News from Dover AFB-- need confirmation

[Guest guest]

I didn't talk to Sonnie or Roxanne, but I heard secondhand from a mutual friend

of another Dover flier that Sonnie was given a general discharge today.

Can anyone else verify this? What are the exact terms of the discharge, if any?

Meanwhile, this is from the AF daily propoganda machine, the Air Force Print

News for 17 Feb.

Whatever the outcome, whatever the terms, Sonnie and Roxanne are heroes in my

book.

Jeff Jeffords

ex-Memphis ANG

000235. Dover officer accepts nonjudicial punishment

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFPN) -- Maj. Sonnie Bates, who has been accused

of disobeying a lawful order from a superior officer, has withdrawn his

prior request to be tried by court-martial. On Feb. 15, he requested and

accepted nonjudicial punishment proceedings under Article 15 of the Uniform

Code of Military Justice.

In addition, Col. S. Taco Gilbert III, 436 Airlift Wing commander, granted

Bates' request to terminate court martial proceedings.

Bates received an order Dec. 1, 1999, to be inoculated with the anthrax

vaccine, an order he refused.

An election to accept nonjudicial punishment proceedings does not constitute

an admission of guilt, nor does it legally equate to a " conviction. "

Rather, it reflects a decision to accept less formal disciplinary

proceedings. Under Article 15, a member accused of an offense is allowed to

present evidence to the commander instead of presenting it to a panel of

members or military judge as would occur in a formal court-martial

proceeding.

If, after considering all evidence, the commander determines that punishment

is appropriate, the maximum that may be imposed in this case is a forfeiture

of one-half pay for two months, 60 days restriction, 30 days arrest in

quarters and a reprimand. (Courtesy of AMC News Service)