Letter of reprimand
Encyclopedia
A letter of reprimand is a United States Department of Defense
procedure involving a letter to an employee
or soldier
from his or her superior that details the wrongful actions of the person and the punishment
that can be expected. A Formal Letter of Reprimand is one in which a copy of the letter is kept on record.
In military
contexts, a formal letter of reprimand can be career
ending, even without prescribed punishments, because it makes it difficult to secure advancements in rank
or to enjoy the respect of one's peers.
In legal contexts
, a letter of reprimand is sometimes called a letter of admonition. It is the lowest form of attorney
discipline
under the Code of Professional Responsibility.
A letter of reprimand may be issued in lieu of punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice
. A formal letter of reprimand is placed in the service member's permanent personnel record.
A letter of admonishment is less severe than a letter of reprimand, a memorandum of concern is less severe still; and a letter of counsel is the least severe formal written administrative action of this type.
announced that six Air Force and two Army generals and nine colonels had received letters of reprimand, admonishment, or concern because of the mishandling of fuses for nuclear weapons which were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan. Two Air Force major generals were asked to stay in their current position; the others either retired, planned to retire, or were removed from their position. Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz met with each officer personally before issuing the letters. He noted they committed no offense under the UCMJ, but "did not do enough to carry out their leadership responsibilities for nuclear oversight. "For that they must be held accountable."
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
procedure involving a letter to an employee
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
or soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
from his or her superior that details the wrongful actions of the person and the punishment
Punishment
Punishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
that can be expected. A Formal Letter of Reprimand is one in which a copy of the letter is kept on record.
In military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
contexts, a formal letter of reprimand can be career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
ending, even without prescribed punishments, because it makes it difficult to secure advancements in rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
or to enjoy the respect of one's peers.
In legal contexts
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, a letter of reprimand is sometimes called a letter of admonition. It is the lowest form of attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
discipline
Discipline
In its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
under the Code of Professional Responsibility.
United States armed forces
The Manual for Court Martial, R.C.M. 306(c)(2), states:
Administrative action. A commander may take or initiate administrative action, in addition to or instead of other action [e.g., non-judicial punishmentNonjudicial punishmentNon-judicial punishment in the United States military, is a form of military justice authorized by Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Non-judicial punishment or "NJP" permits commanders to administratively discipline troops without a court-martial...
(Article 15 or "NJP") and court-martial] taken under this rule, subject to regulations of the Secretary concerned. Administrative actions include corrective measures such as counseling, admonition, reprimand, exhortation, disapproval, criticism, censure, reproach, rebuke, extra military instruction, or the administrative withholding of privileges, or any combination of the above.
A letter of reprimand may be issued in lieu of punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
. A formal letter of reprimand is placed in the service member's permanent personnel record.
A letter of admonishment is less severe than a letter of reprimand, a memorandum of concern is less severe still; and a letter of counsel is the least severe formal written administrative action of this type.
Examples
On September 25, 2008, the United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
announced that six Air Force and two Army generals and nine colonels had received letters of reprimand, admonishment, or concern because of the mishandling of fuses for nuclear weapons which were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan. Two Air Force major generals were asked to stay in their current position; the others either retired, planned to retire, or were removed from their position. Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz met with each officer personally before issuing the letters. He noted they committed no offense under the UCMJ, but "did not do enough to carry out their leadership responsibilities for nuclear oversight. "For that they must be held accountable."