In order from least severe to most severe, which is the correct order of types of courts-martial?

The correct order of types of courts-martial, from least severe to most severe, is indeed summary, special, and general.

A summary court-martial is designed to address minor offenses and is the least formal type. It involves a single officer who acts as the judge and provides a rapid resolution to cases, which usually results in lighter penalties like confinement for a short period, reduction in rank, or other non-serious punitive measures.

A special court-martial is more formal than a summary court-martial and typically deals with more serious offenses. It consists of a military judge and at least three members, allowing for a broader range of penalties, up to and including confinement for one year, bad conduct discharge, or reduction in rank.

A general court-martial is the most severe among the three and is used for the most serious offenses, such as felonies involving service members. It offers full legal proceedings, including a military judge and at least five members, with the authority to impose the harshest punishments, including confinement for life, dishonorable discharge, or even the death penalty in extreme cases.

In summary, the escalation from less to more severe holds strong, reflecting the increasing gravity of the offenses handled by each