[USNBandit]

If you are subject to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice and are charged with a crime, often times the chain of command opts for "non-judicial" punishment. The facts of the incident are weighed by one officer in your chain of command and he decides the guilt or innocence, and the punishment.

The accused has the right to request trial by court martial. This is definitely upping the stakes by the accused. Maybe they feel innocent of the charges.

[eyedigress]

They are correct to go with trial by courts-martial. The last thing they want is a political jack-ass calling the shot.

[Red Steel]

The accused has the right to request trial by court martial. This is definitely upping the stakes by the accused. Maybe they feel innocent of the charges.

Or they think it's total BullS*&^ to be subjected to the UCMJ because they punched the terrorist punk and dared the unnamed admiral to take this BS to court martial.