The Justice Files Published June 4, 2018 By Fairchild Air Force Base Legal Office FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- During the month of March 2018, five Airmen received nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice, four Airmen were involuntarily separated and two were administratively demoted. Commanders used the following actions as means of punishment, rehabilitation and maintaining good order and discipline.NONJUDICIAL PUNISHMENT (ARTICLE 15)92nd Aircraft Maintenance SquadronAn airman first class received an Article 15 for failing to arrive at work on time, in violation of Article 86, UCMJ, and for dereliction of duty, in violation of Article 92, UCMJ. This member committed two separate violations of Article 92. Specifically, the member failed to adhere to dormitory inspection policies by failing to properly dispose of his solid waste, along with other discrepancies. Additionally, this member operated a vehicle on base without a valid driver’s license. The member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the grade of Airman, suspended forfeitures of $918.00, restriction to base for 30 days and a reprimand. When a punishment is suspended, it means that if the member refrains from committing further violations, the punishment will not go into effect.92nd Maintenance SquadronA staff sergeant received an Article 15 for operating a vehicle while drunk, in violation of Article 111, UCMJ. This member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the grade of Senior Airman and a reprimand.A staff sergeant received an Article 15 for dereliction of duty, in violation of Article 92, UCMJ, and making a false official statement, in violation of Article 107, UCMJ. Specifically, this member checked out two sets of caps and plugs to perform maintenance tasks, but did not check in the same sets. The member returned two different sets. Additionally, this member used an etching machine to etch one of the caps, but when asked what he was etching, he lied and stated he was etching his water bottle. This member’s punishment consisted of a suspended reduction to the grade of Senior Airman, forfeitures of $1,298.00, 14 days of extra duty and a reprimand.92nd Operations Support SquadronA master sergeant received an Article 15 for dereliction of duty, in violation of Article 92, UCMJ, and for maltreatment of a subordinate, in violation of Article 93, UCMJ. Specifically, this member had an unprofessional relationship with her subordinate. She also made deliberate and repeated unwelcome verbal comments of a sexual nature to her subordinate. This member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the grade of technical sergeant and a reprimand.92nd Security Forces SquadronA senior airman received an Article 15 for wrongful use of marijuana, in violation of Article 112a, UCMJ. The member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the grade of airman basic and a reprimand. In the same month, this member received a second Article 15 for the same offense. His punishment for the second Article 15 consisted of forfeitures of $819.00, 45 days of extra duty and a reprimand.INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION ACTIONS92nd Civil Engineer SquadronAn airman basic was separated for misconduct: drug abuse. In February 2018, this Airman received nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ for wrongfully using methamphetamine. The separation authority, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, directed his separation with an Under Honorable Conditions (General) discharge. Moreover, as a result of this discharge characterization and being a first-term Airman, all G.I. Bill benefits were forfeited.92nd Force Support SquadronAn Airman was separated for misconduct: drug abuse, and misconduct: commission of a serious offense. In February 2018, this Airman was punished under Article 15, UCMJ for wrongfully using marijuana and for driving under the influence of alcohol. The separation authority, 92nd ARW commander, directed this member’s separation with a General discharge. Furthermore, as a result of his discharge characterization in conjunction with being a first-term Airman, all G.I. Bill education benefits were forfeited.92nd Logistics Readiness SquadronA senior airman was separated for misconduct: drug abuse. In February 2018, this Airman received nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ for wrongfully using marijuana. This Airman conditionally waived his right to a discharge board hearing contingent upon him receiving no less than a General discharge. Accordingly, thewaiver was accepted and the separation authority, 18th Air Force commander, directed his separation with a General discharge.92nd Security Forces SquadronAn airman basic was separated for misconduct: drug abuse. In February 2018, this Airman received nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ for wrongfully using marijuana. The separation authority, 92nd ARW commander, directed his separation with a General discharge. Moreover, as a result of this discharge characterization, all G.I. Bill benefits were forfeited.DEMOTION ACTIONS92nd Aircraft Maintenance SquadronA senior airman was demoted in rank for his failure to meet Air Force physical fitness standards. Over the course of his first enlistment, this Airman failed his fitness test a total of six times. Prior to demotion action, unit rehabilitative measures were taken in the form of diet and exercise education, as well as being formally counseled by his unit leadership on the importance of meeting fitness standards. However, these efforts proved unsuccessful and he was demoted to the rank of airman first class.92nd Security Forces SquadronA senior airman was demoted in rank for his failure to meet Air Force physical fitness standards. This Airman failed his fitness test three times within his current enlistment. Prior to demotion action, unit rehabilitative measures were taken in the form of diet and exercise education, organized fitness activities, and formal counseling by his unit leadership on the importance of meeting fitness standards. However, these efforts proved unsuccessful and he was demoted to the rank of airman first class.During the month of April 2018, five Airmen received nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ, two Airmen were involuntarily separated, and two were administratively demoted. Commanders used the following actions as means of punishment, rehabilitation and maintaining good order and discipline.92nd Force Support SquadronAn Airman received an Article 15 for wrongfully using Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in violation of Article 112a, UCMJ. This member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the rank of airman basic and a reprimand.92nd Maintenance SquadronAn airman first class received an Article 15 for numerous violations of the UCMJ. First, this member committed abusive sexual contact against another airman, in violation of Article 120. Secondly, this member failed to adhere to dormitory standards by having a visitor under the age of 18, and for having a dog in his dorm room, in violation of Article 92. Lastly, this member possessed liquor while under the age of 21, in violation of Article 134. This member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the rank of airman basic, 14 days of extra duty and a reprimand.92nd Medical Operations SquadronA staff sergeant received an Article 15 for conspiring with another airman to wrongfully label blood samples that were not his own with his name and then submit them to ADAPT, in violation of Article 81 and 92, UCMJ. Additionally, this member lied numerous times about committing the offense, in violation of Article 107, UCMJ. This member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the rank of senior airman, forfeiture of $1,298.00 and a reprimand.36th Rescue SquadronA staff sergeant received an Article 15 for negligently failing to perform specific duties required of her job, in violation of Article 92, UCMJ. Additionally, when this member was asked if she knew of any checklist that she was supposed to use to perform those specific duties correctly, she lied and stated that she was not aware of any such checklist, in violation of Article 107, UCMJ. This member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the rank of senior airman and a reprimand.912th Air Refueling SquadronA senior airman received an Article 15 for committing abusive sexual contact, in violation of Article 120, UCMJ. This member’s punishment consisted of a reduction to the rank of airman first class and a reprimand.INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION ACTIONS92nd Communications SquadronAn airman first class was separated for misconduct: commission of a serious offense. Since his arrival to Fairchild Air Force Base in January 2017, this Airman was punished under Article 15, UCMJ for dereliction of duty and larceny and he also received a letter of reprimand for unlawful entry. More importantly, this member was arraigned in federal court for storing explosive materials in a government facility as well as attempting to design an explosive device. The separation authority, 92nd ARW commander, directed this Airman’s separation with a General discharge. Furthermore, as a result of his discharge characterization in conjunction with being a first-term Airman, all G.I. Bill education benefits were forfeited.92nd Logistics Readiness SquadronAn airman basic was separated for misconduct: minor disciplinary infractions. Since this Airman’s first enlistment began in February 2017, he was punished under Article 15, UCMJ, his suspended reduction in rank from the Article 15 action was vacated, and he received a letter of reprimand and a letter of counseling; all for various disciplinary violations. The separation authority, 92nd ARW commander, directed this member’s separation with a General discharge. Moreover, as a result of his discharge characterization in conjunction with being a first-term Airman, all G.I. Bill education benefits were forfeited.DEMOTION ACTIONS92nd Aircraft Maintenance SquadronA senior airman was demoted in rank for his failure to fulfill Airman responsibilities. Specifically, this member was arrested by civilian authorities for DUI. Due to the fact that the county prosecutors retained jurisdiction of the offense, Air Force policy prohibited the unit commander from administering judicial or nonjudicial punishment action. However, this prohibition does not preclude administrative actions, to include administrative demotion. As such, the unit commander recommended this Airman be demoted in rank. The demotion authority, 92nd AMXS commander, found demotion action to be appropriate and demoted him to the rank of airman first class.An airman first class was demoted in rank for his failure to meet Air Force physical fitness standards. Throughout a 16 month span, this Airman failed his fitness test three times. Prior to demotion action, other unit rehabilitative measures were taken in the form of diet and exercise education, mandatory participation in organized fitness activities, and formal counselling on the importance of meeting fitness standards. However, these efforts proved unsuccessful and he was demoted to the rank of Airman.
