The Articles of the UCMJ are the foundation of U.S. military law. They define who is subject to military law, the rights of service members, the rules for courts-martial, and the specific criminal offenses under military jurisdiction. The UCMJ contains 146 articles, organized into subchapters.
Article 1 Short title, Article 2 Persons subject, Article 3 Jurisdiction, Article 7 Apprehension, Article 15 Non-judicial punishment, Article 16–21 Courts-martial jurisdiction, Article 22–29 Convening and composition of courts-martial, Article 30 Charges and specifications, Article 31 Rights against self-incrimination, Article 32 Preliminary hearing, Article 34 Staff judge advocate advice, Article 35–46 Trial procedures, Article 55–58b Sentences and punishments, Article 77 Principals, Article 80 Attempts, Article 81 Conspiracy, Article 85 Desertion, Article 86 AWOL, Article 88 Contempt toward officials, Article 90 Disobeying superior officer, Article 92 Failure to obey order/regulation, Article 94 Mutiny or sedition, Article 99 Misbehavior before the enemy, Article 104 Aiding the enemy, Article 106 Spies, Article 107 False official statements, Article 108 Damage to military property, Article 111 Drunken or reckless driving, Article 112a Controlled substances, Article 118 Murder, Article 119 Manslaughter, Article 120 Rape and sexual assault, Article 121 Larceny, Article 122 Robbery, Article 126 Arson, Article 128 Assault, Article 133 Conduct unbecoming an officer, Article 134 General article, Article 135 Courts of inquiry, Article 138 Complaints of wrongs, Article 141 Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
UCMJ Article 90 – Assaulting or Willfully Disobeying a Superior Commissioned Officer
UCMJ Article 90 addresses two distinct but related offenses: assaulting a superior commissioned officer, and willfully disobeying a lawful command from a superior commissioned officer. Both acts strike at the heart of the chain of command. Respect for, and obedience to, superior officers is one of the most basic foundations of military discipline. An assault or open defiance of orders threatens not just the relationship between individuals but also the…
UCMJ Article 89 – Disrespect Toward a Superior Commissioned Officer
UCMJ Article 89 makes it a crime for a service member to show disrespect by words, behavior, or gestures toward a superior commissioned officer. The rule is rooted in the need for discipline and hierarchy in the armed forces. Respect for superior officers is fundamental to military order, and any open display of contempt or defiance undermines that structure. Disrespect under Article 89 is broader than disobedience. A service member…
UCMJ Article 88 – Contempt Toward Officials
UCMJ Article 88 makes it a crime for a commissioned officer to use contemptuous words against certain government officials. Specifically, it applies to contempt directed at the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security (when the Coast Guard is not operating as part of the Navy), or the Governor or legislature of any state, territory, commonwealth, or…
UCMJ Article 87 – Missing Movement
UCMJ Article 87 criminalizes the act of missing the movement of a ship, aircraft, or unit with which a service member is required to move. Unlike AWOL or desertion, Article 87 applies specifically to situations where a movement has been officially scheduled, and the accused fails to join it either through neglect or design. This provision reflects the military’s need for strict adherence to orders and schedules to ensure mission…
UCMJ Article 86 – Absence Without Leave (AWOL)
UCMJ Article 86 criminalizes the act of leaving one’s unit, organization, or place of duty without authority. Absence Without Leave (AWOL) is one of the most common charges in military justice. Unlike desertion under Article 85, AWOL does not require proof of intent to remain away permanently. Instead, the offense is complete when a service member fails to be present at the appointed time and place, leaves without permission, or…
UCMJ Article 84 – Effecting Unlawful Enlistment, Appointment, or Separation
UCMJ Article 84 punishes service members who knowingly participate in or assist with unlawful enlistments, appointments, or separations within the armed forces. The provision targets those who, by intent or deception, manipulate the system of entering or leaving military service. It is not aimed at the person being unlawfully enlisted, appointed, or separated, but rather at the individual who causes, arranges, or knowingly allows the process to happen in violation…
UCMJ Article 82 – Solicitation
UCMJ Article 82 defines the offense of solicitation. It punishes a service member who wrongfully solicits or advises another to commit a UCMJ offense, provided the solicitation was made with the intent that the offense actually be committed. The solicitation itself is the crime, regardless of whether the solicited offense is ever attempted or carried out. This reflects the military’s position that encouraging misconduct is inherently dangerous to discipline and…
UCMJ Article 81 – Conspiracy
UCMJ Article 81 establishes liability for conspiracy. It criminalizes the agreement between two or more persons to commit an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, provided that at least one of the conspirators performs an overt act to carry out the agreement. Unlike Article 80, which punishes attempts, Article 81 focuses on the unlawful partnership and coordination itself. The purpose of this article is to prevent harmful conduct…
UCMJ Article 80 – Attempts
UCMJ Article 80 establishes liability for attempts to commit offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It punishes service members who, with the specific intent to commit an offense, take a substantial step toward its commission, even if the crime is never completed. The law is designed to preserve discipline and deter misconduct before full harm occurs. It ensures that deliberate efforts to break the law are addressed, whether…
UCMJ Article 78 – Accessory After the Fact
UCMJ Article 78 addresses the offense of being an accessory after the fact. This article does not punish the person who committed the primary offense but instead targets those who knowingly help the offender escape accountability. It states that any person subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice who, knowing that an offense has been committed, receives, comforts, or assists the offender in order to hinder apprehension, trial, or…