Editing Non-judicial punishment (section)

==Mast==
[[File:Captain's mast of Seaman Recruit Livers aboard USS Wyoming.webm|thumb|Video of a captain's mast in the U.S. Navy during the early 2000s, aboard {{USS|Wyoming|SSBN-742}}.]]
[[File:Spice & Your Navy Career.webm|thumb|start=357.56|PSA of a mock captain's mast in the U.S. Navy]]
In naval tradition, '''mast''' is the traditional location of the non-judicial hearing under which a [[commanding officer]] studies and disposes of cases involving those in his command. In the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]], these proceedings take place under the authority of Article 15 of the [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]] (UCMJ). 

If the individual conducting the proceeding is either a [[Captain (naval)|captain]], or a lower ranking officer (typically a [[commander]] or [[lieutenant commander]]) serving as [[commanding officer]] of a naval or coast guard vessel, an aviation squadron, or similar command afloat or ashore, then the proceeding is referred to as a '''captain's mast'''. 

If an [[admiral]] is overseeing the mast, then the procedure is referred to as an '''admiral's mast''' or a '''flag mast'''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/21/admiral.convicted/|title=Navy: Admiral seeks retirement in lying case | work=CNN | date=2008-04-21 | access-date=2010-05-12}}</ref>

A captain's mast or admiral's mast is a procedure whereby the commanding officer must:
* Make inquiry into the facts surrounding minor offenses allegedly committed by a member of the command;
* Afford the accused a hearing as to such offenses; and
* Dispose of such charges by dismissing the charges, imposing punishment under the provisions of [[military law]] or referring the case to a [[court-martial]].

A captain's mast is not:
* A trial, as the term "non-judicial" implies;
* A conviction, even if punishment is imposed;
* An acquittal, even if punishment is not imposed.

The term ''mast'' may also refer to when a captain or commanding officer makes him/herself available to hear concerns, complaints, or requests from the crew. Traditionally, on a naval vessel, the captain would stand at the main mast of that vessel when holding ''mast''. The crew, who by custom did not speak with the captain, could speak to him directly at these times. It could also refer to the naval punishment of tying one to a mast and lashing them with a whip.
[[File:USMC-19562.jpg|thumb|[[U.S. Marines]] with "meritorious mast" certificates]]
In modern times, a '''meritorious mast''' refers to the commanding officer taking this time to single out a member of the crew for praise and present written recognition of work well done.<ref>[https://www.netc.navy.mil/_documents/NSTCInstructions/doc77134.pdf navy.mil]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>