What are legal grounds to kill a commanding officer?
Greg Z asked:
When is it ethical/legal to kill your commanding officer? If you know that he’s rushing into an ambush? To protect your platoon or company? Also, if you could cite the UCMJ or other official documents I’d appreciate it.
When is it ethical/legal to kill your commanding officer? If you know that he’s rushing into an ambush? To protect your platoon or company? Also, if you could cite the UCMJ or other official documents I’d appreciate it.
January 13th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Wow. The only way that I would even consider it, is if he pointed a loaded weapon at me with intent. Other than that im not going to touch this one outside of that……….
January 15th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
You are supposed to report the CO not kill him! That’s called ‘fragging’ and/or murder.
I will see what I can produce as far as documents.
Link to UCMJ, that is a lot to read.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
When your commanding officer is a traitor. But of course, that is for the military court to decide.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:44 am
just use PTSD as an excuse, when you get apprehended!
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
This is never acceptable.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Never. your option would be to disregard his Order and run the gambit of using the Chain of Command.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
It would only be legal - in the British armed forces - in self-defence, or the defence of another person against illegal deadly force. For example, if that commander were pointing a weapon at you or anyone other than an enemy combatant, and looked about to use it; and even then, only if there were no other way to overpower or arrest him.
On the other hand, it can be legal to arrest a commanding officer, in very, very exceptional circumstances.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
The only time you can lawfully kill anyone is in self defense. If another person tries to harm or kill you (or other service members) and you (or the service members) were NOT in the act of breaking the law, or violating the UCMJ, then you can defend yourself. For example, if you were on guard duty and you witness a forcible rape on a person by a service member (or whoever) hold a knife to the person. Since that person’s life is in danger on your post, you can legally use lethal force assuming that you have taken the necessary steps to try to stop and apprehend the person.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
There are none!
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Are you serious? Blood before dishonor remember? Wow that so breaks my heart you need to go talk to your Sgts about that like now!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
The last time I checked, murder is against the law.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Ok you do not define Kill in the right terms:
theres premeditated murder and theres self defense.
now in self defense it is not ok but less likely to get thrown in the brig.
my ex told me that the unit is accurate that if the commanding officers are caught with enlisted or any guys in his units wife they kill him. but i am not so sure on that one.
best thing is to stay away from death of a fellow military member on the same side