Military Justice · MJ-023 Service Regulations & Rules · MJSVC-DAF
Air Force & Space Force Military Justice Procedure
Department of the Air Force military justice applies the UCMJ and MCM through DAFI 51-201, current guidance memoranda, the Office of Special Trial Counsel, Department public court records, and AFCCA rules. Service/status questions should still be checked for Air Force versus Space Force implementation.
Authority stack
- DAFI 51-201 / current guidance memorandum
- Department of the Air Force JAG
- Department of the Air Force public court-martial docket
- Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
Service procedure
- Start with the UCMJ and current MCM, then verify the current DAFI 51-201 and any guidance memorandum incorporated or served with it.
- Identify whether the matter falls within Special Trial Counsel authority and preserve the disposition/referral record.
- Use DAFI 51-201 for Department-specific preliminary-hearing, template, processing, certification, and administrative requirements.
- Use the Department public docket/Article 140a system for trial-level public records and AFCCA for appellate docket, opinions, forms and court rules.
- For a Space Force member, confirm whether the DAF rule applies directly or whether current Space Force-specific direction modifies the implementation.
Records to preserve
Current DAFI/guidance memo; status and assignment records; charge/referral materials; PHO appointment/report; trial docket and redacted filings; record of trial; AFCCA docket, briefs, motions, orders and opinions.
Do not transfer service rules
The UCMJ and MCM are common foundations. Service regulations, court rules, filing systems, trial-judiciary practices and administrative routing are not interchangeable. Verify the member’s service, status, forum and date before applying a service-specific rule.
Registry sources: SRC-174; SRC-190; SRC-191; SRC-192; SRC-196; SRC-200 · Verified: October 4, 2026 · Review cadence: 14 days
