If a soldier believes an Article 15 is unjust, what option may they pursue?

• A. Accept it and move on
• B. Request a promotion
• C. Demand trial by court-martial
• D. Transfer to another unit

Answer: (C)

A trial by court-martial is the formal route to challenge an Article 15. An Article 15 is a quick, non-judicial punishment handled by a commander for minor offenses. If a soldier believes that punishment is unjust, demanding a court-martial opens the case to a full judicial process under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In that setting, the defendant has a defense attorney, can present evidence and call witnesses, and the matter is tried by a military judge and, for some cases, a panel. The result is determined by those proceedings and can lead to acquittal or conviction, with the option to appeal. This path provides due process and a thorough review, rather than simply accepting the punishment or pursuing unrelated motions.