In A Few Good Men, Colonel Jessep gave the illegal order known as a “Code Red.”
A Code Red is the film’s term for an unauthorized, violent punishment carried out by Marines against Private First Class William Santiago. Jessep wanted Santiago disciplined after the Marine caused trouble within the chain of command, and the order was relayed through Lieutenant Kendrick. Dawson and Downey carried it out, but Santiago died after the assault.
The courtroom drama centers on whether the two junior Marines acted independently or followed an order from their superiors. During Kaffee’s questioning, Jessep initially avoids admitting responsibility. Under pressure, he finally acknowledges that he ordered the Code Red, exposing both the command structure behind Santiago’s death and Jessep’s attempt to conceal it.
“Code Red” is a fictionalized expression of military hazing and extrajudicial punishment in the story. It is not the name of a lawful disciplinary procedure. The phrase is also commonly remembered because it leads directly into the film’s famous “You can't handle the truth!” exchange.