Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman (or conduct unbecoming for short) is an offense that is subject to
court martial in the
armed forces
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
of some nations.
Use in the United Kingdom
The phrase was used as a charge in courts martial of the
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, s ...
in the 18th and early 19th centuries, although it was not defined as a specific offence in the
Articles of War. For instance, in 1813, Colonel Sir J Eamer was brought before a court martial "For behaving in a scandalous, infamous manner, such as is unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, towards Captain B V Symes of the same regiment..." The charge seems to have been first codified under the Naval Discipline Act of 10 August 1860, which says; "Article 24: Every Officer subject to this Act who shall be guilty of Cruelty, or of any scandalous or fraudulent Conduct, shall be dismissed with Disgrace from Her Majesty's Service; and every Officer subject to this Act who shall be guilty of any other Conduct unbecoming the Character of an Officer shall be dismissed, with or without Disgrace, from Her Majesty's Service."
Use in the United States
The offense is defined in the punitive code, Article 133, of the United States
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), enacted at .
The elements are:
# That the accused did or omitted to do certain acts; and
# That, in the circumstances, these acts or omissions constituted conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.
Here "officer" is understood to include
commissioned officers,
cadet
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
s, and
midshipmen
A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...
of both sexes, hence the more common term ''conduct unbecoming''. A gentleman is understood to have a duty to avoid dishonest acts, displays of indecency, lawlessness, dealing unfairly, indecorum, injustice, or acts of cruelty.
Police discipline
"Conduct unbecoming an officer" is also used in some civil
police agencies.
See also
* ''
A Few Good Men'', 1992 film centring around a trial for this offence
* ''
An Officer and a Gentleman
Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman (or conduct unbecoming for short) is an offense that is subject to court martial in the armed forces of some nations.
Use in the United Kingdom
The phrase was used as a charge in courts martial of t ...
'', 1982 film
*
Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline
* ''
Conduct Unbecoming'', 1975 film based on a play by
Barry England
*
Military tradition
*
Unsportsmanlike conduct, a cautionable offence in association football, until 1997 called "ungentlemanly conduct".
"The History of the Laws of the Game 1990–2000"
FIFA.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conduct Unbecoming An Officer and a Gentleman
United States military law
Court-martial