Article 15
Article 15
Posted on Nov 5, 2025
If a Reservist or NG is instructed to do tasks outside their drill status, are they obliged to do it? If they don’t, can they face UCMJ?
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@J.C.: If someone is in the reserves or guard and are instructed to do tasks outside of their drill status, are not on orders, are not getting paid, are not having time added towards their retirement are they obliged to do it and if they don’t can they face an article 15??? Anyone have to deal with such things?
Posted in these groups: 
UCMJ
Article 15
UCMJ Article 15
Posted 30 d ago
Responses: 7
This is too generic of a question, so the answer is "it depends", but generally the answer is no. You cannot be legally held accountable to perform official tasks or duties while in a non-official status, so the threat of an article 15 would be meaningless in that specific situation.
However, as I stated, this is too generic of a question and the context is missing. Is the task something that was supposed to be accomplished during a drill, was not accomplished in the allotted timeframe, and your leadership said "get it done by next drill"? If so, then it's a gray area because you were allotted the time and resources (presumably) to get it accomplished on drill and could be held accountable for not doing it then, even though they extended the timeframe for you to accomplish it on your own time.
That's just one of many different hypothetical situations where the answer isn't a definitive 'no'.
Additionally, there is a difference between "officially" and "unofficially" getting into trouble as well as the expectations of the individual. While you may not officially get into trouble, as a SFC, you've been around the military long enough to know that there is a world of difference between what is expected for leaders and what is expected of junior Soldiers. This is especially true in the reserve component where it seems that the 'things that have to be done' exceed the amount of time available to accomplish it (at least while in an official duty status).
However, as I stated, this is too generic of a question and the context is missing. Is the task something that was supposed to be accomplished during a drill, was not accomplished in the allotted timeframe, and your leadership said "get it done by next drill"? If so, then it's a gray area because you were allotted the time and resources (presumably) to get it accomplished on drill and could be held accountable for not doing it then, even though they extended the timeframe for you to accomplish it on your own time.
That's just one of many different hypothetical situations where the answer isn't a definitive 'no'.
Additionally, there is a difference between "officially" and "unofficially" getting into trouble as well as the expectations of the individual. While you may not officially get into trouble, as a SFC, you've been around the military long enough to know that there is a world of difference between what is expected for leaders and what is expected of junior Soldiers. This is especially true in the reserve component where it seems that the 'things that have to be done' exceed the amount of time available to accomplish it (at least while in an official duty status).
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SFC (Join to see)
Appreciate the reply. This is regarding one of the lower enlisted so I’m just trying to get guidance how to handle things. Thank you
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SGM William Everroad
SFC (Join to see) - I second COL Randall C.'s thoughts. To expand, most of the tasks that are "assigned" to be completed outside of BA are because there is never enough time to complete all training tasks during the time alloted.
The issue is that Commanders and First Sergeants misinterpret the regulation when it comes to "duty hours" for BA. If the dates are 2 days, it is typically a MUTA 4 and CDRs set the training schedule for 0800-1600 or some variation thereof. The thought is that each MUTA is 4 hours. However, the regulation (AR140-1) states that each consecutive UTA is "at least 4 hours" inclusive of rest periods, with a maximum of 2 UTAs per day. It goes further that a TPU Soldier receives 1 full day's pay for each UTA (a MUTA 4 = 4 full days of pay). So a TPU is paid for 4 days and ends up training less than 16 total hours (instead of 32).
Units creating training schedules can adhere to a template (based on CDR training guidance and applicable work/rest cycles):
UTA = 12 hours
Travel, meals, and rest periods are programmed on the training schedule not to exceed 50% of a UTA.
Training events mandatory to be templated:
Physical fitness
Mandatory training briefings (IAW AR 350-1)
Leader Development
Small Unit Training (individual and Skill Level 2-3)
Collective training (MET)
The training schedule should account for all time allotted for each UTA so that the total 48 UTAs allotted per year is equal to at least 288 training hours, not 192 hours. A lot of units leave 12 8-hour days on the table. This is really why there is never enough time to get things done.
The issue is that Commanders and First Sergeants misinterpret the regulation when it comes to "duty hours" for BA. If the dates are 2 days, it is typically a MUTA 4 and CDRs set the training schedule for 0800-1600 or some variation thereof. The thought is that each MUTA is 4 hours. However, the regulation (AR140-1) states that each consecutive UTA is "at least 4 hours" inclusive of rest periods, with a maximum of 2 UTAs per day. It goes further that a TPU Soldier receives 1 full day's pay for each UTA (a MUTA 4 = 4 full days of pay). So a TPU is paid for 4 days and ends up training less than 16 total hours (instead of 32).
Units creating training schedules can adhere to a template (based on CDR training guidance and applicable work/rest cycles):
UTA = 12 hours
Travel, meals, and rest periods are programmed on the training schedule not to exceed 50% of a UTA.
Training events mandatory to be templated:
Physical fitness
Mandatory training briefings (IAW AR 350-1)
Leader Development
Small Unit Training (individual and Skill Level 2-3)
Collective training (MET)
The training schedule should account for all time allotted for each UTA so that the total 48 UTAs allotted per year is equal to at least 288 training hours, not 192 hours. A lot of units leave 12 8-hour days on the table. This is really why there is never enough time to get things done.
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COL Randall C.
SFC (Join to see) - For a lower enlisted, some options are the following:
● Extend the duty day. If you give them the flexibility to accomplish the requirement, regardless of if they do it on 'your time' or 'their time', take that flexibility away. If you require your Soldiers to have tasks 1 through 10 finished "before the next drill" and SPC Snuffy doesn't have it completed, then SPC Snuffy can stay late and finish the task after the requirements of the next drill are accomplished. Of course, this may require some finesing of the schedule because you'll be staying late with them.
While an Unit Training Assembly (UTA) is paid for a four-hour period of performance, that is the minimum time. The only policy restriction for exceeding the published duty day is that 30 days of advanced notice will be given (such as telling the Soldier that they won't be released until all tasks are accomplished).
● "Influence Operations" - You can penalize a Soldier for not doing something while they are in a non-duty status, but that doesn't mean you can't reward those that go above and beyond. This goes hand-in-hand with the extended duty day option.
● The huge cudgel (i.e., if all else fails) is explaining to the Soldier that their participation can be deemed unsatisfactory if they do not complete the required tasks given during a weekend drill (many only think an unsat can be given for missing a drill).
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* DoDI 1215.06 (Uniform Reserve, Training, and Retirement Categories for the Reserve
Components) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/121506p.pdf
● Extend the duty day. If you give them the flexibility to accomplish the requirement, regardless of if they do it on 'your time' or 'their time', take that flexibility away. If you require your Soldiers to have tasks 1 through 10 finished "before the next drill" and SPC Snuffy doesn't have it completed, then SPC Snuffy can stay late and finish the task after the requirements of the next drill are accomplished. Of course, this may require some finesing of the schedule because you'll be staying late with them.
While an Unit Training Assembly (UTA) is paid for a four-hour period of performance, that is the minimum time. The only policy restriction for exceeding the published duty day is that 30 days of advanced notice will be given (such as telling the Soldier that they won't be released until all tasks are accomplished).
● "Influence Operations" - You can penalize a Soldier for not doing something while they are in a non-duty status, but that doesn't mean you can't reward those that go above and beyond. This goes hand-in-hand with the extended duty day option.
● The huge cudgel (i.e., if all else fails) is explaining to the Soldier that their participation can be deemed unsatisfactory if they do not complete the required tasks given during a weekend drill (many only think an unsat can be given for missing a drill).
--------------------------------
* DoDI 1215.06 (Uniform Reserve, Training, and Retirement Categories for the Reserve
Components) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/121506p.pdf
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In your rank or mine, there are task such as scheduling and training plans that you will always end up doing on your own time, but I have never been ordered to do any of those task. Even Article 15 needs a charge and I would have to see the article used to justify it.
The only other exception I can think of is being on the weight or drug program, where off duty compliance would be required to maintain membership
The only other exception I can think of is being on the weight or drug program, where off duty compliance would be required to maintain membership
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Need to be just a little less vague on the task.
5 min example:
Is it something like the MDAY being directed to log into DTS and sign a voucher that is already a month late? Or log into IPPS-A to sign an action? Or open an email, sign a pre-ex checklist for a school and send it back?
1 hour example:
Is it something like the MDAY being directed to complete an hour of mandatory online training because they were not present at the previous drill for it?
As already stated, there are no grounds for an Art 15 while not in a duty status.
But even for junior enlisted, a 5 minute "log in and sign" task is not an unreasonable expectation while not in a duty status.
A responsible MDAY company commander is spending at least an hour a month between drills on the "log in and sign" tasks.
Typically, awarding points requires 4 hours of training, similar requirement as an RMP, without the uniform and showing up at a place of duty.
There is an exception for training meetings, which competent units can wrap up in an hour or less.
5 min example:
Is it something like the MDAY being directed to log into DTS and sign a voucher that is already a month late? Or log into IPPS-A to sign an action? Or open an email, sign a pre-ex checklist for a school and send it back?
1 hour example:
Is it something like the MDAY being directed to complete an hour of mandatory online training because they were not present at the previous drill for it?
As already stated, there are no grounds for an Art 15 while not in a duty status.
But even for junior enlisted, a 5 minute "log in and sign" task is not an unreasonable expectation while not in a duty status.
A responsible MDAY company commander is spending at least an hour a month between drills on the "log in and sign" tasks.
Typically, awarding points requires 4 hours of training, similar requirement as an RMP, without the uniform and showing up at a place of duty.
There is an exception for training meetings, which competent units can wrap up in an hour or less.
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