(a) The mandate of the Court shall issue 7 days after the expiration of the time for filing a petition for reconsideration under Rule 31 (a) unless such a petition is filed or the time is shortened or enlarged by order. A certified dated copy of the judgment and a copy of the opinion of the Court, if any, shall constitute the mandate, unless the Court directs that a formal mandate issue. The timely filing of a petition for reconsideration shall stay the mandate until disposition of the petition unless otherwise ordered by the Court. If the petition is denied, the mandate shall issue 7 days after entry of the order denying the petition unless the time is shortened or enlarged by order. In any case, the Court may order the mandate to issue forthwith.

(b) The effective date of any order shall be the date of that order, and no mandate shall issue. The Clerk shall distribute copies of all such orders to all parties and the Judge Advocate General of the service in which the case arose.