Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman

Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman (or conduct unbecoming for short) is an offense subject to court martial defined in the punitive code, Article 133, of the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), enacted at 10 U.S.C. § 933.

The elements are:

1. That the accused did or omitted to do certain acts; and
2. That, in the circumstances, these acts or omissions constituted conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.^[1]

Here "officer" is understood to include commissioned officers, cadets, and midshipmen of both sexes, hence the more common term conduct unbecoming. A gentleman is understood to have a duty to avoid dishonest acts, displays of indecency, lawlessness, dealing unfairly, indecorum, injustice, or acts of cruelty.^[2]

Statutory text

Article 133. Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman:
Any commissioned officer, cadet, or midshipman who is convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

—10 U.S.C. § 933 (effective 2008)

See also

• Similar charges exist in the disciplinary regulations of other services. Nigel Rees cites the British Naval Discipline Act of 10 August 1860, Article 24, as the first appearance.^[3] CUBO, or "Conduct unbecoming an officer", is used disciplinarily in civil police agencies also.
• An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982 film
• Conduct Unbecoming, 1975 film based on a play by Barry England
• "Ungentlemanly conduct" was a cautionable offence in football until 1997.when it was redefined as "unsportsmanlike conduct".^[4]

References

1. ^ Article 133 of the punitive code of the UCMJ, local copy at Cornell University
2. ^ Powers, Rod. "Article 133: Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman". About.com. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm133.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-16. 
3. ^ Rees, N. (1987). Why Do We Say ...?. ISBN 0-7137-1944-3. 
4. ^ FIFA: The History of the Laws of the Game 1990-2000