglect of duty. This provision addresses the extreme breach of loyalty and discipline that occurs when a service member, rather than resisting, pressures others to surrender in the face of the enemy. The article reflects the military’s core expectation…

UCMJ Article 99 criminalizes acts of cowardice, misbehavior, or misconduct committed in the presence of the enemy. It is one of the most severe offenses in military law because it deals directly with conduct in combat situations where unit cohesion, courage, and discipline are most critical. Misbehavior before the enemy can take many forms, including running away, abandoning one’s post, surrendering improperly, or endangering the safety of the unit through…

UCMJ Article 98 punishes officials who knowingly or willfully fail to comply with procedural rules in the administration of military justice. It applies to commanders, military judges, convening authorities, trial counsel, and others responsible for courts-martial proceedings. The article is designed to safeguard fairness in the military justice system by holding accountable those who manage it. Article 98 is rarely charged on its own, but its presence reinforces the importance…

UCMJ Article 97 criminalizes the act of unlawfully detaining any person. The article covers a service member who, without proper authority, subjects another individual to arrest or confinement, or who willfully continues to detain someone already in custody without lawful grounds. The provision exists to prevent abuse of power and to ensure that restrictions on liberty occur only under lawful orders and proper procedures. The offense is not limited to…

UCMJ Article 96 punishes any service member who, without proper authority, releases or allows the escape of a prisoner in their custody. This provision exists to protect the integrity of military detention and confinement systems. Whether a prisoner is awaiting trial, serving a sentence, or held for administrative reasons, their confinement is a matter of legal authority. Allowing an unauthorized release undermines military justice and discipline. Article 96 distinguishes between…

UCMJ Article 95 punishes service members who resist apprehension, attempt to flee from custody, break arrest, or escape from confinement. The provision ensures that military law enforcement and command authority can maintain control over personnel subject to investigation, arrest, or confinement. By criminalizing resistance and escape, Article 95 safeguards the enforcement of lawful military orders and the integrity of the justice process. This article covers four distinct forms of misconduct:…

UCMJ Article 94 criminalizes mutiny, sedition, and failure to suppress or report such conduct. Mutiny involves creating revolt against lawful military authority, while sedition refers to actions or speech aimed at overthrowing or weakening lawful civil authority. Both are among the gravest offenses under military law because they strike directly at discipline, command authority, and the security of the armed forces. Article 94 also punishes service members who fail to…

UCMJ Article 93 criminalizes cruelty, oppression, or maltreatment of any person subject to a service member’s orders. This provision is not limited to physical abuse. It covers acts of abuse of authority, whether through physical harm, threats, humiliation, harassment, or other degrading treatment. The purpose is to protect subordinates from abusive leadership and to maintain good order, morale, and discipline within the armed forces. Article 93 applies regardless of whether…

UCMJ Article 92 is one of the most frequently charged provisions in military law. It criminalizes three types of misconduct: (1) violation or failure to obey a lawful general order or regulation, (2) failure to obey any other lawful order, and (3) dereliction of duty. Each reflects the military’s fundamental need for obedience and reliability in carrying out missions. Article 92 covers a wide spectrum of behavior, from disobeying standing…

UCMJ Article 91 criminalizes insubordinate conduct toward warrant officers, noncommissioned officers (NCOs), or petty officers. This provision protects the authority of enlisted and warrant leaders who are essential to discipline, training, and mission execution. Article 91 covers three main offenses: striking or assaulting a warrant or NCO, willfully disobeying their lawful orders, and treating them with contempt or disrespect while they are in the execution of their duties. Unlike Article…