Character Letters That Actually Work (And The Ones Commanders Hate)
When a soldier receives a GOMOR, their first instinct is often panic. They run around the unit asking everyone—from their roommate to the chaplain—to write a “character letter.” They stack 20 of these letters onto their rebuttal and submit it, hoping the sheer volume of paper will weigh down the scale of justice.
This is a mistake.
General Officers hate these stacks. They call them “fluff.” A General knows that anyone can find five friends to say they are a “good guy.” If you want to stop a permanent filing, you don’t need friends. You need advocates. You need letters that argue readiness, not popularity.
The “Good Guy” Fallacy
Most self-written character letters fail because they ignore the elephant in the room: the misconduct. They look like this:
“I have known SGT Smith for 3 years. We go fishing on weekends and he is a great father. He is always on time for formation. He is a great asset to the team.”
The “Gold Standard”: The Informed Support Letter
At Gonzalez & Waddington, we don’t let your witnesses write their own letters. We interview them, and then we draft the letter for them to sign (if they agree with the content). This ensures the letter hits the specific legal points we need.
A winning letter must follow the “Knowledge-Value-Rehabilitation” formula.
“I am aware that SSG Jones has been reprimanded for an alcohol-related incident. I do not condone this behavior. However, as the Battalion Maintenance Officer, I must emphasize that SSG Jones is the only NCO certified to repair the X-System Radar. Losing him would delay our upcoming deployment certification by 3 months. I have observed his conduct since the incident; he has taken full ownership. For the sake of unit readiness, I strongly recommend retention and local filing.”
- It acknowledges the crime: The writer isn’t blind; they are making a conscious choice to support you despite the mistake.
- It speaks “General” language: It focuses on “Readiness,” “Deployment,” and “Certification.”
- It raises the stakes: It tells the General that firing this soldier will hurt the unit’s mission.
Who Should Write For You? (Rank Matters)
This is hard for junior soldiers to hear, but in a GOMOR rebuttal, rank matters. A letter from a Specialist carries almost zero weight. A letter from a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) or a Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) carries immense weight.
Why? Because a Senior NCO or Officer has a reputation to protect. If a CSM writes a letter of support for a soldier with a DUI, that CSM is spending their own “political capital.” The General respects that risk.
The Gonzalez & Waddington Strategy
We often call your Senior Leaders ourselves. It is harder for a 1SG to brush off a civilian attorney than a junior soldier. We explain the legal stakes and ask: “We aren’t asking you to excuse the crime. We are asking if this soldier is worth saving. If the answer is yes, will you help us tell the General why?”
The “Kiss of Death” Letter
There is one type of letter that is worse than no letter at all: The Blame-Shifting Letter.
If your witness writes, “I think the MPs were too hard on him,” or “It wasn’t really his fault,” the General will see this as a lack of accountability in your entire unit. This can cause the General to file the GOMOR permanently just to “send a message” to the command climate. We meticulously screen every attachment to ensure no “toxic help” makes it into your packet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use civilian character letters?
You can, but they are less effective. A letter from your pastor or mom speaks to your moral character, but they don’t know if you are a good soldier. Military letters regarding your duty performance are 10x more valuable.
How many letters do I need?
We aim for 3 to 5 “High Impact” letters. We would rather have three letters from E-7s and above than twenty letters from E-4s. Quality over quantity always wins.
What if my Chain of Command won’t write for me?
This is common. In this case, we look laterally. We find former Platoon Sergeants, leaders from previous units, or Warrant Officers you have worked with. We also use your NCOERs/OERs as “silent witnesses” to prove your history of excellence.
We Know What Generals Want to Read
Don’t submit a stack of useless paper. Let us help you curate a rebuttal packet that demands attention. We draft, edit, and organize your evidence for maximum impact.
Contact Gonzalez & Waddington today at 1-800-921-8607 or visit ucmjdefense.com.
