One of many helpful & fascinating responses. Thanks to all.

“Derb—How would Kipling’s narrator be punished in today’s military?

Similar punishment, but a lot more paperwork and a therapeutic orientation.

“Administratively, the command would formally determine that the event meets

the criterial for an ‘alcohol incident’ (different services use different

terms), which triggers a service record entry and referral to screening for

alcohol dependency–with treatment to follow if indicated. Get two or three

of these ‘incidents’ and you’re discharged for unsuitability. Failing to

complete treatment or to follow rules of ‘aftercare’ program also leads to

discharge.

“Punishment would proceed independent of the treatment and would probably

depend on how good a punch he landed on the guard. If it was a routine

scuffle yielding neither significant property damage nor dramatic photos of

bruised faces, it would be disposed of at a nonjudicial punishment

proceeding (different services call it ‘Article 15,’ ‘Office Hours,’ or

’Captain’s Mast’) at which the commanding officer can impose forfeiture of

half pay for a few months, restriction to base or ship, two hours a day

extra duty for a month, and reduction in grade. The exact extent of

punishment varies with the grade of the commander and the grade of the

miscreant.

“If the commanding officer thinks this punishment is too lenient and he can

prove the case, he can convene a summary court martial. One officer acts as

judge, jury, prosecutor, and defense counsel, but must submit for legal

review a record of the evidence supporting each element of the alleged

offenses. A summary court can do a little more than a nonjudicial

punishment proceeding, most notably, imposing a brief sentence at an actual

correctional facility. The summary court is not a federal court of record

and can be used only for misdemeanors, which are handled at special and

general courts martial. Each increase in formality of venue brings

additional protections to the defendant but additional authority to impose

punishment.”

What a business! I think I’d rather take the pack drill & CB. In fact, if

threatened with psychologists, “counsellors,” and 12-step programs, I think

I’d rather have the cat o’ nine tails.