Who can impose Article 15?

• A. Commander in rank or above Major
• B. Company Commander
• C. Platoon Leader
• D. Sergeant Major

Answer: (A)

Article 15 is nonjudicial punishment and can be imposed only by a commander who has authoritative command over the offender. In practice, that authority sits with officers who hold the appropriate level of command, typically field-grade officers (major and above) who oversee units and their personnel. So the best answer reflects the standard rule: a commander at least the rank of major holds the authority to impose Article 15. This ensures discipline is exercised by someone with established command responsibility for the unit. Lower-ranking roles like platoon leaders or sergeant majors generally don’t have the standalone authority to impose Article 15, and while a company commander (usually a captain) can impose NJP in many cases, the framing here points to the higher level of command authority described.