personnel only, you may include all the details stated  previously.  If  the  POD  is  distributed  to other than military personnel, NJP results may be published without the name of the accused. POSSIBLE   ACTIONS BY  THE  CO  AT  MAST Dismissal  with  or  without  warning–This action  is  taken  if  the  CO  is  not  convinced  by the  evidence  that  the  accused  is  guilty  of  an offense  or  decides  that  no  punishment  is appropriate  in  light  of  the  accused’s  record and   other   circumstances.   Dismissal,   whether with  or  without  a  warning,  is  not  considered NJP,  nor  is  it  considered  an  acquittal. Referral  to  an  SCM,  SPCM,  or  a  pretrial investigation  under  Article  32.  UCMJ–The  CO may,  at  his  or  her  sole  discretion,  refer  the charge(s)  to  an  SCM,  an  SPCM  or  an  Article 32  investigation.  This  will,  of  course,  depend upon  the  severity  of  the  charges. Postponement   of   action–The   CO   may postpone  any  action  on  the  NJP  pending further  investigation  or  for  other  good  cause, such  as  a  pending  trial  by  civil  authorities  for the  same  offense. Imposition  of  NJP–The  CO  may  impose NJP   and   award   any   of   the   authorized punishments  outlined  in  part  V,  par.  5,  MCM. AUTHORIZED   PUNISHMENTS If  the  CO  is  convinced  by  the  evidence that  the  accused  is  guilty  of  the  offense(s)  and he or she deems punishment is proper, the CO has  wide  latitude  to  impose  punishment. There are, however, limitations that are placed on the CO based upon his or her rank and the status  of  the  accused. LIMITATIONS The  maximum  imposable  punishment  in any   Article   15,   UCMJ,   case   is   limited   by several  factors  that  include  the  following: l   The   grade   of   the   imposing   officer–COs in  grades  O-4  to  O-6  have  greater  punishment powers  than  officers  in  grades  O-1  to  O-3. Flag  officers,  general  officers,  and  OEGCMJs have greater punishment authority than COs in grades  O-4  to  O-6. l The status o f the imposing officer-Regardless  of  the  rank  of  an  OIC,  his or  her  punishment  power  is  limited  to  that  of a  CO  in  grades  O-1  to  O-3.  The  punishment powers  of  a  CO  are  commensurate  with  his  or her  permanent  grade. l  The  status  of  the  accused–Punishment authority  is  also  limited  by  the  status  of  the accused. Is  the  accused  an  officer  or  an enlisted  person  attached  to  or  embarked  in  a vessel? Maximum  punishment  limitations  apply  to each   NJP   action   and   not   to   each   offense. Note  that  there  is  a  policy  that  all  known offenses   that   the   accused   is   suspected   of should  ordinarily  be  considered  at  a  single Article  15  hearing. MAXIMUM  LIMITS-SPECIFIC There   are   specific   maximum   limits   on punishment   that   may   be   imposed   on   an individual. Depending  upon  whether  the accused  is  an  officer,  a  warrant  officer,  or  an enlisted  person  will  depend  on  the  type  of punishment  that  may  be  imposed.  Also  the rank  of  the  official  imposing  the  punishment is  a  limiting  factor  on  the  amount  and  type  of punishment   that   may   be   awarded.   A   flow chart  demonstrating  this  follows: 1.  Upon commissioned   officers   and warrant  officers 9-11