Army Regulation (AR) 600-20 Practice Test

Prompt reporting to the chain of command is required when a Soldier’s conduct disrupts good order and discipline and MPs aren’t present. The senior officer, warrant officer, or NCO should promptly gather the Soldier’s identifying information—name, grade, social security number, unit, and duty station—and send this, with a statement of what happened, to the Soldier’s commanding officer without delay. This creates an official record, ensures the right commander is informed, and starts the proper investigation and disciplinary process. It preserves accountability and prevents loss of evidence or misidentification by documenting exactly who was involved and what occurred. Waiting for MPs would delay accountability; detaining a Soldier isn’t appropriate without law-enforcement authority; and while a chaplain can provide support, notifying the chaplain does not fulfill the immediate chain-of-command reporting requirement.