In the US Military, a member of the armed forces, with few exceptions, is not tried by a US State or Federal Court. A court martial is a military tribunal set up to try a military member of a crime.
Any soldier who commits a military crime is court-martialled, i.e. tried by a military court.
Second Lieutenant William Calley was court martialled and convicted for the events at My Lai.
platoon leader Lt. William Calley
The Last Castle
Any soldier who commits a military crime is court-martialled, i.e. tried by a military court.
Three soldiers are court martialled in the Australian film 'Breaker Morant' (1980). Directed by Bruce Beresford, starring Edward Woodward and Bryan Brown, and set during the Boer War.
I think you are talking about the trenches in World War 1. You would be taken to the rear, Court-Martialled (tried) and executed (shot). To have lost your mind because of crushing bombardment was not a defence. Because Officers, who had not experienced this condition, did not recognize it as a medical condition, and called it "cowardice in the face of the enemy".
This is usually carried out by a "Military Tribunal", but may also be done by a senior officer, or in some cases, by a standard criminal or civil court. Many times it is simply called a "court martial", which means military court. This is where the term "court martial" comes from, as in "The soldier was court martialled,"
It makes no difference where he is, if the civilian law enforcement authorities notify the military that sufficient probable cause exists that he committed the crime, the military can take him into custody and ship him back to the US for trial. Depending on the seriousness of the offense the civil authorities might cede authority for his prosecution and punishment to the military justice system and he might be court martialled.
If a soldier is court-martialed, it involves a military trial to determine whether they have violated military law or regulations. This legal process is conducted by a panel of military officers or a judge, depending on the severity of the charges. The soldier has the right to legal representation and can present evidence and witnesses in their defense. Possible outcomes include acquittal, conviction, or other disciplinary actions, such as confinement or dishonorable discharge.
If you are not employed in the military, then you don't ever have to obey an order (unless you are on a military base or installation). If you are in the military, then any order given to you by a higher-ranked officer or NCO, or by your commanding officer, must be followed unless it violates the law. You can't ever decide to simply disobey an order just because of rank; doing so would get you court-martialled.
The number of men court-martialed can vary widely depending on the context, time period, and specific military branch. For example, during major conflicts like World War I and World War II, thousands faced court-martial for various offenses. However, without a specific context or timeframe, it's difficult to provide an exact figure. If you have a particular event or era in mind, I can offer more precise information.