What is the purpose of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)?

The purpose of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is to provide a comprehensive legal framework that governs the conduct of military personnel. This set of legal guidelines ensures that service members adhere to certain standards of behavior, ensuring discipline, order, and the effective functioning of the military. The UCMJ establishes various offenses, and defines the rights of service members, as well as the procedures for military trials and punitive actions. It is essential for maintaining good order and discipline within the armed forces and applies to all branches of the military, not just the Navy.

Options surrounding regulations for competitions, training procedures, or equipment maintenance, while important for military operations and readiness, do not address the central purpose of the UCMJ, which is fundamentally about legal conduct and accountability among service members.