Posted on Sep 22, 2020
SPC Ricky Parker
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So, I been out of the military for a year, so I'm not mad or worried about the situation anymore, but I want to know if laying back and taking the Art 15 was the right choice.

So, I received an Art 15 for disobeying a direct order. Now here is the situation, I have a thyroid disease that makes me gain weight and its hard for me to lose it. I pop 1% over the percentage for h/w. My ex 1SGT and commander knows this so they gave me a break and told me I can come back in "a week" for a redo, this was on a Wednesday. I go throughout my week trying my hardest to lost these pounds with no effect, when I get a phone call on Monday after at the end of the duty day. Its was the SEPT trainer and the 1SGT asking me to come in to do the h/w. I told them that I could come it but it will take a while because I was picking my kids up from daycare. When I got my kids I found out there was an injury, so I text the SEPT SGT and let him know it going to take a bit longer because this problem has to be documented. He communicates with 1SG for me and they tell me to come to the on post gym at 0500 to get weighted. Now I been working off sight for a year now, so I complete forgot about the amount of traffic there is at the front gate (yes, I did leave early so I could be early). So, I show up at 0503, yes I know late is late, but as I walk into the gym 1SG is not at the meeting location nor anywhere in the gym for that matter. So, I think he is running late because sometimes he does that, so I wait there till pt formation at 0600. I go to pt think he has to be here and he wasn't leading pt either, so I go to the SEPT sgt and ask him where 1SG was at and he is mad but concerned. He tells me that I blew it and I missed him, I know I was late but I parked in front of the gym doors (only one way in and out) at 0500 and walk inside at 0503, there is no way I walk past this man. So, the next day (1SGT was out all day) I come in to his office on time and chews me out and recommends me for an Art 15. The punishment was very lenient and I only got extra duty, I was extremely thankful for that. But, I still think I shouldn't of got that because it was the first time I got in trouble at that unit the 2yrs I was there and being that at the time I was an outsource soldier for the NSA. I work 12hr shifts with the extra pt time I had to complete and the extra duty, I only had 3 hours of sleep before I had to do it all over again.

Also, the Art 15 paperwork it said I purposely miss two meetings with the 1SGT, one I had no idea about on Friday and the one on Monday. When I ask the 1SGT about it he told me that I said I would come back at the end of the week, not a week. Friday was my day off that week and nobody call me to come in nor told me I had to do it that day, I was in the o-room for a least an 2 hours talking to a friend.
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Responses: 4
LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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If everything you said is true, sounds like your 1SG had a hardon for you and that you got screwed. an article 15 for being 3 minutes late? you probably should have fought that one. I can't imagine them going to the trouble of a court martial over what, on the surface, appears to be a simple miscommunication. The issue is, if he/she did that to you, they probably have or will do that to someone else until someone stands up to him/her.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
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Agreed asking for a special court has way of getting rid of petty Article 15s.
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SPC Ricky Parker
SPC Ricky Parker
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My point of view all of this is correct, but from his I don't know. He has been a good man to me before and a ok one after. But, after that Art 15 I had lost most of my trust for him. I was raise with no excuses as my backbone (even if there is a valid one), so I know I should of done better to keep me out of situations like this. But, what hurt me more was the aftermath of the Art 15, the SGTs in the company started treating me like a POS, because some how there was a rumor that I was being disrespectful to 1SG. Especially after I was chaptered out eventually and out-processing, nobody wanted to help me or spoke to me with aggression till they had a full conversation with me.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Hmmm.....I would have spoken with a TD lawyer at JAG first before accepting this Article 15.
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SPC Ricky Parker
SPC Ricky Parker
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My lawyer at JAG told me that it would be hard to argue because it would be a his word against mine and I should just take it because I probably wouldn't get a pay reduction or lost of rank.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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SPC Ricky Parker - Dude, you got hosed by your command and JAG
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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SPC Ricky Parker - But as you said....you're not stressing it anymore. Which is good on you
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LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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SPC Ricky Parker - yep. JAG screwed you. your word against his in court = reasonable doubt.
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SSG Bill McCoy
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Well, your case is one of, "What's done is done." While you may have been unfairly punished, by your own words you were "grateful" that all you got was some extra duty. Really, at this point in time, it is NOT WORTH your time to even. Should you have taken the Art 15? Maybe not and even if probably not, it's history now and as you probably know, an Art 15 in civilian life, or civil service, means nothing. Have you been "convicted" of a crime? NO! Non-Judicial Punishment is ADMINISTRATIVE and nothing more - especially later as a civilian. Even a Summary Court Martial is only considered as being a "summary offense," and not criminal.
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