5800.7 F - Department of the Navy Issuances

a punitive letter may not be suspended.
0114 PUNITIVE CENSURE
a. General. "Censure" is a statement of adverse opinion or criticism of
an individual's conduct or performance of duty expressed by a superior in the
member's chain-of-command. Censure may be punitive or nonpunitive. See
section 0105 regarding nonpunitive censure. The issuance of punitive censure
resulting from nonjudicial punishment may be disclosed to the command in
accordance with section 0115. Commands considering public disclosure should
consult the legal advisor and public affairs officer in their chain of
command. See section 0105(b)(4) for full discussion of senior official and
public disclosure.
b. Admonition. Admonition is a form of censure intended to express
adverse reflection upon or criticism of a person’s conduct. Admonition
imposed as nonjudicial punishment is considered punitive. Punitive admonition
imposed on enlisted persons may be either written or oral. For officers,
punitive admonition must be in writing.
c. Reprimand. Reprimand is a more severe form of censure than
admonition. A reprimand issued as nonjudicial punishment or awarded at courtmartial
is punitive. Punitive reprimand imposed on enlisted persons as
nonjudicial punishment may be either written or oral. For officers, any
punitive reprimand must be in writing. See R.C.M. 1003 for reprimands awarded
at court-martial.
(1) Issuing authority. When an officer has committed an offense that
warrants a punitive letter of admonition or reprimand, the officer who imposed
nonjudicial punishment may issue the letter or refer the matter through the
chain-of-command, normally to the superior GCMCA over the prospective
addressee. The degree of severity and effect of a punitive letter increases
with the grade of the officer who issues the letter.
d. Official records of admonition or reprimand. Unless withdrawn or set
aside by higher authority upon appeal, punitive letters become part of the
official service record of the member to whom they are addressed. The
issuance of a punitive letter and the facts of the underlying offenses may be
mentioned in the member's fitness report or enlisted evaluation and used to
support a detachment for cause proceeding, relief of command, or any other
administrative action on the part of the service concerned.
e. Internal departmental responsibility. Correspondence, records, and
files in the DON that relate to punitive censure are personnel matters under
the primary cognizance of the Chief of Naval Personnel or the Commandant of
the Marine Corps, as appropriate.
f. Content of letter of admonition or reprimand.
(1) General. A punitive letter issued pursuant to Article 15, UCMJ,
may be imposed only for acts or omissions constituting minor offenses under
the UCMJ, see paragraph 1e of Part V, MCM. The letter must set forth the
facts constituting the offense but need not refer to any specific punitive
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