DEFINITIONS

RIDGEWAY NATIONAL GUARD — DISCIPLINARY CODE

1.TITLE I — GENERAL PROVISIONS

• (a)SCOPE
  • (i)This Code applies to all active-duty guardsmen of the Ridgeway National Guard regardless of rank, classification, or length of service, either actively on the Ridgeway National Guard team, or in the Ridgway National Guard discord.
• (b)DEFINITIONS
  • (i)GUARDSMAN — Any active-duty member of the Ridgeway National Guard, enlisted or commissioned.
  • (ii)COMMANDING OFFICER (CO) — The commissioned officer with direct command authority over the subject guardsman at the relevant command level.
  • (iii)COMMAND LEVELS — In ascending order: Company, Battalion, Brigade, and Headquarters (HQ).
  • (iv)MPI (Military Police Investigation) — A bona fide misconduct investigation conducted by military police under the Provost Marshal. Required before any investigative punishment may be issued.
  • (v)NJP (Non-Judicial Punishment) — A disciplinary action imposed by a CO without an MPI. Available only within a command level's authority per Title II.
  • (vi)STRIKE — A formal disciplinary mark issued as a record of misconduct.
  • (vii)INVESTIGATIVE PUNISHMENT — A punishment only issuable following a completed MPI finding. Includes suspension and all forms of involuntary discharge.
  • (viii)FORMAL PROCEEDINGS — A pre-disciplinary hearing required prior to any administrative claim for involuntary separation.
  • (ix)PERSONNEL ACTION — Any formal disciplinary action including demerits, strikes, suspensions, demotions, and discharges.
  • (x)DETENTION — Guardsman being held or removed from team for a violation of an article.

1.TITLE II — PUNISHMENTS

• (a)NJP MAXIMUMS BY COMMAND LEVEL
  • (i)COMPANY — Physical: 50 jumping jacks / 2 laps (MEZ) | Demotion: 1 rank | Extra quota: 30 min / 2 cycles | Restriction: up to 7 days | Reprimand | Demerit
  • (ii)BATTALION — Physical: 100 jumping jacks / 4 laps (MEZ) | Demotion: 2 ranks | Extra quota: 60 min / 2 cycles | Restriction: up to 14 days | Reprimand | Demerit
  • (iii)BRIGADE — Physical: 150 jumping jacks / 6 laps (MEZ) | Demotion: 3 ranks | Extra quota: 90 min / 2 cycles | Restriction: up to 21 days | Reprimand | Demerit | Strike
  • (iv)HQ — Physical: 200 jumping jacks / 8 laps (MEZ) | Demotion: 4 ranks | Extra quota: 130 min / 2 cycles | Restriction: up to 28 days | Reprimand | Demerit | Strike
• (b)POST-MPI PUNISHMENTS
  • (i)All NJP punishments at issuing level's max, plus Strike (all levels post-MPI).
  • (ii)Company & Battalion must refer upward for suspension or discharge.
  • (iii)Brigade may suspend (≤10 days); refers discharge to HQ.
  • (iv)HQ may suspend (≤10 days) and issue all discharge types.
• (c)INVESTIGATIVE PUNISHMENTS
  • (i)SUSPENSION — Requires completed MPI. Not available via NJP. Max 10 days (Schedule B).
  • (ii)DISCHARGE — All involuntary discharges require a pre-disciplinary hearing. Involuntary general and dishonorable discharge require Admin Court action.
  • (iii)ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE — Only where the offense, if proven, would result in removal. Capped at 10 days (Schedule B).

1.TITLE III — OFFENSE CLASSES

• (a)SEC. 301 — CLASS 1 (COMMAND LEVEL)
  • (i)Handled by commands below HQ — Company, Battalion, and Brigade.
  • (ii)NJP — All NJP punishments available at the issuing command level per Sec. 202, including stackable combinations. Strikes available at Brigade and above.
  • (iii)MPI REFERRAL — CO may refer any Class 1 matter to MPI. Post-MPI administrative actions mirror NJP maximums and include strikes at all command levels.
  • (iv)ESCALATION — Where a Class 1 investigation reveals HQ-level conduct, MPI shall escalate to HQ.
• (b)SEC. 302 — CLASS 2 (HQ LEVEL)
  • (i)Falls within HQ jurisdiction. HQ typically delegates to MPI/military police for investigation.
  • (ii)DELEGATION TO MPI — HQ routinely delegates Class 2 investigation to the Provost Marshal acting on HQ's behalf. HQ retains jurisdiction and may intervene at any time.
  • (iii)FORMAL PROCEEDINGS — Suspension or discharge matters proceed under Title VIII. Involuntary discharges require Admin Court action per Title IX.
  • (iv)NO NJP — NJP is not available for Class 2 offenses. All Class 2 discipline flows through MPI and formal proceedings.

1.TITLE IV — DISCIPLINARY TRACKS

• (a)SEC. 401 — TRACK 1 (COMMAND WITNESSED / HAS PROOF)
  • (i)Applies where a CO directly witnessed a violation or possesses sufficient proof (documented records, video, or credible witness statements).
  • (ii)WITHIN AUTHORITY (CLASS 1) — CO may: proceed directly to NJP within authority limits; or refer to MPI for full investigation. All NJP punishments available per Sec. 202.
  • (iii)OUTSIDE AUTHORITY (CLASS 2) — CO shall not proceed to NJP. CO documents the conduct and reports to MPI. Matter enters Track 2 and is subject to MPI triage and HQ-level routing.
• (b)SEC. 402 — TRACK 2 (REPORT RECEIVED / MP REPORTS)
  • (i)Applies where an offense is reported by any party or witnessed by a military police officer. All Track 2 matters route automatically to MPI before any command action.
  • (ii)MPI RECEIVES ALL TRACK 2 MATTERS — Reports from any source submitted directly to MPI. No CO may take disciplinary action before MPI issues a triage determination.
  • (iii)MPI TRIAGE — MPI assesses (i) whether there is sufficient basis and (ii) whether the offense is command-level or HQ-level.
  • (iv)COMMAND JURISDICTION GRANTED — MPI refers the matter to the appropriate CO with a written triage summary. CO may proceed to NJP or request a full investigation.
  • (v)HQ JURISDICTION RETAINED — MPI retains the matter and initiates a full investigation leading to formal proceedings.
  • (vi)INSUFFICIENT BASIS — MPI closes the matter and notifies the submitting party and subject guardsman in writing.
  • (vii)TRIAGE IS NOT INVESTIGATION — MPI triage is a sufficiency and routing review only. A full MPI is required before any investigative punishment may be issued.
• (c)SEC. 403 — MULTIPLE REPORTS / SAME OFFENSE
  • (i)Multiple reports of the same alleged offense shall be consolidated into a single triage determination.
  • (ii)A guardsman may not face multiple disciplinary actions arising from the same course of conduct.
• (d)UPWARD REFERRAL
  • (i)Any CO may refer an offense upward where: the offense or warranted punishment exceeds their authority; MPI findings support action beyond their authority; or higher-level review is warranted.

1.TITLE XI — APPEALS

• (a)SEC. 1101 — APPEAL OF NJP
  • (i)COMMAND-ISSUED NJP — Where an NJP was issued directly by a CO, the guardsman may appeal to the command level directly above the issuing CO within seven (7) days of the NJP decision. The higher command may affirm, reduce, or set aside the NJP.
  • (ii)MPI-ISSUED / POST-INVESTIGATION NJP — Where an NJP or post-investigation administrative action was issued following an MPI, the guardsman may appeal to either the Provost Marshal or HQ within seven (7) days of the decision. The Provost Marshal or HQ may affirm, reduce, or set aside the action.
  • (iii)FURTHER APPEAL — In either case, if the initial appeal is denied or results in a reduction the guardsman considers insufficient, a further appeal may be submitted to the Adjutant General within seven (7) days of the appeal decision. The Adjutant General's decision is final within the National Guard.