---
title: "Check a proposed reduction in grade under nonjudicial punishment"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/check-a-notice-of-proposed-reduction-in-rank-or-transfer-to-the-reserves/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A64-LA20261022-2-US"
practice_area: "Military & Defence Law"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check a proposed reduction in grade under nonjudicial punishment

> Extract the member's pay grade, the proposed grade, the officer who would impose it, and whether the member is attached to or embarked in a vessel. Do not decide the punishment.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/check-a-notice-of-proposed-reduction-in-rank-or-transfer-to-the-reserves/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Military & Defence Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Extract the member's pay grade, the proposed grade, the officer who would impose it, and whether the member is attached to or embarked in a vessel. Do not decide the punishment. |
| What the lawyer must review | 10 U.S.C. § 815(b)(2)(D) allows a commanding officer, for a minor offense and without a court-martial, to impose on personnel other than officers a reduction to the next inferior pay grade, if the grade from which demoted is within the promotion authority of the officer imposing the reduction or any officer subordinate to that officer. If imposed by an officer of the grade of major or lieutenant commander or above, subsection (b)(2)(H)(iv) allows reduction to the lowest or any intermediate pay grade on the same promotion-authority condition, but an enlisted member in a pay grade above E-4 may not be reduced more than two pay grades. Except for a member attached to or embarked in a vessel, punishment may not be imposed under the article if the member has, before the imposition, demanded trial by court-martial in lieu of the punishment. 10 U.S.C. § 832 is the preliminary hearing before referral to a general court-martial, which is the different path if trial is demanded and the charge is referred there. You test the notice against those limits. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Check a notice of proposed reduction in rank or transfer to the Reserves](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/check-a-notice-of-proposed-reduction-in-rank-or-transfer-to-the-reserves.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Extract the member's pay grade, the proposed grade, the officer who would impose it, and whether the member is attached to or embarked in a vessel. Do not decide the punishment.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- The President and the Secretary may limit the powers in the article by regulation. Those regulations were not opened.
- Reduction of officers is not in the punishment list read in § 815(b)(1).

## Sources

- [10 U.S.C. § 815 (Art. 15, commanding officer's non-judicial punishment)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/815) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [10 U.S.C. § 832 (Art. 32, preliminary hearing required before general court-martial)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/832) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*