Summary of changes
R.C.M. 1302 — Convening a summary court-martial
The text as it stood in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition beside the current text, provision by provision, with every recorded amendment and the authority behind it — the whole R.C.M. in one view.
6 amended
0 added
0 removed
3 unchanged
6 authority-backed edits · recorded
2026-07-14 – 2026-07-14
Authorities behind these changes
- Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) · Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20 · 6 changes
Showing every provision.
Provisions
1302(a)
amended
Version history
Original text
Who may convene summary courts-martial.
Unless limited by competent authority summary courts-martial may be convened by:
Current text
Who may convene summary courts-martial.
Unless limited by competent authority, summary courts-martial may be convened by:
All changes since the original (removed / added)
Who may convene summary courts-martial.
Unless limited by competentauthorityauthority, summary courts-martial may be convened by:
Unless limited by competent
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (jj) R.C.M. 1302(a) is amended to read as follows: "(a) Who may convene summary courts-martial. Unless limited by competent authority, summary courts-martial may be convened by: (1) Any person who may convene a general or special court-martial; (2) The commander of a detached company or other detachment of the Army unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the company or detachment; (3) The commander of a detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space Force unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or corresponding unit of the Space Force; (4) The commander or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary concerned unless such commander or officer in charge is the only commissioned officer with the command; or (5) A superior competent authority to any of the above if the superior competent authority considers it desirable unless such superior competent authority is the only commissioned officer with the command, in which case it shall be considered desirable that the matter be elevated until it reaches a superior competent authority whose command includes more than one commissioned officer." | admin |
Who may convene summary courts-martial. Unless limited by competent |
||||
1302(a)(1)
amended
text identical
Version history
Original text
Any person who may convene a general or special court-martial;
Current text
Any person who may convene a general or special court-martial;
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (jj) R.C.M. 1302(a) is amended to read as follows: (1) Any person who may convene a general or special court-martial; | admin |
1302(a)(2)
amended
Version history
Original text
The commander of a detached company or other detachment of the Army;
Current text
The commander of a detached company or other detachment of the Army unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the company or detachment;
All changes since the original (removed / added)
The commander of a detached company or other detachment of the Army;Army unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the company or detachment;
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (jj) R.C.M. 1302(a) is amended to read as follows: (2) The commander of a detached company or other detachment of the Army unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the company or detachment; | admin |
The commander of a detached company or other detachment of the |
||||
1302(a)(3)
amended
Version history
Original text
The commander of a detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space Force.
Current text
The commander of a detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space Force unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or corresponding unit of the Space Force;
All changes since the original (removed / added)
The commander of a detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space Force.Force unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or corresponding unit of the Space Force;
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (jj) R.C.M. 1302(a) is amended to read as follows: (3) The commander of a detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space Force unless such commander is the only commissioned officer with the detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or corresponding unit of the Space Force; | admin |
The commander of a detached squadron or other detachment of the Air Force or a corresponding unit of the Space |
||||
1302(a)(4)
amended
Version history
Original text
The commander or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary concerned; or
Current text
The commander or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary concerned unless such commander or officer in charge is the only commissioned officer with the command; or
All changes since the original (removed / added)
The commander or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary concerned;concerned unless such commander or officer in charge is the only commissioned officer with the command; or
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (jj) R.C.M. 1302(a) is amended to read as follows: (4) The commander or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary concerned unless such commander or officer in charge is the only commissioned officer with the command; or | admin |
The commander or officer in charge of any other command when empowered by the Secretary |
||||
1302(a)(5)
amended
Version history
Original text
A superior competent authority to any of the above.
Current text
A superior competent authority to any of the above if the superior competent authority considers it desirable unless such superior competent authority is the only commissioned officer with the command, in which case it shall be considered desirable that the matter be elevated until it reaches a superior competent authority whose command includes more than one commissioned officer.
All changes since the original (removed / added)
A superior competent authority to any of the above.above if the superior competent authority considers it desirable unless such superior competent authority is the only commissioned officer with the command, in which case it shall be considered desirable that the matter be elevated until it reaches a superior competent authority whose command includes more than one commissioned officer.
Step-by-step: 1 recorded edit
| Version | Date | Authority | Note | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2 | 2026-07-14 | Exec. Order 14130 (Dec. 20, 2024) (Executive Order, eff. 2024-12-20) | Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (jj) R.C.M. 1302(a) is amended to read as follows: (5) A superior competent authority to any of the above if the superior competent authority considers it desirable unless such superior competent authority is the only commissioned officer with the command, in which case it shall be considered desirable that the matter be elevated until it reaches a superior competent authority whose command includes more than one commissioned officer." | admin |
A superior competent authority to any of the |
||||
1302(b)
unchanged
Original text
When convening authority is accuser.
If the convening authority or the summary court-martial is the accuser, it is discretionary with the convening authority whether to forward the charges to a superior authority with a recommendation to convene the summary court-martial. If the convening authority or the summary court-martial is the accuser, the jurisdiction of the summary court-martial is not affected.
Current text
When convening authority is accuser.
If the convening authority or the summary court-martial is the accuser, it is discretionary with the convening authority whether to forward the charges to a superior authority with a recommendation to convene the summary court-martial. If the convening authority or the summary court-martial is the accuser, the jurisdiction of the summary court-martial is not affected.
1302(c)
unchanged
Original text
Procedure.
After the requirements of Chapters III and IV of this Part have been satisfied, summary courts-martial shall be convened in accordance with R.C.M. 504(d)(2). The convening order may be by notation signed by the convening authority on the charge sheet. Charges shall be referred to summary courts-martial in accordance with R.C.M. 601.
Current text
Procedure.
After the requirements of Chapters III and IV of this Part have been satisfied, summary courts-martial shall be convened in accordance with R.C.M. 504(d)(2). The convening order may be by notation signed by the convening authority on the charge sheet. Charges shall be referred to summary courts-martial in accordance with R.C.M. 601.
1302(c)|D
unchanged
Original text
When the convening authority is the summary court-martial because the convening authority is the only commissioned officer present with the command or detachment, see R.C.M. 1301(a), that fact should be noted on the charge sheet.
Current text
When the convening authority is the summary court-martial because the convening authority is the only commissioned officer present with the command or detachment, see R.C.M. 1301(a), that fact should be noted on the charge sheet.
“Original text” is the state captured the first time a provision was edited under change tracking — i.e. the text as published in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition. Provisions edited without being “marked as changed” (typos, formatting) are not recorded here; see the recent revisions feed and the site-wide changes log.