Watada faces three separate charges

ARNEWS ^ | Jul 10, 2006 | Don Kramer

[jazusamo]

I absolutely agree. By my post I didn't mean he should not be held accountable. I would volunteer to be in that squad.

[ops33]

This individual is a commissioned officer and commissioned officers do not receive Dishonorable Discharges. The equivalent for an officer is Dismissal from the Service.

[Wristpin]

Would this be a felony conviction? I don't want to throw up into my mouth a little every time I see the guy strutting around if he gets into politics.

[ops33]

It would be a felony conviction. I do not believe that any conviction by courts-martial would be considered a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor problems can be handled in a completely different way. A conviction by courts-martial can bring different types of punishment. For enlisted there can be 4 types of punishment; confinement, forfeiture of pay, reduction in grade and a punitive discharge (Dishonorable or Bad Conduct discharges). An officer can receive confinement, forfeiture of pay, and dismissal from the service. Since an officer's commission (and his grade) is awarded through act of Congress a military courts-martial cannot take that away.

At Leavenworth officers in confinement are kept separate from enlisted. They don't have any better living conditions but its a safety and security issue.

[Paperdoll]

LOL, but come to think of it, if the guy doesn't stick to his oath to protect his country, could be because of this administration's refusal to stick to it's oath to protect this country against illegal invasion. If the officer is guilty, the officer should pay. What about the administration?

[I_Like_Spam]

I wonder why Lt. Watada isn't being charged with Cowardice here.

His behavior would certainly seem to qualify for the charge, and the traditional punishment for the crime of being hung seems to be truly appropriate.

[SandRat]

the missing act for that charge is "in the face of the enemy" IMHO.