Military Defense Blog

When you joined the military, you may have intended to make it your nearly life-long career. You wanted to serve your country, learn new skills, find personal growth and gain many other benefits that come along with military service. What you did not anticipate, however, was facing administrative separation proceedings and possibly an early discharge from your branch of service.

The reasons for the discharge could relate to misconduct or other factors, but you still believe that you do not deserve such a severe outcome as a dishonorable discharge from the military. Of course, different types of discharge exist, but even if you are not at risk of a dishonorable discharge, you could face an other-than-honorable discharge or general discharge that still results in a less-than-stellar mark on your service record.

Integrity is a virtue the military values highly. After all, members of the armed services defend the country's ideals. Therefore, each branch of the military sets standards for morality that are higher than those of the general public. This is because of the serious responsibilities service members have and because they represent the United States by their actions.

Because of the weight the military gives to moral and ethical behavior, certain actions fall under the heading of "conduct unbecoming an officer." Often, items included under this heading are those for which civilians would not receive punishment although others may lose respect for civilians whose conduct is unbecoming. In the military, however, that loss of respect can go deep. In fact, if you are facing a charge of conduct unbecoming an officer, your military future may be on the line.

Next to hearing that your son or daughter is deploying to a military zone, the most frightening term you may hear as a California military parent is "court-martial." Often a court-martial is related to the commission of a crime by a service member. However, desertion or absence without leave is a common violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and can have serious ramifications for your son or daughter.

Like any legal matter, the severity of the consequences often depends on the circumstances of the offense. In other words, your son or daughter's commanding officer will investigate the case before deciding how to proceed. For the protection of your child's rights, you may want to enlist the services of an attorney who is familiar with UCMJ procedures.

Military service is often a source of pride for those who dedicate years of their lives to the defense of freedom. For many, perhaps for you, the training and experience you receive in the military can open doors for your future career or perhaps convince you to make a career in the armed services.

Nothing can dash those dreams faster than accusations of misconduct and the threat of a court-martial. If your commanding officer recently detained you for alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, you have every reason to be concerned because it may lead to a court-martial. Whether you are facing this process because of a minor violation or a severe offense, your future is on the line, and you should not have to deal with that on your own.