Military Accountability & the Duty to Refuse Unlawful Orders The U.S. military operates under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which requires service members to obey lawful orders while clearly stating they must refuse unlawful ones—such as those violating domestic or international law. This principle, long part of military training and ethics, has come into focus recently through public statements and discussions involving current and former officials. A 2016 video and a November 20