Which type of court martial is the least serious?

The least serious type of court-martial is the summary court-martial. This type of court-martial is designed to handle minor offenses and is less formal in nature compared to the other types. It typically involves a single officer acting as the judge and can result in limited punishments, such as reduction in rank, extra duty, or minor fines.

The summary court-martial provides a streamlined process to address less severe incidents without the extensive procedures associated with special or general court-martials. It serves as an efficient way to maintain discipline and order within the ranks while ensuring that cases that do not warrant severe penalties are dealt with appropriately.

In contrast, special and general court-martials handle more serious offenses and have the potential for more severe punishments, including confinement and dishonorable discharge. Field court-martials, while less common, are also more formal than summary court-martials and are used in combat situations. Therefore, the summary court-martial stands out as the least serious option among them.