What happens after the decision has been made to pursue Article 15 action? The following general advice is written primarily for Soldiers facing Article 15 punishment and leaders who have subordinates undergoing an Article 15. The focus is on Soldiers, but the same principles apply to Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen.
Soldier Decisions
Soldiers must decide if they will accept Article 15 proceedings or elect for court-martial
Soldiers may accept or not accept Article 15 as a way to dispose of misconduct charges (assuming they are not embarked in a vessel). If the Soldier accepts Article 15, that is not by itself ‘pleading guilty.’ There is still the choice to plead guilty or not guilty.
