Make sure you avoid the bad habit of taking the last
bus, train, or plane when returning from leave. Always
allow time for unexpected delays.
Art. 87. Missing Movement
Any person subject to this chapter who
through neglect or design misses the movement
of a ship, aircraft, or unit with which he is
required in the course of duty to move shall be
punished as a court-martial may direct.
Provisions of article 87 should be self-explanatory.
However, note that the violator, to be found guilty, need
not have known the exact hour or even the exact date of
the scheduled movement. If a person had knowledge of
only the approximate date, the court may convict the
absentee on the charge of missing movement. Missing
movement is a serious offense in the Navy. It leaves the
ship shorthanded and requires someone else to do the
absentee’s work and stand the absentee’s watches.
Art. 88. Contempt Toward Officials
Any commissioned officer who uses
contemptuous words against the President, the
Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of
Defense, the Secretary of a military
department, the Secretary of the Treasury, or
the Governor or legislature of any State,
Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in
which he is on duty or present shall be punished
as a court-martial may direct.
Art. 89. Disrespect Toward Superior
Commissioned Officer
Any person subject to this chapter who
behaves with disrespect toward his superior
commissioned officer shall be punished as a
court-martial may direct.
A superior commissioned officer is a commissioned
officer that is superior in rank or command. Disrespect
includes insulting words, insolence, impertinence, undue
familiarity or other rudeness, and failing to salute.
Art. 90. Assaulting or Willfully Disobeying
Superior Commissioned Officer
Any person subject to this chapter who
(1) strikes his superior commissioned
officer or lifts up any weapon or offers any
violence against him while he is in the
execution of his office; or
(2) willfully disobeys a lawful command
of his superior commissioned officer;
shall be punished, if the offense is committed in
time of war, by death or such other punishment
as a court-martial may direct, and if the offense
is committed at any other time, by such
punishment, other than death, as a court-martial
may direct.
An officer is in the “execution of his office” when
performing any act the officer is required or authorized
to do. Note that the article is not confined to striking a
superior commissioned officer; it takes in brandishing a
weapon or waving a fist at that officer.
Willful disobedience, as used here, means
intentional defiance of a lawful order. You must
presume that any order given by an officer is legal. If
you disobey because you think otherwise, you do so at
your own risk. It is better to do your questioning after
you have carried out the order.
Art. 91. Insubordinate Conduct Toward
Warrant Officer, Noncommissioned Officer,
or Petty Officer
Any warrant officer or enlisted member
who
(1)
strikes or assaults a warrant officer,
noncommissioned officer, or petty officer,
while that officer is in execution of his office;
(2) willfully disobeys the lawful order of a
warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or
petty officer; or
(3) treats
with
contempt
or
is
disrespectful in language or deportment toward
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Student Notes:
