Article 134

 

The court system throughout our society is one that is arranged to provide justice and pass judgement against all those who would break the law. In regarding the law, the court systems practice such laws based upon fact, not personal biased opinions, which induces the concept of a fair trial for all. In the Military, such court systems exists, however work under a different article of laws that are much similar to our own. Article 134 is a Uniform Code of Military Justice that punishes those Military men and women who would impact the service of the Military and themselves as a whole.

Article 134 is an article of Uniform Code that is considered a "catch-all" for offenses that are committed that aren't entirely covered by the entire Uniform Code of Military. In exact wording, Article 134 states, "all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conducts of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital, of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty, shall be taken cognizance of by a general, special, or summary court-martial, according the nature and degree of the offense, and shall be punished at the discretion of that court." The Military holds the men and women that serve among their services to very high standards, those that not only represent the good intentions of themselves, but the Military services as a whole. The qualities and talents that the Military instills in their soilders is one that is responsible for shaping them into the finest that could ever exist. These characteristics must not only be practiced on an individual level of self, but to all those around those who serve, even those who do not serve are these characteristics in support of. The moment that any of these men and women do anything that is uncharacteristic to these standards, they are held accountable to the highest extreme. The acts in which that could land someone serving in the Military under the Article 134 is anything that goes against moral values and beliefs that the Military has instilled in their soldiers, such as bribery, adultery, rape, disloyal statements, drinking while on duty, drinking with prisoners, gambling with prisoners, fleeing a scene of an accident, and fraternization with an enemy that would jeopardize a mission or the service as a whole.

Through the services of the Military, Article 134 was created in the ability to protect the image of what they have worked long and hard to preserve within our nation, even the world. Those who serve within the Military are taught to respect that image, as they make their way into being apart of it, becoming a direct extension of the Military as a whole. Within the above description of Article 134, there are three clauses in which are used that are outlined to which offense can be labled as. Clause 1 is any offenses or disorderly conduct that would jeopardize the moral standards of the Military and other armed forces. Clause 2 is the act or acts that would cast the Military services as a whole within a negative light, and clause 3 is any laws that are offenses and broken laws that coincide with the Federal law.

When these cases go to the Military martial court, all evidence must be presented that directly proves these cases are in fact punishable under Article 134. All evidence must be exact and precise. The moment that such evidence is presented, the trial can commence, as can the act of passing the punishment. Depending on the severity of the act that is committed, Military men and women can be discharged from the Military. Bigamy, for example, would be considered a prejudicial act of good order within the Military, as well as, a failure to do the right thing. Bigamy is when a person marries another person knowing that they are already married. As this would cast a negative light on not just the people involved with this case, but it would also cast a negative light on the Military services as a whole. This type of act of misconduct would be a reason for Article 134 to come into play. Another reason that this article would come in to play is because according to Federal law, it is illegal to have more than one married spouse. In the Unites States of America, bigamy is illegal in all fifty states, and is punishable by law. An act such as this would not bode well for the Military when the story was reported to the media. Other acts that would go against the good nature and moral code of the Military would be anything that is uncharacteristic of the Military services. Going through such evidence must be detailed, and not overlooked, as these are considered to be serious cases.

In the Military, Article 134 was created as a General Article, in which it covers anything that would not stand in some laws through the nation on a Federal level, but those that would be recogized by a civilian and state court of law. As Article 134 was created to cover all other laws within our system, it also covers those that would protect and represent the upstanding morale and moral views of the Military service as a whole. The dignity, respect, honor, and wisdom that the Military service has founded for itself is mostly protected through Article 134. Everything that the Military has worked for to make a name for itself in creating the top upstanding individuals to represent our country in government matters is something that they pride themselves on, for they have been successful in changing the lives of millions of men and women every year. Individuals who come back from serving with the Military come back changed, respectful of every person they come across, and show an attitude that displays self-respect and honor not just themselves, but those around them.

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