Military
For military families
Military life adds layers — base housing, command, deployment. Your options are bigger than you may think.
UCMJ Article 128b — domestic violence in the military
Added by the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, Article 128b made domestic violence a stand-alone offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It improved accountability and reflects the seriousness of DV within the armed forces.
From FY2021 to FY2023, military law enforcement investigated 7,410 allegations under Article 128b across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
What Article 128b prohibits
- Assault against a spouse, intimate partner, or immediate family member
- Threats, intimidation, or coercion against a domestic partner
- Stalking
- Destruction of property belonging to a spouse or partner
- Violating a protective order — military or civilian
- Inflicting emotional abuse with intent to control or intimidate
Importantly, this includes physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological abuse — not just physical assault.
Who is protected
- A current or former spouse
- A person with whom the accused shares a child
- A current or former intimate partner
- A roommate or live-in partner
- Anyone similarly situated under domestic or family violence laws
Reporting and support options
Family Advocacy Program (FAP)
Available on every installation. Offers safety planning, counseling, and clinical case review — separate from law enforcement.
Restricted vs. unrestricted reporting
Restricted: confidential support without command notification. Unrestricted: triggers a command and law enforcement response. You can switch from restricted to unrestricted later — not the other way.
Military Protective Orders (MPO)
Issued by the service member's commander. Fast, but only enforceable on base. Often paired with a civilian protective order.
NCIS / CID / OSI
The investigative arms of the Navy/USMC, Army, and Air Force. They handle felony-level investigations.
Chain of command concerns
If your command response feels unsafe, you can request a victim advocate or contact the IG, congressional liaison, or DoD Safe Helpline.
External oversight
DoD Safe Helpline, SAPRO, and the Office of the Inspector General provide pathways outside your immediate chain.