To realize the full effectiveness of Article 15, you should be aware of your power to grant clemency and your duties and responsibilities should an offender decide to appeal. You may delay executing punishment no more than 30 days. Otherwise, unsuspended punishments are effective when you impose them. Under Article 15, you may suspend, mitigate, remit, or set aside punishment if you conclude that the circumstances of the case warrant it. This power gives you effective means for rehabilitating offenders.
Suspension permits offenders to demonstrate good conduct and efficiency.
It provides them with an incentive to stay out of trouble. You may suspend the unexecuted portion of any punishment for a reasonable time, not to exceed six months. In fact, the MCM permits you to suspend a reduction in grade or forfeiture of pay any time within four months after you have imposed it, even if you have already executed it. For example, if you reduced a soldier from E3 to E2 in January, and he performs well later, you may suspend the reduction any time before May. You may consider suspension in all cases, but it is most effective with offenders who have no previous disciplinary problems.