UCMJ--Does it Work? Evaluation at the Field Level, 18 Months Experience

Combat area experience of Naval units applying UCMJ in the Korean theatre is now available for appraisal. To foreshadow effects of the new code upon administration of Naval Justice under conditions of another world war, the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, directed an on-the-spot survey of the impact of the Code upon all types of naval vessels in the Japan-Korea area. Included were nearly 100 ships, consisting of 9 large combat types, 38 destroyers or destroyer-escorts, 2 submarines, 22 transport and amphibious type and 12 mine-sweepers. The reactions to UCMJ produced through this CINCPACFLT survey are predominantly and primarily those of the Commanding Officers of these combat and support ships --the men upon whom will fall the responsibility of fighting to win in a possible all-out war.

Also available now is the first year and a half of experience in actual application of UCMJ at large Naval installations in the continental United States and on ships operating in areas other than those of combat. A close-up view of the new type of "service justice," taken from the field level of trials and initial review, can be derived from actual cases handled in one of the largest of the Naval Districts.