Originally Posted by Former AF JAG
So you are saying that Lakin did not understand the following question:
MC [military judge]: "… Your plea will not be accepted unless you realize that, by your plea, you admit every act or omission, and every element, of the offenses for which you’ve pled guilty, and that you are pleading guilty because you are actually, in fact, guilty. If you do not believe that you are guilty, you should not, for any reason, plead guilty.
"Do you understand what I said so far?"
ACC [accused, i.e., Lakin]: "Yes, Your Honor."
IOW, the court also gave him advice. When told that he should not plead guilty if he did not believe he was guilty, Lakin said he understood that. Then he pled guilty.