Sarah donned her dress blues and walked the seemingly-interminable walk to the command building. She was a second class petty officer, and wore a perched eagle atop two chevrons on her left sleeve.
Sarah was 22 years old and had previously been a rising star at the command, and she was hot to boot. She was 5'4 with dark brown (almost black) hair, brown eyes, well-endowed with a lovely set of D-cups, and fit. She was toned and her curves were perfect.
This was a special, but unfortunate, occasion for Sarah. She had been caught having fallen asleep on watch, and she knew even then that she would very soon go from YN2 to YN3, if the new Captain was anything like the previous one.
There was another possibility that scared her even more.
Corporal punishment had just been ruled constitutional for legal punishments by the supreme court, and the UCMJ was quickly updated by act of congress (overriding a presidential veto in the process) to include it.
Commanding officers were granted wide discretion in how and when it should be applied, with the provision that it never be applied in addition with recommendation for separation or reduction in rank, and it could not be applied to officers above the rank of Lieutenant or anyone at or above the age of 36.
Additionally, it could not cause any lasting harm to the sailor. If it did, the military would have to offer immediate honorable discharge with disability to be paid to the sailor every month, if the sailor elected to take the offer.
In Sarah's case, the penalty would be harsh regardless. The only fortunate thing was that she was on a shore command, where it was evidently much less likely to be an open punishment in front of many other sailors.
She finally arrived on the front steps of the command building, 15 minutes prior to the appointed time. There was a Master Chief waiting for her.
"I'm sorry, Reeves. It's a hard day you have ahead of you here, but take it from a salty goat like me that your career isn't over, and I'll fight hard to make sure it isn't."
Master Chief Parson was old enough to be Sarah's father, and was an imposing figure. at 5'11 and 215 pounds of muscular wall, he was still a force to be reckoned with at PT and in the boxing ring.
"Thank you master chief. Will the... punisher be a woman if they choose corporal punishment?"
"Command instruction says it doesn't have to be, and we don't get a say in that part. I'll try to pull some strings, but no promises except that I'll put my anchors on the line to help you where I can."
Parson sighed.
"I'm gonna do quick uniform inspection before we go in. Your uniform looks good but if theres any little things we can fix now, let's do that. It can't hurt."
Sarah stood there silently while he looked over her uniform from top to bottom. Her neckerchief, jumper, hair style, and pants, her socks and shoes (and shine of said shoes) were all checked.
"Nothing wrong that I can see. We go in at 0800, not a minute sooner or later."
"Yes Master Chief."
"Do you intend to plead guilty?"
"Yes I do, it's only going to hurt me if I don't, I can't possibly fight an accusation where three officers saw at the exact same time."
"Ok... well, I'll be with you, and between you and me... I think this corporal punishment stuff is totally unfairly applied. You know that more than me, but every single person who's gotten it has been a young and attractive woman."
Master chief wasn't fliriting with Sarah, he was just stating the truth, and Sarah admired that he was never afraid to do so bluntly and immediately
The minutes seemed to drag into one another.
"It's time."
He opened the door and Sarah marched through at a brisk pace, arriving directly in front of the lectern where her commanding officer stood and smartly did a right face to face him.
Saluting, she stated "Good Morning sir, Petty Officer Reeves, reporting for captain's mast as ordered sir."
The captain returned her salute smartly and perfectly.
Master Chief Parson, also at attention, ordered "uncover, TWO!" At which point, Sarah smartly removed her cover.
Her mind wandered as the captain read through some legal statement about the case for which the proceedings were for, who was accused, etc. What could she expect from him? What Parson had told her earlier shook her to the core, that every person who'd received corporal punishment had been a young attractive woman like her.
She snapped herself out of it, just as she was asked for her plea.
"Guilty, sir."
"Guilty... You admit then, that you fell asleep on watch?"
"Yes sir."
"You understand the severity of that action?"
"Yes, sir."
"Will you then, YN2 Sarah Julia Reeves, do everything in your power to grow as a sailor after this, and follow the UCMJ?"
"Yes sir."
"Master chief, do you know any reason why YN2 Reeves should not be recommended for separation from the Navy, or be reduced in rank and responsibility?"
"Yes sir. YN2 Reeves is the hardest worker in my department, and a credit to the US Navy like no other officer or enlisted that I have ever known. She is honest, responsible, and accountable in all her work. She is ashamed by the lack of discipline showed on her watch, and she will never let such a slip happen again. I'm respectfully requesting you consider this in your decision sir."
"Request approved, master chief. YN2 Reeves, you are found guilty of violation of article 92 of the uniform code of military justice, and I hereby order you to receive half of your month's pay for one month, and to submit to corporal punishment in accordance with command policy, to be executed at 1200 hours on 7 June 2024. This concludes the non-judicial punishment proceedings for YN2 Sarah J Reeves. You may appeal these orders to court martial prior to the execution of the punishment to be administered, but you are advised that you may face harsher penalties if the court martial determines they are warranted."
"Cover, TWO"
Sarah put her cover back on with two snappy, perfect motions.
"Hand, SALUTE"
Sarah gave a snappy salute, returned promptly by the Captain.
"TWO."
Sarah snapped back to attention, did a right face, and marched back out of the command building, closely followed my Master Chief Parson doing the same.