Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman is an offense subject to court martial defined in the punitive code of the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). An officer is a member of a military service who holds a position of responsibility. ... The term gentleman (from Latin gentilis, belonging to a race or gens, and man, cognate with the French word gentilhomme, the Spanish gentilhombre and the Italian gentil uomo or gentiluomo), in its original and strict signification, denoted a man of good family, the Latin generosus (its invariable translation in English... A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ... The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is the foundation of military law in the United States. ...

The elements are

1. That the accused did or omitted to do certain acts; and
2. That, in the circumstances, these acts or omissions constituted conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.^[1]

Here “gentleman” is understood to include commissioned officers, cadets, and midshipmen, of both sexes. A gentleman is understood to have a duty to avoid dishonest acts, displays of indecency, lawlessness, dealing unfairly, indecorum, injustice, or acts of cruelty.[1] In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... A cadet is a person who is junior in some way. ... For the fishes called midshipman, see Midshipman fish In the navies of English-speaking countries, a midshipman is a low-ranking commissioned officer, usually the lowest rank. ...

See also

• Similar charges exist in the disciplinary regulations of other services. Nigel Rees cites the British Naval Discipline Act of 10 August 1860, Article 24, as the first appearance.^[2]
• An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982 film
• Conduct Unbecoming, 1975 film based on a play by Barry England
• "Ungentlemanly conduct" was a cautionable offence in soccer until 1997. [2]

Nigel Rees (born June 5, 1944, near Liverpool) is a British author and presenter, best known for devising and hosting the Radio 4 panel game Quote Unquote and for his keen interest in the use and misuse of the English language. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... An Officer and a Gentleman is a 1982 film which tells the story of a United States Navy aviation Officer Candidate who comes into conflict with the Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who trains him. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Barry England (born 1933 or 1934) is an English novelist and playwright. ... Misconduct in football (soccer) is any conduct by a player which is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction (caution or send-off) in accordance with Law 12 the Laws of the Game. ...

References

1. ^ Article 133 of the punitive code of the UCMJ, local copy at Cornell University
2. ^ Rees, N. (1987). Why Do We Say ...?. ISBN 0-7137-1944-3.