Section 54: Insubordinate behaviour

(1) A person subject to service law under this Act who-
(a) strikes or otherwise uses violence to, or offers violence to, his superior officer; or
(b) uses threatening or insubordinate language to his superior officer,
is guilty of an offence under this section and liable, on conviction by a court-martial, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or any less punishment provided by this Act.
(2) A person convicted under subsection (1) of this section shall only be liable to be imprisoned for not more than two years if the offence was committed on active service or involved the striking or other use of violence, to the superior officer exercising authority as such.
(3)
In subsections (1) and (2) of this section, "superior officer" in relation to a person, means an officer, a warrant officer or its equivalent rank, non-commissioned officer subject to service law under this Act of superior rank, and includes an officer, a warrant officer or its equivalent rank, or non-commissioned officer so subject of equal rank but greater seniority while exercising authority as that person's superior.