ARTICLE 15 NONJUDICIAL PUNISHMENT RESPONSE

SERVICE MEMBER INFORMATION

Name: [________________________________]

Rank/Grade: [________________________________]

Branch of Service: ☐ Army ☐ Navy ☐ Air Force ☐ Marine Corps ☐ Coast Guard ☐ Space Force

SSN (Last 4): [____]

Unit: [________________________________]

Duty Station: [________________________________]

Commanding Officer: [________________________________]

Date Article 15 Offered: [__/__/____]

Response Due Date: [__/__/____]

TYPE OF ARTICLE 15

☐ Summarized Article 15 (Minor offenses, limited punishment)
☐ Company Grade Article 15 (Imposed by Company Commander or equivalent)
☐ Field Grade Article 15 (Imposed by Field Grade Officer/O-4 and above)
☐ General Officer Article 15 (Imposed by General Officer)
☐ Flag Officer Article 15 (Navy/Coast Guard - imposed by Flag Officer)

ALLEGED OFFENSE(S)

Offense 1:

UCMJ Article Violated: Article [____]

Date of Alleged Offense: [__/__/____]

Location: [________________________________]

Description of Alleged Misconduct:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Offense 2 (if applicable):

UCMJ Article Violated: Article [____]

Date of Alleged Offense: [__/__/____]

Location: [________________________________]

Description of Alleged Misconduct:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

SERVICE MEMBER'S ELECTION

A. Right to Demand Trial by Court-Martial

IMPORTANT: You have the right to refuse nonjudicial punishment and demand trial by court-martial (except when attached to or embarked on a vessel). If you demand trial by court-martial:
- The matter may be referred to a summary, special, or general court-martial
- You may receive a more severe punishment if found guilty
- A court-martial conviction becomes part of your permanent record

☐ I ACCEPT nonjudicial punishment proceedings under Article 15, UCMJ
☐ I REFUSE nonjudicial punishment and demand trial by court-martial

B. Right to Consult with Counsel

☐ I have consulted with military defense counsel
☐ I have consulted with civilian counsel (at my own expense)
☐ I waive my right to consult with counsel

Counsel Name (if applicable): [________________________________]

C. Hearing Election

☐ I REQUEST a personal appearance before the imposing commander
☐ I WAIVE my right to a personal appearance

D. Spokesperson Election

☐ I will speak on my own behalf
☐ I request the following person speak on my behalf: [________________________________]

SERVICE MEMBER'S RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS

A. Position on Guilt

☐ I admit the offense(s) as alleged
☐ I deny the offense(s) as alleged
☐ I admit some facts but deny guilt (explain below)

B. Statement Regarding Allegations

Instructions: Explain your version of events. Be specific about dates, times, locations, and witnesses. If you deny the allegations, explain why. If you admit the offense, you may still provide context or mitigating circumstances.

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

MATTERS IN DEFENSE

☐ The alleged conduct did not occur
☐ I did not commit the alleged conduct
☐ The conduct does not constitute an offense under the UCMJ
☐ I have an affirmative defense (explain):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Supporting Evidence/Witnesses

MATTERS IN EXTENUATION

(Circumstances surrounding the offense that may explain, but not excuse, the conduct)

☐ This was an isolated incident
☐ There were extenuating circumstances:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ I was under unusual stress due to:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ Other factors to consider:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

MATTERS IN MITIGATION

(Factors that may warrant a lesser punishment)

A. Military Service Record

Total Time in Service: [________________________________]

Time in Current Grade: [________________________________]

Deployments:

Combat Service: ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, describe: [________________________________]

Awards and Decorations:
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]

Performance Evaluations:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

B. Prior Disciplinary Record

☐ No prior disciplinary actions
☐ Prior disciplinary actions:

C. Personal Circumstances

Family Status:
☐ Single ☐ Married ☐ Divorced/Separated
☐ Dependents: [________________________________]

Education:
[________________________________]

Financial Hardship (if applicable):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Medical/Mental Health Issues (if applicable):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Other Personal Circumstances:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

D. Rehabilitation Potential

☐ I have taken the following corrective actions:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ I am willing to undertake the following:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ I request the following rehabilitative measures in lieu of punishment:
[________________________________]

CHARACTER EVIDENCE

Letters of Support

☐ Attached as Exhibit [____]

Character Witnesses

REQUEST FOR PUNISHMENT CONSIDERATION

If punishment is imposed, I respectfully request the commanding officer consider:

☐ Suspended punishment to allow me to demonstrate rehabilitation
☐ Reduction in punishment due to mitigating factors
☐ Consideration of my service record in determining punishment
☐ Financial impact of forfeiture on my family
☐ Other: [________________________________]

APPEAL RIGHTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I understand that if nonjudicial punishment is imposed, I have the right to appeal within 5 calendar days (3 days for summarized proceedings) to the next superior authority. Grounds for appeal include:

• The punishment was unjust
• The punishment was disproportionate to the offense
• There were errors in the proceedings
• New evidence is available

SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION

I, [________________________________], certify that the information provided in this response is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand my rights under Article 15, UCMJ, and have made my elections knowingly and voluntarily.

Service Member Signature: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

COUNSEL CERTIFICATION (if applicable)

I certify that I have advised [________________________________] of their rights under Article 15, UCMJ, and have assisted in preparing this response.

Counsel Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Rank/Title: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

WITNESS CERTIFICATION

The above-named service member signed this document in my presence.

Witness Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Rank/Grade: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Character letters (Exhibit A)
☐ Performance evaluations (Exhibit B)
☐ Awards and decorations documentation (Exhibit C)
☐ Medical/mental health documentation (Exhibit D)
☐ Financial hardship documentation (Exhibit E)
☐ Other supporting documents (Exhibit F): [________________________________]

ARTICLE 15 APPEAL FORM

(Complete this section only if punishment has been imposed and you wish to appeal)

APPEAL SUBMISSION

Date Punishment Imposed: [__/__/____]

Punishment Imposed:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Appeal Deadline: [__/__/____]

Grounds for Appeal

☐ The evidence does not support the finding of guilt
☐ The punishment is excessive/disproportionate
☐ There were procedural errors
☐ New evidence is available
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Statement in Support of Appeal

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Service Member Signature: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 10 U.S.C. § 815 - Article 15, UCMJ
• Manual for Courts-Martial, Part V - Nonjudicial Punishment Procedures
• Article 15 Fact Sheet - Army TDS
• Navy Non-Judicial Punishment SOP

This template is provided for educational and informational purposes. Each military branch has specific procedural requirements for Article 15 proceedings. Always consult with a military defense attorney or JAG officer before submitting a response.