Florida Article 15 / NJP / Captain’s Mast Defense Lawyers – Florida UCMJ Attorneys

Elite Civilian Defense for Article 15, NJP & Captain’s Mast at Florida Military Bases

Non-Judicial Punishment — called Article 15 in the Army, Air Force, and Space Force, Captain’s Mast / Office Hours in the Navy and Marine Corps, and NJP in the Coast Guard — is one of the most misunderstood and dangerous actions a service member can face. In Florida, where the military justice system moves fast and commands rely heavily on paperwork punishment, NJP often becomes the first step toward a destroyed career.

Florida installations are among the most aggressive in the country when it comes to issuing Article 15/NJP for even minor misconduct. This is due to several factors:

• Heavy tourism & nightlife (Jacksonville Beach, Pensacola Beach, Tampa/Ybor, Miami Beach, Key West)
• High operational tempo at AFSOC, 7th Group, aviation squadrons, Coast Guard air stations
• Civilian arrests routinely forwarded to command
• Training environments (NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field, NDSTC) with zero tolerance
• Political and command pressure to appear strict & risk-averse

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law has represented thousands of service members worldwide in NJP actions, “Masts,” and administrative boards. In Florida — one of the toughest UCMJ environments in the U.S. — our experience gives service members a critical advantage.

NJP is not “just paperwork.” It can cost you your career, clearance, rank, pay, benefits, and future.

➤ Contact Florida’s Premier NJP / Article 15 Defense Team

What is Article 15 / NJP / Captain’s Mast?

Non-Judicial Punishment allows commanders to punish alleged misconduct without a court-martial. They can take rank, pay, privileges, and recommend administrative separation — all without the procedural protections of a criminal trial.

What NJP Can Do to Your Career:

• Immediate loss of rank
• Loss of pay & allowances
• Restriction & extra duty
• Derail promotions
• Trigger administrative separation boards
• Damage your security clearance (especially in Florida’s clearance-heavy units)
• Disqualify you from re-enlistment
• Form the basis for BOI (officers)

NJP is often the beginning of the end if you do not fight it properly.

Florida Bases with the Highest NJP Rates

NJP is exceptionally common across Florida’s military installations. Some of the most active NJP environments include:

• NAS Pensacola – trainee/student cases, underage drinking, fraternization, liberty incidents
• NAS Whiting Field – aviation students facing career-ending Masts
• NAS Jacksonville & NS Mayport – bar fights, domestic incidents, “poor judgment” charges
• Eglin AFB – alcohol incidents, domestic calls, cyber issues
• Hurlburt Field – SOF personnel accused of misconduct & “unprofessional conduct”
• Tyndall AFB – PRP issues, alcohol, domestic cases
• Patrick Space Force Base – clearance-heavy NJPs
• NSA Panama City (NDSTC) – student misconduct, roommate conflicts
• NAS Key West – alcohol-driven bar accusations
• AIRSTA Clearwater – domestic & off-base incidents
• Sector Miami / Jacksonville / Key West – Coast Guard NJP-heavy regions

Florida is known for punishing service members quickly — often before the facts are fully known.

Your Rights at Article 15 / NJP

Most service members do NOT know their rights when facing NJP. This is exactly what commands rely on.

Your Rights Include:

• The right to consult a lawyer
• The right to demand a court-martial (in most cases)
• The right to present evidence & witnesses
• The right to a spokesperson (including civilian counsel — which you SHOULD use)
• The right to appeal the decision

Choosing between accepting NJP or demanding trial is a strategic decision that must be made with expert legal guidance.

NEVER Make This Decision Alone.

Commanders often pressure personnel into accepting NJP, hoping to avoid a messy trial. But a bad NJP can be worse than a court-martial — because the burden of proof is lower and the outcome is nearly guaranteed.

Should You Refuse NJP in Florida?

The answer depends on the strength of your case, your command climate, and the risks you face. In Florida, NJP can be extremely dangerous because:

• It is often used as a “pre-separation tool”
• Commands assume guilt based on civilian police reports
• Florida police frequently exaggerate or misinterpret incidents
• The state’s nightlife leads to messy cases, unreliable witnesses, and conflicting stories
• Commands worry about bad press and overcorrect

We evaluate whether it is smarter to:

• Accept NJP but fight for the best possible record
• Demand a court-martial and expose the weaknesses in the government’s case
• Negotiate a reduction or withdrawal of NJP
• Prepare immediately for a potential separation board

Every Florida installation and command group has its own style — we know them all.

Most Common NJP Offenses in Florida

Some of the most common NJP allegations Florida service members face include:

Alcohol-Related Misconduct

• Drunk & disorderly
• Underage drinking
• Bar fights
• Public intoxication

Domestic Incidents

• Disputes that turn into exaggerated police reports
• Misinterpreted arguments in apartments or barracks

Liberty Incidents

• Jax Beach, Pensacola Beach, Clearwater, Destin, Miami Beach, Key West

Fraternization / Unprofessional Relationships

• Common in student-heavy commands
• Often exaggerated or based on rumor

Minor Drug Case Accusations (Art. 112a)

• THC vapes, edibles, CBD (misleadingly “legal” in stores)

Uniform Code Violations

• Late to formation
• Disrespect
• Dereliction

How Gonzalez & Waddington Defends Florida NJP Cases

We treat NJP cases with the same seriousness as court-martials. Our strategy includes:

• Reviewing all evidence (texts, videos, police reports)
• Exposing investigative defects by NCIS, OSI, CID, CGIS
• Preparing written rebuttals tailored to the Florida command climate
• Challenging witness credibility
• Presenting character evidence and service history
• Advising whether to refuse NJP and demand court-martial
• Preparing for follow-on administrative actions (BOI, separation board)

In many cases, we help Florida service members avoid NJP altogether through early strategic intervention.

Pro Tips for Florida Service Members Facing NJP

• Do NOT speak to investigators without civilian counsel.
• Save all digital evidence immediately.
• Do not admit anything to your chain of command.
• Do not sign anything until you speak with an attorney.
• Avoid nightlife until the case is resolved.
• Document a detailed timeline of events.
• Get civilian representation early — before NJP becomes irreversible.

➤ Request a Confidential NJP Strategy Session

Florida Article 15 / NJP / Mast Defense – Frequently Asked Questions