Do military personnel enjoy the same constitutional protections in a criminal case that civilians do?
Military personnel are not excluded from the rights set forth in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, but the Constitution does give Congress the power to make rules regulating the military services that may affect constitutional rights. The military law applies to members of the armed services even when they are on leave or otherwise away from the base, so the impact of military law on their constitutional expectations extends into their personal lives. Generally, most civilian rights are afforded to military personnel to the extent possible in the military context. Military appellate courts seem to attempt to interpret military law consistent with civilian standards. For some issues, military personnel enjoy broader protections than civilians. Example: Civilians must receive Miranda warnings only during questioning in police custody. Military laws require a Miranda-style warning before any military suspect is questioned, whether or not he or she is in custody. Under the military rule
