[OldDeckHand]

"The JAG jerks pushing this need to spend time in prison."

JAG's aren't the convening authority. Like anyone else in the military, they're following orders. If you've got a problem with the charges (as I do), then your beef is with command, not the attorneys prosecuting the case.

There will be an Article 32 hearing, much like a civilian preliminary trial with elements of a grand jury. That hearing will determine if the evidence supports a referral to a court-martial. But, the JAG corps is obligated to hold the hearing as the SEALs have refused Mast. They aren't "pushing" anything - the Commanding Officer is.

[verity]

I posted this reply on another of the many threads addressing this subject.

"Only a person in their chain-of-command can initiate action under the UCMJ. I am trying to ascertain who that was or which unit the person commanded. As someone pointed out, this could have been handled with a non-permanent letter of reprimand which would not have had any professional impact......"

I have yet to find a source for the info [underlined above]. Do you have any details?

[BIGLOOK]

It's curious to me that the convening officer isn't their former SEAL team leader or CO of the team unit; that authority has been passed off to Maj Gen Cleveland at CENTCOM. Hmmm....makes me think this is just a political brouhaha.

Let's look into 'unlawful command influence' next.

[mort56]

Then screw the Commander!