Fort Benning, 2021–2023 vs. 2024–2026: A Side-by-Side Look

Trends › By Installation › Fort Benning › Before and after 2024

Based on 37 cases · 2024–2026 · Army records · data updated October 24, 2026

Full Acquittals Where There Were None Before

A case is contested when the accused pleads not guilty to at least one charge. In 2021–2023, 9 contested Fort Benning cases reached a verdict, and 0 ended in a full acquittal. In 2024–2026, 7 reached a verdict, and 4 ended in a full acquittal. At the 2 comparable bases in the same years, Camp Humphreys had 4 full acquittals in 11 contested cases that reached a verdict, and Fort Leonard Wood had 2 in 7.

The contested share was about the same: 18% before and 20% after, compared with 21% across the Army in 2024–2026. These are very small groups, so a few cases can change the result, and the records cannot show why outcomes changed.

Then and Now at Fort Benning

The earlier period had 50 cases over 3 years, about 17 a year. The newer period has about 15 a year, counting full years: 15 cases in 2024, 15 in 2025, and 7 so far in 2026, a partial year.

The median confinement was 5 months in both periods. Convictions that included confinement rose from 76% to 91%. General courts-martial rose from 61% of cases to 78%. Punitive discharges for convicted enlisted members fell from 77% to 60%.

Punitive Discharges Were Less Common Than Army-Wide

For an enlisted member, a punitive discharge is a bad-conduct or dishonorable discharge imposed as part of the court-martial sentence.

Of 30 convicted enlisted members in 2024–2026, 18 received a punitive discharge: 15 bad-conduct discharges and 3 dishonorable discharges. In the rest of the Army, the share was 73%. Of 3 convicted officers or warrant officers, 1 was dismissed. Dismissal is the officer equivalent of a punitive discharge.

A sentence without a punitive discharge does not rule out a later administrative separation, which these records do not cover.

Fewer Long Sentences

Of the 37 cases, 33 ended in a conviction on at least one charge, and 30 of those sentences included confinement (91%). The median confinement was 5 months, compared with 6 months across the Army. A quarter of terms were 1 year or longer.

Sentences over one year were less common: 8 of 33 convictions (24%), compared with 30% across the Army. Only 1 conviction included 5 years or more (3%, compared with 9%). These are adjudged sentences, before any plea-agreement limit, clemency, or appeal.

Assault and Arrest Charges Were More Common

Of 35 records listing charges, Article 128 (assault) was charged in 26%, compared with 20% in the rest of the Army. Article 92 (orders violation) was charged in 14%, compared with 10%. Article 87a (resistance, flight, breach of arrest) and Article 108 (military property) were each charged in 9% of cases, compared with 1% across the Army. Article 128b (domestic violence) was less common: 17% compared with 25%.

Every case charging Article 128 ended in a conviction on that article (9 of 9). Every Article 134 case also ended in a conviction on that article (8 of 8). Both had a median confinement of 6 months.

Pleas, Agreements, and the Forum

35 of 37 records list a plea. 28 accused pleaded guilty, and 7 contested. All 28 guilty pleas are recorded with a plea agreement. Army records note that an agreement existed but not its terms.

A military judge alone decided guilt in 29 cases, and enlisted panels decided 5. There were 0 officer panels. Members heard 15% of cases, compared with 13% across the Army. The accused usually chooses the forum.

More Senior Accused, Mostly in General Courts-Martial

The accused were 21 NCOs, 13 junior enlisted members, and 3 officers. This group was more senior than the Army as a whole. General courts-martial tried 29 of the 37 cases (78%, compared with 69% across the Army). A general court-martial can impose any lawful sentence, including long confinement and a dishonorable discharge or dismissal. A special court-martial caps confinement at one year and cannot impose a dishonorable discharge.

Compared With Similar Bases, and Rule Changes

Camp Humphreys (36 cases) and Fort Leonard Wood (38) tried a similar number of cases. Camp Humphreys had a higher contested share, 31%. Fort Leonard Wood had the shortest median confinement, 2 months.

Since December 28, 2023, special trial counsel decide whether to prosecute covered offenses. New sentencing parameters apply to offenses after December 27, 2023. The records give trial dates, not offense dates, so the newer period includes cases under both the old and new rules. The records also do not include the evidence, plea terms, nonjudicial punishment, or administrative separations.

Dates and sources for the law changes mentioned here: UCMJ change timeline.

About the author. Jocelyn C. Stewart is a retired Army JAG with more than 24 years of trying courts-martial and more than 200 jury trials. She hosts Where All The Bodies Are Buried and runs the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart. This analysis is for education and information only. It is not legal advice, and every case is different.