Factual answers only, please; take the outrage over to the Pit thread.
I know absolutely nothing about how the USMC works. Can they kick you out simply for “conduct unbecoming”, or does it have to be something actionable, like fraud or murder?
What, then–theoretically–would be this guy’s punishment, assuming they figure out who he is and assuming the video is real?
If I’ve worked this out correctly, his punishment would be to be thrown over a cliff, onto a bed of puppies. At least I think that’s right.
Oops. Sorry - I read that bit last.
Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman is a charge under the UCMJ, but only applies to commissioned officers and cadets as far as I know. It’s worth noting that the name of this offense has spawned the titles of at least two movies: An Officer and a Gentleman and Conduct Unbecoming. If only the sections of the Internal Revenue Code were so poetically named.
As for the Marine(s) in the puppy-throwing incident, just like civilian criminal law, there’s all sorts of charges that can be brought for simply being a dick. Disturbing the peace, loitering, trafficking in unlicensed puppies, mopery, etc. I’m sure they’ll come up with something if it turns out the video is real.
A casual reading of the UCMJ leads me to believe that the persons involved can be court-martialled under Articles 109, 116 and 134.
ART. 109. PROPERTY OTHER THAN MILITARY PROPERTY OF UNITED STATES - WASTE, SPOILAGE, OR DESTRUCTION
Any person subject to this chapter who willfully or recklessly wastes, spoils, or otherwise willfully and wrongfully destroys or damages any property other than military property of the United States shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
*ART. 116. RIOT OR BREACH OF PEACE
Any person subject to this chapter who causes or participates in any riot or breach of the peace shall be punished as a court- martial may direct. *
*ART. 134. GENERAL ARTICLE
Though not specifically mentioned in this chapter, all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital, of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty, shall be taken cognizance of by a general, special or summary court-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offense, and shall be punished at the discretion of that court. *
Thank you, that’s what I was looking for.
Don’t forget littering. (sorry about the pun)
Although not from Liverpool, they were obviously loitering too…
I think they’ve already figured out who the guy is.
I’ve seen the video and I’m not sure it’s real. It looks like it may be a dead puppy and either someone off camera mimics puppy yelps or they were dubbed in later.
Again, in the spirit of the OP, let’s not debate whether or not the video is real (I haven’t checked the pit thread - it may be discussed there). But, if the video is a fake, and given the current nature of the video (massive public outcry, etc), what charges would the marine be likely to face?
Exposing yourself to a blind man is against the UCMJ?
Who knew?
Is it just me, or are they missing something critical here? A literal reading of that article would suggest that’s illegal for the Marines to destroy anything. That would seem to render them rather ineffectual…
Accoding to a Marine spokesman, the guilty party “could face a charge of conduct unbecoming a Marine.” There could be administrative action, nonjudicial punishment or a court-martial. “It’s all governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and anything from reduction in pay to reduction in rank to confinement to discharge from the Marine Corps” is possible.
Apparently a specific family has already been receiving death threats because they may be related to the Marine in question, and someone posted their phone number online. :dubious: I worry about what will happen if (as has occurred) the Marine’s identification is false. Richard Jewell, anyone?
So, even if the video is a fake there is always the Gotcha Clause[sup]TM[/sup].
Yep, that third clause will get you every time. And this video certainly “brings discredit upon the armed forces,” fake or not. He’s toast.
Keywords there are “willful” and “reckless.” IANAL but I suspect (sorry) that destroying a place from which you were being shot at would not fall into those categories, especially since elsewhere in the UCMJ it states that you’re required to follow lawful orders.
Elsewhere it says they must follow lawful orders. Which is why Marines have Officers (on which to blame things) and are encouraged to use their brains. Seriously – the Corps has more stringent requirements than some of the other forces, but occasionally, a scumball moron hides his idiocy throughout boot & AIT (?? Is it still called AIT?).
No cites, since my jarhead friends aren’t here, nor are they near the puppy-tosser, but I’m pretty that the dickhead had “slipped” in the shower a few times before the press got ahold of the story. Shower Parties may not be as permanent as being flung off of a cliff, but they do recur. 
If Shower Parties ever happened, of course, which they certainly don’t.
Code Red…
Update: Apparently yes, the Marines can kick you out for throwing a puppy off a cliff.
Back in the 80s, the Navy heavily utilized Article 134 during “project upgrade” to get rid of malcontents, druggies and slackers. I remember helping compile hit lists of people that should be discharged.
Chefguy…navy…hmmm
Singlehandedly fight off any attempts to steal missles from a battleship lately? 