In naval tradition

Naval tradition

A naval tradition is a tradition that is, or has been, observed in one or more navies.A basic tradition is that all ships commissioned in a navy are referred to as ships rather than vessels, with the exception of submarines, which are known as boats. The prefix on a ship's name indicates that it is...

, a mast is a non-judicial punishment

Nonjudicial punishment

Non-judicial punishment in the United States military, is a form of military justice authorized by Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Non-judicial punishment or "NJP" permits commanders to administratively discipline troops without a court-martial...

 ("NJP") disciplinary hearing in which a commanding officer

Commanding officer

The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...

 studies and disposes of cases involving those in his or her command. If the officer

Officer (armed forces)

An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...

 is a captain

Captain (naval)

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....

, as in most cases, it is referred to as a captain's mast. If an admiral

Admiral

Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...

 is overseeing the mast, it is then referred to as an admiral's mast or a flag mast.

A captain's mast is a procedure whereby the commanding officer must:

• Make inquiry into the facts surrounding minor offenses allegedly committed by a member of the command;
• Afford the accused a hearing as to such offenses; and
• Dispose of such charges by dismissing the charges, imposing punishment under the provisions of military law
  Military law
  Military justice is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many states have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their armed forces. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use...
  
   or referring the case to a court-martial
  Court-martial
  A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
  
  .

A captain's mast is not:

• A trial
  Trial
  A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
  
  , as the term "non-judicial" implies;
• A conviction
  Conviction
  In law, a conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime.The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal . In Scotland and in the Netherlands, there can also be a verdict of "not proven", which counts as an acquittal...
  
  , even if punishment is imposed;
• An acquittal
  Acquittal
  In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
  
  , even if punishment is not imposed.

In the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 and Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

, these proceedings take place under the authority of Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Uniform Code of Military Justice

The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....

.

The term mast may also refer to when a captain or commanding officer makes themself available to hear concerns, complaints or requests from their crew. Traditionally, the captain would stand at the main mast. The crew, who by custom did not speak with the captain, could speak to him directly at these times. In modern times, a meritorious mast refers to the commanding officer taking this time to single out a member of the crew for praise. It could also refer to the naval punishment of tying one to a mast and lashing them with a whip.