Under Article 15, what is required to impose a punishment?

Under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the requirement to impose punishment includes conducting a proper investigation. This is crucial as it ensures that the command authority has sufficient evidence and understanding of the situation before taking disciplinary action. The investigation process seeks to ascertain the facts of the alleged misconduct, ensuring fairness to the service member involved. It is essential for maintaining justice and maintaining trust in the military justice system.

The other options do not align with the stipulations of Article 15; for instance, approval from the President is not necessary for commanding officers to impose non-judicial punishment. Additionally, while unit readiness is important, it does not directly relate to the fundamental requirement of conducting an investigation prior to punishment. Judicial review is also not a factor in this context, as Article 15 processes are intended to be administered at the company or field level without a formal court review.