Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 60 - Punitive Sections
Section 6023 - Misbehavior before enemy


Any person subject to this part who, before or in the presence of the enemy:
(1) runs away;
(2) shamefully abandons, surrenders or delivers up any command, unit, place or military property which it is his duty to defend;
(3) through disobedience, neglect or intentional misconduct endangers the safety of any such command, unit, place or military property;
(4) casts away his arms or ammunition;
(5) is guilty of cowardly conduct;
(6) quits his place of duty to plunder or pillage;
(7) causes false alarms in any command, unit or place under control of the armed forces of the United States or the State military forces;
(8) willfully fails to do his utmost to encounter, engage, capture or destroy any enemy troops, combatants, vessels, aircraft or any other thing, which it is his duty so to encounter, engage, capture or destroy; or
(9) does not afford all practicable relief and assistance to any troops, combatants, vessels or aircraft of the armed forces belonging to the United States or their allies, to the Commonwealth or to any other state, when engaged in battle;
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

Cross References. Section 6023 is referred to in section 6006 of this title.

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 51 - MILITARY AFFAIRS

Chapter 60 - Punitive Sections

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 6001 - Principals

Section 6002 - Accessory after the fact

Section 6003 - Conviction of lesser included offense

Section 6004 - Attempts

Section 6005 - Conspiracy

Section 6006 - Solicitation

Section 6007 - Fraudulent enlistment, appointment or separation

Section 6008 - Unlawful enlistment, appointment or separation

Section 6009 - Desertion

Section 6010 - Absence without leave

Section 6011 - Missing movement

Section 6012 - Contempt toward officials

Section 6013 - Disrespect toward superior commissioned officer

Section 6014 - Assaulting or willfully disobeying superior commissioned officer

Section 6015 - Insubordinate conduct toward warrant officer, noncommissioned officer or petty officer

Section 6016 - Failure to obey order or regulation

Section 6017 - Cruelty and maltreatment

Section 6018 - Mutiny or sedition

Section 6019 - Resistance, flight, breach of arrest and escape

Section 6020 - Releasing prisoner without proper authority

Section 6021 - Unlawful detention of another

Section 6022 - Noncompliance with procedural rules

Section 6023 - Misbehavior before enemy

Section 6024 - Subordinate compelling surrender

Section 6025 - Improper use of countersign

Section 6026 - Forcing a safeguard

Section 6027 - Captured or abandoned property

Section 6028 - Aiding the enemy

Section 6029 - Misconduct of prisoner

Section 6030 - False official statements

Section 6031 - Loss, damage, destruction or wrongful disposition of military property

Section 6032 - Waste, spoilage or destruction of nonmilitary property

Section 6033 - Improper hazarding of vessel

Section 6034 - Drunken or reckless driving

Section 6035 - Drunk on duty, sleeping on post and leaving post before relief

Section 6036 - Dueling

Section 6037 - Malingering

Section 6038 - Riot or breach of peace

Section 6039 - Provoking speeches or gestures

Section 6040 - Perjury

Section 6041 - Frauds against government

Section 6042 - Larceny and wrongful appropriation

Section 6043 - Assault

Section 6044 - Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman

Section 6045 - General article

Section 6046 - Embezzlement

Section 6047 - Purchasing and receiving military property in pawn

Section 6048 - Wrongful use and possession of controlled substances