Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law, are military defense lawyers who have each defended service members for more than 20 years, representing soldiers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. If you’ve received a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR), your career, security clearance, retirement, and reputation are at stake.
Why a GOMOR Rebuttal Matters
- Career impact: A GOMOR can block promotions, eliminate security clearances, and trigger separation proceedings.
- Retirement jeopardy: Even with 20+ years of service, a GOMOR can lead to involuntary separation without retirement pay.
- Future boards: The content of your rebuttal is often read by members of administrative separation boards or Boards of Inquiry.
- Perception of silence: Failing to rebut is seen as an admission of guilt.
How to Write a Winning GOMOR Rebuttal
1. Timing is critical
You usually have 7 to 14 days to respond. Ask for an extension if needed, but never miss the deadline.
2. Set the right tone
Your rebuttal must be professional, respectful, and fact-driven. Avoid angry language or emotional rants.
3. Focus on evidence, not excuses
- Service records: Performance reports, NCOERs/OERs, and awards showing excellence.
- Character statements: From supervisors, peers, and subordinates.
- Documents disproving allegations: Emails, texts, duty logs, or surveillance footage.
- Mitigation: Evidence of rehabilitation, counseling, or training.
4. Attack weaknesses in the allegation
Identify inconsistencies, unreliable witnesses, or lack of corroborating evidence. But do it strategically — not recklessly.
5. Preserve future defenses
Everything in your rebuttal may be used later at an administrative separation board. Avoid admissions that could hurt you in that forum.
Common Mistakes Soldiers Make in GOMOR Rebuttals
- 🔥 Submitting a short, generic “I disagree” response without evidence.
- 🔥 Using emotional or disrespectful language toward commanders.
- 🔥 Ignoring the chance to include strong character statements.
- 🔥 Accidentally admitting misconduct in an effort to “explain.”
- 🔥 Treating the rebuttal as the endgame — instead of step one in a longer defense strategy.
How a Strong GOMOR Rebuttal Sets Up Your Defense at a Separation Board
Many soldiers focus only on “winning” the GOMOR filing decision. But the real strategy is bigger:
- Appeals & Records: A strong rebuttal helps if you later appeal or request removal of the GOMOR from your record.
- Boards of Inquiry: Your rebuttal becomes evidence at an administrative separation board. Weak rebuttals = weak board defense.
- Promotion Boards: Officers reviewing your file will see how you responded under pressure.
Video: Fighting GOMORs in the Army
Why Hire Gonzalez & Waddington for a GOMOR Rebuttal?
Our lawyers have defended service members worldwide in GOMOR rebuttals, administrative separation boards, and Boards of Inquiry. We’ve handled cases from Fort Bragg to Korea, Germany, Kuwait, and Iraq. We know what works — and what commanders and board members respect.
- ✅ Tried hundreds of court-martial and board cases across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard
- ✅ Published authors on military law and trial advocacy
- ✅ Global reputation as elite military defense lawyers
Contact Gonzalez & Waddington at ucmjdefense.com or call 1-800-921-8607 for a confidential consultation.
Video transcript
Transcript of the video “GOMOR for Fraternization: Can It End Your Army Career?,” from Gonzalez & Waddington.
Read the full transcript of this video
If you’ve ever shared your phone password with someone in a new relationship, then listen up. I recently handled a case involving an E7 in the army. He started dating this woman he met online who openly admitted that she had serious trust issues. She told him that every man she had ever dated had cheated on her and abused her. He wanted to show her that he was different than those others.
So, he gave her his phone password, full access. Then, the relationship started to fall apart, as these things often do. So one night while he was asleep she went through everything. She saw that he was still communicating with the mother of his child which is normal but for her it was a betrayal. She became very jealous.
So she kept digging in that phone. She went through messages, photos, videos, old dating apps and she found evidence that 2 years earlier while deployed he had a relationship with a married woman. She downloaded everything and she sent it directly to his command. He wasn’t under investigation before that. He had an outstanding career.
There was no CD case, no suspicion, but within weeks, he was put under investigation and flagged. Eventually, months later, he received a letter reprimand from a general. He was now in a position where he had to fight just to save his career in his retirement. In my 25 years as a lawyer, I’ve seen more military careers damaged and destroyed by unstable relationships than by actual criminal intent. Remember, this didn’t start with a C investigation.
It started with a soldier giving unrestricted access to his entire digital life to someone that was mentally unstable, someone he shouldn’t have trusted. In the military, your phone’s not just personal. It can become discoverable history. It can become evidence. And if someone has chronic trust issues, giving them more access won’t fix it.
It will expose you and it’s going to expose your career. Now, the emotion feels noble in the moment, but stop trying to be a hero. Regulations don’t care about your intentions. If your career matters, protect it before you try to prove loyalty to someone that doesn’t deserve
For how we handle the rebuttal itself, see our main GOMOR rebuttal lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions: Army GOMORs
How long do I have to rebut a GOMOR?
Typically 7–14 days. You can request an extension, but missing the deadline almost guarantees placement in your permanent file.
Can I get a GOMOR removed later?
Yes. You may petition the Department of the Army Suitability Evaluation Board (DASEB) for removal — but success is rare without a strong original rebuttal.
What happens if I don’t submit a rebuttal?
Silence is treated as acceptance. Future boards and commanders will assume the allegations were true.
Can a lawyer write my rebuttal for me?
Yes. Experienced military defense lawyers can draft persuasive rebuttals that preserve your rights and set you up for board defense.
Does a GOMOR always lead to separation?
No, but it often triggers administrative separation boards. A strong rebuttal is your first line of defense.
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