Final answer:
The maximum punishment under Article 15 of the UCMJ for enlisted members is determined by whether the imposing officer is a company grade or field grade officer, with the latter having authority to impose more severe punishments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two officer categories that determine the maximum punishment imposed under Article 15 of the UCMJ for enlisted members are company grade officers and field grade officers. Company grade officers include O-1 to O-3 (Second Lieutenants, First Lieutenants, and Captains), and they can impose certain restrictions such as extra duties, restriction to certain areas, and loss of pay for one month. Field grade officers encompass ranks O-4 to O-6 (Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, and Colonels) and can enforce more severe punishments compared to company grade officers, such as longer restrictions, reduced pay for more than one month, and reduction in grade for enlisted members.Congress has the authority to set rules for military conduct through Article I, Section 8, Clauses 12-14 of the United States Constitution, which includes the power to maintain a navy and create regulations for governance of the military forces. This authority has been exercised through the enactment of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which prescribes the rules and regulations for military discipline and justice.