The 1st Infantry Division Staff Judge Advocate was this months Military Affairs Council breakfast guest speaker.

COL Craig Merutka went over the history and duties of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps during the breakfast. He also discussed what he called a misbelief that U.S. Army Commanders were not doing the right thing when it came to punishing soldiers, particularly in the area of sexual assault.

There was an attempt last year in Congress to strip certain authorities from commanders due to the misbelief.

“Thankfully it was defeated, however we anticipate at the end of this next election cycle that further attempts to delude commanders authority and power will again be made by Congress,” says Merutka.

Merutka is asking that if that does come up again that everyone does some research and looks at what is being asked.

“Commanders are not reluctant to enforce discipline in their units. I have yet to meet a Commander who would say to me,’Hey Craig I kind of want to sweep this under the rug. I don’t want to do the right thing. This is a good soldier I don’t want to punish them.’ I have not heard that, and I have not seen it.”

He called the misbelief an attack that does not have much basis, and that Commanders at all levels at Fort Riley take it very seriously.