Marine Corps NJP Rebuttal Guide

Have you received a Marine Corps Article 15 or Nonjudicial Punishment (NJP) ? Going to Office Hours? Military Justice Guides is here to help. Purchase our Marine Corps NJP Response Template to write and submit a persuasive response.

What You Need to Know

Article 15s are considered nonjudicial punishment (NJP) under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Article 15s are a mechanism that allow the chain of command to punish a Marine for offenses under the UCMJ without formally charging him/her at a court-martial. Article 15s are further discussed in JAGMAN, Sections 0106-0108, 0124.

The Process:

The first step in the NJP process is for the commander to serve you with the charges and provide a copy of the evidence against you. You have a right to examine all statements and other evidence that the commander has examined and intends to rely upon in arriving at a decision as to whether to impose punishment, and the type of punishment to be imposed. Members are normally provided a copy of the documentary evidence unless the matters are privileged, classified, or otherwise restricted by law, regulation, or instruction.

The second step is for you, the member, to decide whether to accept nonjudicial punishment. If you accept nonjudicial punishment, you are not necessarily accepting guilt. Nonjudicial punishment is simply a "forum" for deciding your case -- you are choosing to allow your commander to decide whether or not you are guilty and, if your commander finds you guilty, what type of punishment is required. Thus, if you accept nonjudicial punishment, your commander becomes your jury. You can also reject nonjudicial punishment and demand trial by court-martial. Because requesting a court-martial is a very serious decision, you should consult with an attorney.

Possible Punishment:

In general, if your commander finds you guilty during nonjudicial punishment, he or she can impose a reprimand, forfeitures of pay, reduction in rank, restrictions, and/or extra duty. With these possible punishments, it is important that you submit a persuasive and professional response to an Article 15.

What You Can Do

If you receive an Article 15 and accept nonjudicial punishment, you are entitled to submit a written response. Your written response becomes a part of the official record, so it is important that you submit a professional, respectful, and persuasive response.

Why Buy Our Products

We get this question all the time -- why should you buy our product when you can get a template from your friend, supervisor, or chain of command for free? The answer is simple:

#1. Our products were designed by former military officers, each with a Master’s degree.  They’re not just recycled templates from your friends or supervisors (which probably didn’t work in the first place).

#2. Our products are built with your case in mind.  We give you specific examples of “best practices” that help you win your case.

#3. Our products are properly formatted, so you don’t have to worry about making sure it looks professional.  It already does!

Bottom line -- our products are specifically designed by experienced military officers to help you get the best result!

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