A court-martial sentence involving forfeiture of pay becomes effective on the date approved by which authority?

A court-martial sentence involving forfeiture of pay becomes effective on the date approved by the convening authority. The convening authority is the military official who has the authority to convene a court-martial and is responsible for making decisions related to that court-martial, including the approval of the sentence.

Once the verdict is reached and the sentence pronouncement occurs, the convening authority reviews the findings and sentence for legal sufficiency. If the authority approves the sentence, that approval marks the official starting point for the enforcement of any penalties, including forfeiture of pay. This means that the individual may begin to see the effects of the forfeiture from that date forward.

In cases of court-martial, while other authorities such as disciplinary authorities and reviewing boards have roles in the process, the convening authority holds the final decision-making power regarding the approval of the sentence. As a result, understanding the role of the convening authority is crucial for comprehending how court-martial sentences are executed within military law.