Command Guest Policy
The military is trusted with the country’s security, and thus, competence is mandatory. Competency in the military forces begins with the ability to obey commands given from above. The decision to join the military forces comes with the responsibility to adhere to the commands given by the people in charge as well as the NCO. Article 92 of UCMJ specifies the circumstances under which a military officer is liable for charges. The charges may be caused by disobedience for a single offense, and therefore officers should remain vigilant throughout their practice. The guest command policy is one of the applications of the UCMJ article 92, and failure to obey the command may lead to severe consequences.
The decision to join the military is a bidding agreement that requires the obedience of the commands associated with the military. Military officers are required to obey all the lawful orders given without questioning (Little, 2016). UCMJ article 92 is the most significant in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. However, obedience to the commands is subject to the law. Members of the military are only obliged to obey lawful commands. Besides, the failure to obey a single order either deliberately or otherwise may lead to serious consequences. Cases of negligence and deliberate absence from duty are treated similarly. For example, officers who shoot, or injure by themselves are believed to have affected the conduct of duties. Generally, article 92 of the UCMJ specifies the cases that are subject to legal action against a military officer.
Article 92 of the UCMJ specifies the general charges for failing to obey and command or regulation. The article covers several situations that arise during military practice. Some of the areas covered by the UCMJ article include the charges for violating general order or regulation, failing to obey a written regulation or order, failing to obey a lawful order as well as dereliction of duty. Each field covered in the article specifies the different variations that may arise during operation. Also, the military officers are expected to have mastered the specifications of the article to avoid confusions. Besides, the charges for any misconduct do not depend on whether the officer had prior knowledge or not. Therefore, understanding the specifications of the act forms part of the military conduct requirements.
The charges for breaking the specifications of article 92 vary depending on the knowledge of the officer. In as much as ignorance does not imply innocence, the severity of the charges may differ, with cases of ignorance receiving lenient charges (Holtzman et al. 2016). For example, dereliction of duty receives different charges depending on whether the officer was aware of his action or not. However, the decision as to whether an officer was involved in dereliction deliberately follows a procedure. Evidence is provided to support either claim, and the charging body makes the final decision. If the officer is found to have been involved in willful dereliction of duty, the punishment is more serious. Besides, the decision is based on the analysis of circumstantial evidence. Also, the decision has to consider whether or not the order disobeyed was lawful. Also, a self-imposed duty does not fall under the charges of article 92. Generally, the decision to charge an individual considers any possible exception and assesses whether the exceptions apply to the individual.
The guest command policy comes in handy as a way of precautionary measures in the military service. However, some commands are too strict for the officers to adapt to. The fact that the UCMJ article 92 applies to every command makes the situation worse. Military officers find themselves at crossroads on whether to risk facing charges or obey the commands. The UCMJ article has, on several occasions, caused dilemmas where officers do not know the right thing to do. The options available in the various instances appear to be against the UCMJ article. For example, the requirement that guests should have military cards may not be applicable in emergencies. Also, not all guests are willing to acquire military cards. Therefore, a military officer who needs to meet his family may be unable to meet them because of the lack of military cards. Also, allowing guests without military cards in the barracks may be treated as unlawful, and the officer may face disciplinary measures.
The application of the UCMJ article 92 is more serious than people may think. First, the administration of an oath of service binds the officers to the commands made by the people in power. However, several commands do not involve the opinions of the military officers (Warner, 2017). The requirement that officers should obey orders without questions may have disadvantages. For example, some events require personal reasoning, which may not be permitted by the UCMJ article. Besides, an order that tells officers to shoot on offenders may require some allowance for pardoning innocent civilians who may be caught in between the conflicting parties. Also, the officers should be allowed to assess the situation before obeying the commands from above. Although the process may be tedious and time-consuming, prudence mans that the military officers can avoid committing mishaps.
The decision to obey the commands from individuals in power is the best for the military service. The guest command policy should be obeyed for the success of the service. Also, the oath of service should be respected, and officers should not allow any situation to lead astray. Generally, joining the military service is a choice that requires sacrifice and obedience cannot be overlooked. Also, the success of the military force depends on the cooperation of the individual officers and obedience to commands. A smooth functioning military force promises lasting peace to the nation.
In sum, Article 92 of UCMJ specifies the circumstances under which a military officer is liable for charges after disobeying commands. The guest command policy is one of the applications of the UCMJ article 92, and failure to obey the command may lead to severe consequences. The charges for breaking the specifications of article 92 vary depending on the knowledge of the officer. The guest command policy comes in handy as a way of precautionary measures in the military service. The decision to obey the commands from individuals in power is the best for the military service. The guest command policy should be obeyed for the success of the service. The success of the military force depends on the cooperation of the individual officers and obedience to commands.
References
Holtzman, E., Jones, B. S., Stone, V., Taylor, T. W., & Tracey, P. A. (2016). Judicial Proceedings Panel Report on Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Judicial Proceedings Panel Report on Article, 120.
Little, R. A. (2016). Clean Hands and Strict Liability: Clarifying the Mens Rea Standard When Prosecuting Servicemembers for Errors in Military Pay. Kan. JL & Pub. Pol’y, 26, 105.
Warner, T. C. (2017). Going beyond Article 60-A Defense Counsel Primer on Alternative Sources of Sentence Relief. Army Law., 18.