How will my Article 15 affect me?

2020-12-24T16:50:46-05:00

Received a summarized article 15 in basic (it was well deserved and I regret my action a lot) since then I have graduated OSUT and am looking forward to my first unit. How can I expect to be effected by my mistakes moving forward into the real Army. Any response is appreciated.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2020 5:01 PM

2020-12-24T17:01:52-05:00

At least you accepted responsibility. The rest will depend on how hard you work. Make sure there's no "next time' and be a good soldier. Try to be the best soldier even. It will help.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2020 5:23 PM

2020-12-24T17:23:33-05:00

Just don't mess up anymore. I don't think it will affect you unless you do something wrong again in the future.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2020 5:38 PM

2020-12-24T17:38:41-05:00

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member Taking responsibility for your mistakes and learning from them is the right attitude to have. Good luck!

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 24 at 2020 5:39 PM

2020-12-24T17:39:04-05:00

At basic! Don’t screw up again and you’ll be fine!

Response by SSG Samuel Kermon made Dec 24 at 2020 5:44 PM

2020-12-24T17:44:44-05:00

Learn, live, and grow. Big step taken by taking responsibility. It might slow you down a bit but over time you will put this in the past.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Dec 24 at 2020 6:04 PM

2020-12-24T18:04:06-05:00

Your Article 15 will not follow you to your new unit at your rank. Article 15's stay in your local file for two years or until you PCS as long as you are E-4 or under. Look at it as an opportunity to pull you head out of your third point of contact and soldier on.
Administrative punishment is a tool to correct and salvage soldiers that have potential. No one in an 11B unit will care that you got a Summarized Article 15 in OSUT as long as you don't continue the behavior that got you that one.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2020 2:37 AM

2020-12-25T02:37:08-05:00

Summarized Article 15 papers will not follow you to your next assignment. They are kept locally with the unit that issued you the Summarized and destroyed after a certain time frame. The only way this will affect you is if you didn't learn your lesson and continue the bad behavior.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 25 at 2020 2:38 AM

2020-12-25T02:38:20-05:00

As long as you straighten up and fly right, it won't.

I got two Article 15s as a young 11B, and by the time I was a SSG, no one knew about them except those I told.
I DID learn how to Count, Army style, though
E1, E2, E1, E2, E3, E1, E2, E3, E4

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2020 3:23 AM

2020-12-25T03:23:24-05:00

It's really not going to affect your career at all unless it was for sexual harassment or drinking. Lots of people have to take one or two punches in the face before they get themselves on track. Your future chain of command won't even know about your hiccup and if they did they won't care what happened when N Basic

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2020 4:38 AM

2020-12-25T04:38:37-05:00

Should be ok. You’re good, it must likely was filed locally and won’t go into your permanent file. Once you leave basic you should be good.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Dec 25 at 2020 12:01 PM

2020-12-25T12:01:18-05:00

your aloud to screw up at least once ;-) so learn from it and move on and put your best effort forward.
your article 15 is not a career killer but just learn from it. some of the Militaries best NCO's and Officers were hell raisers and pranksters at some point in time and got dinged and they turned out to be the best of the best so don't let this drag you down.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Dec 25 at 2020 6:52 PM

2020-12-25T18:52:33-05:00

I got an Article 15 and it was field grade when I was in boot camp. Amazing they didn't throw me out for it but I got ten days on the rock piled (the company Company Commander wanted to to get twenty days). It was in my record book for the entire four years I was in. It slowed my promotion to E-2 but I earned two meritorious promotions (E-3 & E-4) after that. It didn't hurt me any. It probably gave those who read it a good laugh! I wouldn't sweat it. Keep yourself clean. The further out you get the less weight it will hold if it is the only one.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 26 at 2020 12:57 PM

2020-12-26T12:57:42-05:00

I think CPT Lawrence Cable gave a great answer. You're fortunate to have this opportunity to get yourself squared away. Work hard at learning your specialty. Literally be the best infantryman you can be. Be early for everything. Always show up in the correct uniform, with the correct gear, and a positive attitude. Do volunteer for special opportunities to serve--you'll be surprised what your can learn when you take on jobs nobody else wants. Stay clean and sober. You'll be fine.

Response by SGT Chris Padgett made Dec 28 at 2020 2:05 AM

2020-12-28T02:05:47-05:00

OK, since no one else is asking, I will.
What the hell did you do to get an Art 15 in Basic Training?
Everyone is a soup sandwich there and stuff gets handled on a one on one basis.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2020 4:08 PM

2020-12-28T16:08:46-05:00

You will be fine. As stated by others, Summarized Article 15s only affect your current assigned unit, and is used by your immediate chain of command for corrections and visibility. Once you arrive to your new unit you will have a new "slate" as it doesn't follow you, but it stays in your military record for 2 years, then removed. If you have a copy of it, I would put into your ILOVEME book (a book of all military documents you have ever received) as a reminder of past mistakes and how you have moved on from them. A15s are considered "NON" Judicial punishment, which means the "punishments" are purely for corrections for minor things, not to permanently punish the Soldier. Keep in mind multiple A15s can seriously affect your career as "higher" forms of UCMJ action can be taken such as a court martial, but you have no need to worry about that at all!

There are several versions of the A15 you can receive for corrections:

Summarized (Lowest level): Possible extra duty and restrictions for up to 14 days, oral reprimand
Company Grade: same as Summarized, plus forfeiture of pay and possible reduction of rank
Field Grade: Extra duty and restriction up to 45 days, oral reprimand, forfeiture of more pay (1/2 of your base pay for 2 months), and reduction of rank to E1 (if E4 and below).