A USMC perspective on Kipling’s defaulter

: “The soldier in question,

in the Marine Corps, as an E-3 Lance Corporal, would be hauled before

Captain’s Mast, otherwise known as an Article 32 hearing, and get NJP, or

Non-Judicial Punishment. He’d probably get a week’s brig time, and maybe

bread and water (they used to do that on board ships still, 30 years ago, I

don’t know about today.) Sentence could be suspended depending on level of

contrition. He could also lose some pay and or liberty privileges for an

indefinite period. In addition, he would almost certainly be forced to

polish several trash cans until they shone.”