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10 U.S.C. includes the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) (near as I can tell), specifically I'm curious how the decisions made by the Secretary of Defense play into the (Section 891) Article 92 regulations.

Specifically, Article 92 acknowledges two types of orders that a soldier might end up in trouble for disobeying: general orders and other, specific orders.

On the face of it it would seem to me that an order from the Secretary of Defense carries the full weight of the Office of the President, and therefore the Commander in Chief as an order-giving entity that soldiers are obliged to obey.

This Wapo Article discusses the refusal of the OK Nat'l Guard to follow the order (on counter-orders from the Governor). I'll break out the separate, interesting question about DoD authority over Nat'l Guard units into another post.

But it makes me wonder: Would a general officer refusing to relay the vaccine mandate to the units under their command constitute disobeying an order under Article 92? If so, would an order like this from the Secretary of Defense constitute a general order or the more specific "other" case?

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A lawful order issued by the President or Secretary of Defense carries the full weight of an order under the UCMJ.

Note that the OK National Guard will come under this jurisdiction during annual training orders, which is a federal call-up.

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  • Can you expand on annual training orders, and/or add that answer to my related question: law.stackexchange.com/questions/74564/…
    – William Walker III
    Commented Nov 15, 2021 at 18:51
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    To continue your thought: "Would a general officer refusing to relay the vaccine mandate to the units under their command constitute disobeying an order under Article 92?" Yes.
    – ohwilleke
    Commented Nov 16, 2021 at 19:58

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