QP!
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Again..
AI Summary:
The U.S. military teaches (or includes in its doctrine) that service members may have a duty to refuse “clearly illegal” orders. Here’s what the publicly available evidence shows.
What the Military Academies teach
- Military Law / Training Materials
- The Army’s The Army Lawyer (official JAG publication) has “Practice Notes” stating that if an order is “illegal” then service members may be required to refuse it. JAG Legal Center & School
- This means there is recognition in legal-education materials of a duty to disobey illegal orders. JAG Legal Center & School
- Military Law Task Force (MLTF) Guidance
- According to their 2025 FAQ, all service members “have the right, and in some cases have the duty, to refuse illegal orders.” Military Law Task Force
- They note that under the UCMJ, an order is not binding if it's “illegal” (e.g. directing a crime). Military Law Task Force
- Legal / Constitutional Basis in Doctrine
- According to a Just Security paper, U.S. military doctrine (and the Manual for Courts-Martial) reflects that duty: service members must refuse orders that are “unlawful.” Just Security
- Loyola University-Chicago law scholars note that under the Law of War Manual and UCMJ, there is a recognized duty to refuse “illegal” orders. Law Scholars
- Surveys of Active-Duty Troops
- A 2025 survey of U.S. troops (Military.com) found 80% of respondents understood that they have a duty to disobey illegal orders. Military.com+1
