My youngest son was a Navy Crypto Tech (Repair) - His first duty station was a guided missile cruiser out of Yokosuka.
2 years in The Navy Reserve as an Electronics technician, then I transferred to active duty Air Force as an Electronic Warfare technician. I got to go to basic training twice. Spent my 21st birthday during hell week in AF basic. I year of schooling in Biloxi Mississippi, two years at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge in England, final year of active duty at Hurlburt field Florida. I got out in Dec of 99, stayed out for just under 2 years, then went back into AF reserves. Stayed in Reserves until I got news our base was shutting down. I was preparing to take a slot in another state to continue my time when an Army recruiter called me… Long story short, I transferred again to the army national guard. Biggest mistake of my life. They lied to me and destroyed my desire to stay in the military. Finished my final enlisted time and got out. Should’ve stayed in the Air Force…
US Army, 89-93. Stationed at Ft. Bragg. Desert Storm vet.
United States Navy 88-92
Operational Specialist on a FF
We were supposed to deploy to the gulf during Operation Desert Storm but got “stuck” in the Caribbean instead.
Which FF were you on?
USS Trippe FF-1075
I did my reserve time on the Lockwood FF 1064. Actually it was in dry dock in Yakuska Japan. I really wanted to experience going to sea, but transferred before I got to do it. Spent two weeks chipping paint instead…
I had two myself…One in Germany and one at Polk. The one in Germany, we were on one of our radar sites on the border, we used two jeeps, one for the 2 man radar crew and one for rear security and communication with base camp…Was an E-2 or PFC at the time and I was in rear security jeep, calling in comm checks every hour etc. and there was only one CEOI for both jeeps ( Communications-Electronics Operation Instructions, has daily frequencies, passwords. encoding/decoding info etc). So for whatever reason, can’t remember why, the team leader wanted the CEOI in his jeep, which made no sense since I was the comms guy that day. So I copied the days freqs, password etc and went back to my jeep. About a month later the paper was found under the seat, I was called in and said yes it was mine…That was first Article 15
The second one my team leader (we had 3 man teams in GSR, an E-5 leader and two enlisted) Anyway me and my team leader at Polk never really clicked. Our PT test rolls along, I do well enough to pass. And this Sgt wanted me to do it again…Alright, no problem…So second time I did 1 push up, 1 sit up and walked the two mile run…lol .Article 15 #2… That was toward the end of my enlistment, yes I had an attitude by then, duty at Polk sucked, Germany was awesome, actually got to do the job I was trained for. Got out a few months early, that was during the budget problems in mid 80’s and they offered up to a 90 day early out. First I said I’ll take 30, that episode changed it to 90…
Can you do a short explanation of what an article 15 involves?
I’m not military and although I’m a big fan of military history and technology, I’m not very knowledgeable on disciplinary policy in the armed forces.
Is it basically like a reprimand in the civilian job sector or is it more than that?
Basically it’s company level write up for most part, extra duty, confinement to barracks etc…From everything I can remember from my time in…I got 2 weeks extra duty for both of mine,
For enlisted members accused of misconduct
There are three types of non-judicial punishment commonly imposed.
Summary Article 15: (O-3 and below) commanders and commissioned OIC may impose:
- Restriction to specific limits (normally work, barracks, place of worship, mess hall, and medical facilities) for not more than 14 days
- Extra duties, including fatigue or other duties, for not more than 14 days
- Restriction with extra duties for not more than 14 days
Company Grade (O-3 or below) commanders may impose the above plus:
- Correctional Custody for not more than 7 days (only if accused is in the grades E-3 and below)
- Forfeiture of 7 days base pay
- Reduction by one grade, if original rank in promotion authority of imposing officer (USA/USAF E-4 and below.)
- Confinement on diminished rations or bread and water for not more than 3 days (USN/USMC E-3 and below only, and only when embarked on a vessel). (Per a 1995 amendment to NAVSO P-6064, Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM), United States (2000 edition), Appendix 1, Rule 1003, punishment of confinement on bread and water or diminished rations is not authorized as a punishment by a court-martial.[1])
- Admonition or reprimand, either written or verbal
Field Grade (O-4 to O-6) may impose:
- Restriction for not more than 60 days
- Extra duties for not more than 45 days
- Restriction with extra duties for not more than 45 days
- Correctional Custody for not more than 30 days (only if accused is in the grades E-3 and below)
- Forfeiture of ½ of base pay for two months
- Reduction by one grade if (USA/USAF E-6 or E-5; USMC E-5 or below; USN E-6 or below); or reduction to E-1 (USA/USAF E-4 to E-2)
Alright that makes sense. So basically an Article 15 is a summary judgement by the commanding officer of the company but doesn’t go further up the chain of command. And the punishment for the infraction is entirely at the company commander’s discretion as long as it matches those restrictions.
For me, each one involved 14 days extra duty with 1/2 pay forfeiture for 2 months. (They kept my last paycheck pretty much) I went from E4 to E2. I was told later that a Captain “accidentally” failed to push through the reduction in rank. I laughed them off eventually but I was really angry for a long time. Had I run into that Major or E7 off post, I probably would have beat the hell out of them. Fortunately, I didn’t get that chance.
Today, I understand that you get what you give and I don’t let people like that bother me as much anymore. Example: I was working for a company where we lost a senior manager that had 27 years with the company due to a power play and some back stabbing. I was upset but moved on after the guy advising me to stay put and see where everything fell. I was asked by the CEO to go to Singapore for a few months and take over the office there, reporting directly to him. I did that. I came back and was offered a promotion for good work, managing the software engineering department and service department. I would have reported to the new senior manager directly and I couldn’t stand him. He was abrasive and quite frankly, abusive to his staff and I knew I wouldn’t bypass confrontation with him so I asked if I could instead, report to the director of engineering. The answer was "No, the structure we want to implement would have you reporting to Dave. I walked off, made a phone call, accepted another job that had been offered to me several months previously, wrote my letter of resignation and moved on. When approached by Dave on my way out the door, he said “Well, I just want you to know I consider you a great manager and I’ll probably call on you with offers from time to time!” I replied “Dave, I really wish you wouldn’t.” … the silence was hilarious. Later, he called me and asked why I said that so I gave my full opinion, very respectfully. 6 months later, he was fired for cursing at a female employee and they asked if I would be interested in coming back. I declined because I loved my new job. About 7 years ago, the senior manager that was fired, kicking off the previous story called me and asked if I would replace him as the product line manager for BOP Controls and I accepted. I still work for him today and he’s just one hell of a good man to work for. I now have 3 product lines and when he retires, I’m more than likely going to take his job as director. He knew I had his back and when he needed someone to replace him, I was first on his list.
The big point is that Captain’s Mast (or Article 15 for land lubbers) is considered non-judicial punishment. It does not result in a criminal record. Generally speaking, Courts Martial are judical punishment and a legal proceeding resulting in a criminal record.
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WW
ATC (AW, NAC)
USN ret.
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That had to suck! Basic Training was easily the worst part about being in the AF.
Some people just didn’t get the proper procedure for spreading sun tan lotion and making the perfect mojito the first time around.
J/k - My daughters active duty AF, I give her crap all the time.
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The worst part was on the very first day- our TI came out and said " I hear there are 3 prior service people here who think they are going to graduate early. No one graduates from my flight early!’ We all failed first inspection by a point. Still, between Navy and AF basic, AF was not as bad. It was only 6 weeks AND they couldn’t curse at you. Should’ve skipped the Navy and gone right into the AF…
It was folding my underwear into EXACTLY 6 inch squares that did me in 
