Race and the Administration of Non-Judicial Punishments in the U.S. Army

Approximately 3300 incidents covered under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice were gathered from 3 Army posts. Each post housed an infantry division and each was geographically distinct from others. The database so created was merged by social security number with additional personnel information provided by the Defense Manpower Data Center DMDC. Results indicated that blacks are significantly overrepresented in Articles 15, but are significantly underrepresented in the severity of punishments. Blacks are also older, have had longer tenure, and are of higher rank when they recieved the non-judicial punishment NJP and when they are discharged. The implications of these data for the retention of blacks in the senior enlisted ranks of the Army are discussed.