Yes, in effect, they are. While there is no “automatic reduction,” every service member convicted at a general court-martial whose sentence includes a punitive discharge or confinement for one year or more is entitled to two levels of automatic review where a sentence reduction is a possible outcome. This provides a powerful, multi-layered check on the sentence adjudged at the trial level.
The first level is the convening authority’s post-trial action. The convening authority (the commander) has the sole discretion to grant clemency. They can reduce any part of the sentence, such as decreasing the confinement time or disapproving the punitive discharge. The defense attorney submits a formal clemency petition at this stage, arguing for a sentence reduction based on mitigating factors. This is the first opportunity for a reduction.
The second level is the automatic appeal to the service’s Court of Criminal Appeals, as required by Article 66, UCMJ. This court of military judges has a unique power not found in most civilian appellate courts: the power of “sentence appropriateness.” The court will not only review the case for legal error but will also independently assess whether the sentence is appropriate for the crime and the offender. If they find the sentence to be “inappropriately severe,” they have the authority to reduce it, even if there were no legal errors at the trial. This provides a second, powerful, and automatic review for potential sentence reduction.