Posted on Jun 23, 2015
LTC Yinon Weiss
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According to Article 2 of UCMJ, "Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay" are covered by UCMJ. Does this mean that retirees can be charged with UCMJ violations even long after retirement and when not doing anything related to the military? Has this ever happened?

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/ucmjsubject.htm
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MSgt Gilbert Jones
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I thought I recently read that if a retired member who has completed all of his reserve time (30 years of total service) he was not longer considered under the UCMJ. I completed 21 years and six months active service, and have been retired from the inactive reserve for 19 years.
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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Sgt James D.
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as a matter of fact yes it has! while stationed at camp Pendleton ca while going to the 7 day store my buddy and I saw a hit and run on base! we followed him to the stop light out side the gate! I jumped out and tried to distract him while my buddy grubbed his keys funny thing I forgot my buddy had a broken foot and didn't get there in time but he did get a tag number! I ended up on the hood of the car so I got a real close look at the person driving! the person driving was a retired master sgt he was brought back on active duty to face a court martial! where it came out he had been taking advantage of a sgts wife stationed over seas, he was found guilty and sentenced to a BCD loosing all his rank! and his pension!
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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SFC Kenneth Kreps
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I think most everyone has already answered the question, and the general consensus is "YES".
I don't think, however that the military would generally be interested in non-serious crimes, such as simple misdemeanors, one item i did not see mentioned were crimes against the Government such as spying, espionage, treason, or other conduct that would bring discredit to the Government or to the Branch of Service in question. I'm not a lawyer, although I also retired as a law enforcement officer, it only makes sense that the military's UCMJ actions would be imposed on the above mentioned type of crimes. That's my rant.
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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CH (LTC) Garrison Chaplain
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1SG Mitchell Smith
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I knew retirees could be brought back to duty for extreme legal reasons, rape etc... I have no dog in this fight, otherthan overseeing a few court proceedings. However, as a Senior Leader charged company/battalion/brigade or higher count the 15-6's you've oversaw, there's a lot of soldiers in prison after getting out and charges been made afterwards. Most deserved IMHO.
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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MSgt Gilbert Jones
MSgt Gilbert Jones
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If the member is retired and commits a civilian crime and it has nothing to do with the military they can't be charged by the military, only in a civilian court. If the crime is committed on a military base that may be a different story.
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PO3 James Bobiney
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I believe so. I also had read something on a VA page that stated that service connected Veterans can be recalled in a state of emergency. idk if that is true or not.
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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MSgt Gilbert Jones
MSgt Gilbert Jones
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Once a military person has completed their total 30 years of both active and inactive service they go to the bottom of the pile to be recalled - unless they have a special MOS/AFSC that is needed. I can't see being recalled at my age, the military would really be in bad shape.
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MSG Douglas Wilson
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They can be brought back on active duty to be punished under UCMJ for an offense that was committed prior to retirement. Once retired they cannot be punished under UCMJ for something they committed after retirement, common sense! Jeeze
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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SFC Douglas Welch
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You betcha! Agreement for retirement. Tricare as well in cases of negligence can refuse coverage ie not wearing seatbelts in an accident.
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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PO1 Yeoman
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Only if the crime was committed while on active duty. Otherwise, no.
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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MSgt John Geruso
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If you did something illegal while in the service, you can only be brought back for court-martial if you did something illegal to get an honorable discharge. Supreme Court affirmed this in 1955. Airman arrested five months after discharge, charged with conspiracy to commit murder while assigned in Korea. Under Art3a UCMJ, he was brought to Korea for a court-martial and convicted. Attorney appealed on grounds UCMJ didn't apply because airman was no longer in military. DC appeals court overturned the conviction, military petitioned Supreme Court for an appeal. Supreme Court upheld.
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1SG Infantryman
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9 Aug 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins
A new legal opinion from the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals says court-martialing military retirees is unconstitutional -- and the reason concerns the issue of retirement pay.
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MSgt Gilbert Jones
MSgt Gilbert Jones
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Under the old draft, we had a five year commitment to complete before you were complete before your obligation was over. As a retired member we have a total of thirty years before we have completed our full obligation. What they could do was reactivate your time and recall you anytime before that 30 years was up, then they have you.
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