Hurlburt Field, Florida Before and After 2024: How Its Courts-Martial Changed
Hurlburt Field, Florida had 10 courts-martial in 2024–2026, and 9 were general courts-martial (90%), compared with 56% across the Air Force. In 2019–2023 the general court-martial share there was 59%. The median confinement was 3 months, compared with 2 months in the earlier period.
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Trends › By Installation › Hurlburt Field, Florida › Before and after 2024
Short answer: Hurlburt Field, Florida had 10 courts-martial in 2024–2026, and 9 were general courts-martial (90%), compared with 56% across the Air Force. In 2019–2023 the general court-martial share there was 59%. The median confinement was 3 months, compared with 2 months in the earlier period.
General Courts-Martial in 9 of 10 Cases
Hurlburt Field tried 9 general courts-martial and 1 special court-martial in 2024–2026. The general share of 90% compares with 59% at the base in 2019–2023 and 56% across the Air Force. A general court-martial can impose long confinement and a dishonorable discharge or dismissal.
The accused were 4 junior enlisted members (E-1 to E-4), 3 NCOs (E-5 to E-9), and 3 officers or warrant officers. Air Force-wide, 58% of the accused were junior enlisted, so this group was more senior.
Changes Since 2019–2023
There were 29 cases in 2019–2023, about 6 a year counting full years only, and about 3 a year since. The 10 later cases were 2 in 2024, 4 in 2025, and 4 in 2026 through September, a partial year.
Of 9 recorded pleas, 5 were contested, compared with 79% in 2019–2023. Among contested cases that reached a verdict, 2 of 5 ended in a full acquittal, compared with 7 of 15 earlier. Confinement was part of all 7 convictions (7 of 7), compared with 70% earlier. The median confinement was 3 months. Of 6 convicted enlisted members, 3 received a punitive discharge; the earlier share was 39%. With 10 cases, these figures show direction only.
| 2019–2023 | 2024–2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases | 29 | 10 |
| Contested (of pleas recorded) | 79% | 5 of 9 |
| Full acquittals (decided contested) | 7 of 15 | 2 of 5 |
| Convictions with confinement | 70% | 7 of 7 |
| Median confinement | 2 months | 3 months |
| Punitive discharge (enlisted) | 39% | 3 of 6 |
| General courts-martial | 59% | 90% |
Charges
All 10 records list the charges. Article 134, the general article, appeared in 3 cases (30%), compared with 24% Air Force-wide. Article 120 (rape and sexual assault), Article 112a (drugs), and Article 92 (failure to obey an order or regulation) each appeared in 2 (20%). Article 120c (other sexual misconduct), Article 108, Article 121 (larceny), and Article 128b (domestic violence) each appeared in 1.
| UCMJ Article | Cases | Share here | Share, the Air Force as a whole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art. 134 General article | 3 | 30% | 24% |
| Art. 120 Rape and sexual assault | 2 | 20% | 13% |
| Art. 112a Wrongful use, possession of controlled substances | 2 | 20% | 20% |
| Art. 92 Failure to obey order or regulation | 2 | 20% | 16% |
| Art. 120c Other sexual misconduct | 1 | 10% | 3% |
| Art. 108 Military property; loss, damage, destruction | 1 | 10% | 1% |
| Art. 121 Larceny | 1 | 10% | 8% |
| Art. 128b Domestic violence | 1 | 10% | 15% |
Who Decided Guilt
Members decided 40% of cases with the forum listed: 2 enlisted panels and 2 officer panels. A military judge alone decided the other 6.
Similar Bases
Ramstein AB, Germany (20 cases) and McConnell AFB, Kansas (21 cases) had similar counts in these years. McConnell had the same 3 months median confinement as Hurlburt Field, and Ramstein had 9 months.
| Installation | Cases | Contested | Full acquittals (decided contested) | Median confinement | Punitive discharge (enlisted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurlburt Field, Florida | 10 | 5 of 9 | 2 of 5 | 3 months | 3 of 6 |
| Ramstein AB, Germany | 20 | 59% | 3 of 10 | 9 months | 65% |
| McConnell AFB, Kansas | 21 | 21% | 1 of 3 | 3 months | 44% |
Rules and Record Limits
From December 28, 2023, special trial counsel rather than commanders decide whether to prosecute covered offenses such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and murder. Cases in which every guilty finding is for an offense after December 27, 2023 are sentenced by the military judge within new sentencing parameters. The records list trial dates, not offense dates, so they cannot show which cases fell under these rules.
The evidence, the plea terms, and cases resolved by nonjudicial punishment, administrative separation, or no action are not in the records. Air Force records rarely list charges in full acquittals.
Dates and sources for the law changes mentioned here: UCMJ change timeline.
How We Counted
Every court-martial tried at Hurlburt Field, Florida in 2019–2023 (29) and 2024–2026 (10).
Source: public court-martial records (Article 140a, UCMJ) in Military Trial Results, data updated October 24, 2026. Definitions, sources, and known gaps: how this data was built. Errors: content@bodiesburied.com.
Related Analysis
- Hurlburt Field, Florida: Court-Martial Data and Trends (hub)
- By Installation (hub)
- Inside 29 Courts-Martial at Hurlburt Field, Florida, 2019–2023
- Hurlburt Field, Florida, 2024–2026: Charges, Verdicts, and Sentences in 10 Cases
- Hurlburt Field, Florida Before and After 2019: How Its Courts-Martial Changed
- Andersen AFB, Guam Before and After 2019: How Its Courts-Martial Changed
- Aviano AB, Italy, 2016–2018 vs. 2019–2023: A Side-by-Side Look
- Aviano AB, Italy, 2019–2023 vs. 2024–2026: A Side-by-Side Look
- Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 2016–2018 vs. 2019–2023: A Side-by-Side Look
- Search every case in Military Trial Results (members)
Military Judges Who Presided Over Cases at Hurlburt Field, Florida, 2024–2026
- Willie J. Babor
- Kasey W. Hawkins
- Bradley J. Palmer
- Julie L. Pitvorec
- Michael A. Schrama
- Lauren MD Torczynski
- Pilar G. Wennrich
- Ja Rai Antoinette Williams
Names and links only. Each judge's record of pleas, findings, and sentences is on their Know Your Judge page, part of the Court-Martial Characters membership.
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.