Commentary First Group of Parts – Discipline Part 6 – Summary Hearing and Appeals and Review Section 143: Officers and warrant officers qualified for membership of the SAC
302.This section provides that, subject to certain exceptions, an officer is qualified to act as a member if he has held a commission in HM Forces for at least 3 years (or for periods totalling 3 years) or he was a warrant officer in HM Forces immediately before receiving his commission. There is no length of service requirement for a warrant officer as a non-commissioned officer who has attained this rank has considerable service experience (an acting warrant officer is not qualified to sit). The exceptions to these general qualifications are listed and include lawyers and service policemen; this is in order to prevent any actual or perceived bias that could arise if a person connected with the service disciplinary process is appointed as a member.