December Law and Order

  • Published
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Law and Order is a monthly feature detailing the previous month's military justice matters at Travis. Publicizing this information fosters an atmosphere of good order and discipline by demonstrating how the military enforces standards of conduct. This publication also serves to educate and inform the public concerning military law and the military justice system.

Nonjudicial punishment
Nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice, is described in Military Commander and the Law as an essential and prompt means for commanders to maintain good order and discipline and also promote positive behavior changes in servicemembers without the stigma of a court-martial conviction.

Unit, rank, offenses, punishment imposed

-- 60th Aerial Port Squadron; Airman; Article 111 for drinking and driving; reduction by two stripes, extra duties for 45 days and reprimand.

-- 60th APS; Airman; Article 134 for incapacitation for performance of duties due to drunkenness; reduction by one stripe (suspended), extra duties for 21 days, forfeiture of $522 for one month, and reprimand.

-- 60th AMXS; NCO; Article 111 for drinking and driving; reduction by one stripe, forfeiture of $1109 for two months, and reprimand.

-- 60th AMXS; Airman; Article 86 and 92 for AWOL and willful dereliction of duty by failing to move out of dorm room; extra duties for 30 days, forfeiture of $467 for one month, and reprimand.

-- 572nd GMS; Airman; Articles 112a and 134 for wrongful use of marijuana and subjecting a dog to needless suffering; restriction to base for 60 days and reprimand.


Discharges
Commanders and supervisors identify members who show likelihood for early separation and make reasonable efforts to help these members meet Air Force standards. Members who do not show potential for further service should be discharged. Specific reasons for involuntarily separating enlisted members are in Chapter 5 of AFI 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen. Officer separations operate similarly to enlisted separations and are described in Chapter 3 of AFI 36-3207, Separating Commissioned Officers.

-- 60th APS; Airman; discharged under AFI 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen, paragraph 5.54, drug abuse.

-- 60th APS; Airman; discharged under AFI 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen, paragraph 5.36, homosexual conduct.


Courts-martial
The manual for Courts-Martial's preamble explains the purpose of military law "is to promote justice, to assist in maintaining good order and discipline in the armed forces, to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the military establishment, and thereby to strengthen the national security of the United States."

United States v. A1C Alexander M. Vitek
Airman Vitek, 60th Medical Operations Squadron, between March and June used marijuana, oxycodone and ecstasy multiple times, often with other Airmen.

Airman Vitek was found guilty at a Special Court Martial on Dec. 4, 2009 of violating three specifications of Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful use of Controlled Substances, by wrongfully using ecstasy, marijuana and oxycodone.

Sentence: Reduction in rank to E-1, confinement for three months and 20 days, and a bad conduct discharge