Who can issue a punitive letter of reprimand?
The argument in the UCMJ, MCM and COMDTINSTs seem to be circular. Some make it seem that a punitive letter must be issued by a flag officer since it may be imposed at a courts martial or NJP by a flag officer but others seem to infer that anyone can issue a punitive LOR as anyone can issue a LOR and the simple fact that it was issued at mast (art 15) makes it punitive in nature. My question is can an O-6 (or any officer O-6 and below for that matter) carry out NJP and issue a punitive letter of reprimand to an officer or must it be issued by an O-7 or higher to be punitive.
