Cadets charged with violation of UCMJ

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
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<p>This article came out this week. I posted it because one thing that all of you 2011 hopeful’s must realize is that (and I know this is obvious to most of you) you are literally joining the air force on I-day. As soon as you recite the oath, you fall under the Uniform Code of Military Justice – and the standards are high and the penalties severe for conduct that, well, frankly, occurs frequently on other college campuses with much less consequence. It all speaks to the seriousness of what you’ve undertaken and the reason why selection standards must go way beyond the grades and the extra curriculars. You willl be informed in detail about the UCMJ during BCT (the first, less physical part) and I know you don’t believe any of the following could happen to you. But the people mentioned below thought the same thing I;m sure, and it hopefully will make you think twice once you’re cadets in the USAFA. In some ways, as 4-digs, it’s a little easier – your job is to do what you’re told. As you move through, you get more responsibilities and your actions have more consequences. And now, as a cadet Dad, I’ll get off the soap box and simply thank you all for undertaking the serious committment that you have made or are about to make!</p>

<p>U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., – Three cadets have been charged with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and each could face a general court-martial.</p>

<p>Cadet 1st Class (senior) Andrea Taylor was charged with one violation of Article 112a of the UCMJ for wrongful use of a controlled substance (D-Amphetamine). If convicted of all charges and specifications, she faces a maximum punishment of 5 years confinement, dismissal from the Air Force, and total forfeiture of all pay and allowances. </p>

<p>Cadet 2nd Class (junior) Christopher Wolff was charged with violating Article 134 of the UCMJ for indecent assault upon a fellow cadet. If convicted of all charges and specifications, he faces a maximum punishment of 5 years confinement, dismissal from the Air Force, and total forfeiture of all pay and allowances. </p>

<p>Cadet 3rd Class David Watson was charged with three violations of UCMJ: Article 92, failure to obey an order or regulation; Article 108, damage, destruction or wrongful disposition of military property of the United States; and Article 112a, wrongful use of a controlled substance (D-Amphetamine). If convicted of all charges and specifications, he faces a maximum punishment of 6 ? years confinement, dismissal from the Air Force, and total forfeiture of all pay and allowances. </p>

<p>The next step in the military legal process will be an Article 32 hearing. An Article 32 hearing is used to determine if there is enough evidence to move the case forward to a court-martial or make recommendations for an alternate action…</p>

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<p>I should have also noted that these cadets have NOT been convicted of anything. My prayers go to them and their families -- this must be an extraordinarily difficult time for all of them.</p>

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<p>Possession of drugs, assault, and destruction of property are all crimes in the civilian world as well, no?</p>

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<p>but they dont all carry 5 year prison sentences^^^^</p>

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<p>Yes, that's my point. Also, many schools prefer to ignore drug/alchohol use (i.e. their campus security won't do anything) and since the local police often rely on campus security -- well, not much happens. I can name quite a few schools where this is essentially the case.</p>

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<p>So yeah, my fellow future potential cadets, if/when you get in there.. stay out of trouble.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
"but they dont all carry 5 year prison sentences"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Depends. </p>

<p>Possession of any amount of heroin, crack, or any hallucinogen in some states can get you 7 years for a 1st offense.</p>

<p>1st degree assault can carry prison terms from 10-20 years.</p>

<p>I understand your point, but respectfully point out that "crimes are crimes" no matter what college campus they occur on.</p>

<p>
[quote]
"So yeah, my fellow future potential cadets, if/when you get in there.. stay out of trouble."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Good advice no matter what school you attend.</p>

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<p>Please also understand, repectfully, that drinking at a party while underage, smoking a joint, and/or damaging an apartment while at a party all have much more radical consequences for these cadets. These things happen very frequently at civilian colleges with hardly a consquence, even if they are technically against the law. Yes, I agree, "crimes are crimes" but these offesnses are just not generally enforced. The stories I have from my non-acadamy children would astound you. </p>

<p>At a military academy on the other hand, it's a very different story. Not to mention cheating on exams, lying, failing to obey even a silly order can all have significant consequences to cadets. Cheat on a test in civilian college, you could fail the test or the class. Cheat at the USAFA, and you may well be kicked out. (Note: some schools with honor codes do enforce the so-called "death penalty" option for cheating but they are few and far between).</p>

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<p>The article mentioned destruction of military property. How is that defined? That kind of scares me because some of the spirit missions technically damage military property, right?</p>

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<p>The spirit missions follow certain rules, one of which is that you have to be able to restore everything to the way it was prior to the mission. So no, generally, property wouldn't be destroyed in anyway. I wouldn't worry about that at all.</p>

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<p>Spirit missions done right do not damage property.</p>

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<p>what happened? i heard they had a trial yesterday.</p>

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<p>To give you some idea of how things are often done in the civilian world regarding destruction of property, I was in a dorm at Michigan State when one of the inmates ran alcohol under a door and set it on fire as a prank. It scorched the door. The dorm supervisor charged him the cost of replacing the door. He paid the bill, then took a fire axe and smashed the door in pieces. The outraged supervisor chased him down the hall and asked what the heck he thought he was doing. The miscreant explained that since he had paid for a new door, he assumed the old one was his!</p>

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<p>Ya, so... what happened? ;]</p>