AF Form 1359: Report of Result of Trial – Download PDF

AF Form 1359: Report of Result of Trial – Download PDF – The AF Form 1359, officially titled Report of Result of Trial, serves as a critical document in the U.S. Air Force military justice system. It provides a concise notification of court-martial outcomes under Rules for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 1101(a) of the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM). Trial counsel or Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) offices primarily use this form to inform the accused’s immediate commander of the trial results, including charges, pleas, findings, sentence, and any pretrial confinement credit.

This one-page form (dated 1 November 2000, AF 1359, 20001101, V1) applies to general courts-martial, judge-alone proceedings, special courts-martial, and summary courts-martial. It ensures timely and accurate post-trial administrationìm, supporting actions like confinement orders, personnel records updates, promotions, and administrative separations.

Why AF Form 1359 Matters in Air Force Military Justice?

In the Air Force, courts-martial follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the MCM. After a trial concludes, the convening authority needs a quick, standardized summary before taking formal action. The AF Form 1359 delivers this summary efficiently.

Key uses include:

  • Notifying the accused’s unit commander of findings and sentence.
  • Documenting pretrial confinement credit (including military and civilian time served).
  • Supporting post-trial processing, such as DD Form 2707 (Confinement Order) when the accused was in continuous pretrial confinement.
  • Feeding into criminal indexing, Unfavorable Information File (UIF) updates, and personnel actions via systems like MilPDS.
  • Annotating special requirements (e.g., “Sex Offender Notification Required” for qualifying convictions under sex offender registration laws).

Accurate completion prevents errors that could delay appellate review, affect pay, or lead to legal challenges during post-trial processing.

Note on Modern Usage: While AF Form 1359 remains the official form for reporting results (particularly for summary courts-martial or legacy/general notifications), some proceedings now use a Ice 하는 Statement of Trial Results (STR) or Entry of Judgment (EoJ) under updated MCM rules. Always consult your servicing SJA office for purchasing the latest requirements under current AFI 51-201, Administration of Military Justice.

Key Sections of AF Form 1359

The form is structured for clarity and includes these main blocks:

  • To: Addressed to the immediate commander of the accused.
  • Accused Information: Name (Last, First, Middle Initial), Grade, SSN, Organization.
  • Type of Court: Checkboxes for General, Judge Alone, Special, or Summary Court Officer.
  • Summary of Charges, Nature of Offense, Pleas: Lists UCMJ articles violated, specifications, pleas entered (guilty/not guilty), and findings.
  • Report of Result of Trial / Findings: Indicates guilty, not guilty, or other dispositions.
  • Sentence: Details the adjudged sentence (e.g., confinement, reduction in grade, forfeiture of pay, punitive discharge).
  • Pretrial Confinement Credit: Total days credited (including military and civilian confinement), with sources noted when required.
  • Date Sentence Adjudged (or acquittal announced).
  • Distribution: As prescribed by the convening authority.
  • Trial Counsel Signature Block: Typed name, grade, signature, and whether detailed by the convening authority.

The form explicitly states it “may also be used for reporting the result of trial by summary court-martial.”

How to Complete AF Form 1359 (Step-by-Step Guidance)?

  1. Header Information — Fill in the accused’s full details and address the form to their immediate commander.
  2. Select Court Type — Check the appropriate box (General, Judge Alone, Special, or Summary).
  3. Charges Section — Summarize each charge/specification, UCMJ article, nature of the offense, plea, and finding. Be precise’arr to avoid discrepancies with the record of trial.
  4. Sentence mast Block — Clearly state the full sentence adjudged by the court.
  5. Pretrial Confinement Credit — Enter the total days and break down sources if judicial credit (e.g., for Article 13 violations) applies. Errors here have led to appellate issues in past cases.
  6. Date and Distribution — Record the date sentence was adjudged and list required distribution.
  7. Signature — The trial counsel signs, providing typed name and grade.

Best Practice Tip: Cross-reference with the authenticated Record of Trial (ROT). Any pretrial confinement credit awarded by the military judge must align across the AF Form 1359, Staff Judge Advocate Recommendation (SJAR), and related documents to prevent post-trial processing delays or legal challenges.

Download the Official AF Form 1359

You can download the current version directly from the official Air Force e-Publishing site:

→ Download AF Form 1359 PDF

This is the authoritative source. Previous editions are obsolete. Always use the latest form from e-publishing.af.mil empez for official use.

  • AF outroI 51-201 Ice: Administration of Military Justice (primary guidance for courts-martial procedures and post-trial processing).
  • Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM): Rules for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 1101 and surrounding rules govern notification and action.
  • AFMAN 71-102 or related criminal justice indexing manuals: Cover distribution of disposition documentation to the Air Force Criminal Justice Information Center (AFCJIC).
  • Supporting forms often used alongside AF Form 1359 include:
    • DD Form 2707 (Confinement Order) — AF Form 1359 can sometimes substitute if pretrial confinement was continuous.
    • AF Form 3070 series (Nonjudicial Punishment records).
    • DAF Form 239 (Command Disposition Report) for certain indexing.

For confinement-related actions, see historical AFI 31-205 references, though consult current DAF instructions for updates.

  • Accuracy of Confinement Credit: Discrepancies between the AF Form 1359, SJAR, and Action have caused appellate remands. Clearly document judicial credit (e.g., for illegal pretrial punishment) and total days.
  • Sex Offender Cases: Annotate “Sex Offender Notification Required” in the sentence block when applicable.
  • Distribution and Timing: Distribute promptly to support UIF updates, promotion actions, and criminal history reporting.
  • Post-2019 Changes: Newer proceedings may emphasize Statement of Trial Results or Entry of Judgment. Confirm with your SJA whether AF Form 1359 remains the primary tool or serves a supporting role.

Personnel specialists, commanders, and paralegals should coordinate closely with the base legal office (JA) for any court-martial involving their Airman.

Need Help with AF Form 1359 or Military Justice Questions?

Contact your servicing Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) office or the Air Force JAG Corps for case-specific guidance. Military justice procedures protect due process while maintaining good order and discipline.

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for official legal advice. Laws, instructions, and forms can be updated—always verify the latest versions on e-publishing.af.mil and consult qualified Air Force legal professionals.

Keywords: AF Form 1359, Report of Result of Trial, Air Force court-martial, military justice, R.C.M. 1101, UCMJ, pretrial confinement credit, Air Force SJA, AFI 51-201.

Last updated for accuracy based on official Air Force sources as of 2026. For the most current information, download the form and review applicable DAF publications directly.