Yes, the whole point of NJP is to correct and guide folks worth saving due to minor indiscretions. As an administrative tool, there is a lot of leeway commanders have to fix things.
EXACTLY.
I've seen many instances where the outcome was similar to the following:
- 1/2 month's pay times 1.
- 30 days restriction.
- Reduction in rate, suspended for 6 months.
Translated, that means the guy was fined 1/2 month's pay for one month, was stuck on the ship for 30 days, and STILL RETAINED HIS PAY GRADE.
The "suspended" part was the COs way of saying "I'm THIS close to knocking you down one pay grade, but I think you've learned your lesson so I won't. But prove me wrong in the next 6 months and I'll make it so without having to take you to another NJP to do it."
Call it "probation", if you will.
The kicker, though, is if you screw up badly enough to go to NJP again, that means you go at the reduced rank... which means he can bust you down from there. You stand to lose 2 pay grades, in other words.
COs rarely dish out the max allowable without some really good reason. And they do consider "extenuating circumstances" (things that make the offense less serious, such as being charged with assault but you can show you didn't initiate the fight and was caught up in circumstances) and "mitigating circumstances" (things which may indicate reason to reduce the punishment itself, such as character witnesses, family difficulties, financial problems, etc.)
COs can tailor their punishment options as they see fit to get the point across to the person without adversely affecting his family in the process. Maybe instead of half a months pay, he gets 30 days restriction, for example. Which may actually not affect his family at all if he's deployed at the time.
COs deal with *ssholes and idiots all the time... but they also deal with people who just made poor choices and need to understand those choices have consequences. He doesn't want to get rid of (or destroy the character of) an otherwise good servicemember who has potential.