Article 31B equation?

• A. Interrogation + UCMJ suspect + UCMJ questioner
• B. Interrogation + civilian suspect + civilian questioner
• C. Custody + Miranda + waiver
• D. Interrogation + witness

Answer: (A)

In the military justice context, Article 31B warnings kick in when a service member is being interrogated about a UCMJ offense by someone who is also subject to the UCMJ. That combination—interrogation, a UCMJ suspect, and a UCMJ questioner—is the trigger that makes Article 31B rights applicable, similar in purpose to Miranda warnings but specific to military investigators.

So the best choice is the one that includes all three elements: interrogation, a suspect under the UCMJ, and a questioner who is subject to the UCMJ. This captures the exact situation where Article 31B rights must be provided.

Why the other scenarios don’t fit: involving a civilian suspect and a civilian questioner falls under civilian Miranda rules, not Article 31B. Mixing in custody and a Miranda waiver shifts away from the military-specific framework and its safeguards. Interrogation of a witness, rather than a suspect, doesn’t trigger Article 31B at all.