Florida Military UCMJ Case Types – Court-Martials, Article 15/NJP, BOIs, GOMORs & Investigations – Florida UCMJ Attorneys

Comprehensive Guide for Florida Service Members Facing Military Justice Actions

Florida is one of the most active military states in the country. With major installations such as NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, NAS Pensacola, Hurlburt Field, Eglin AFB, Tyndall AFB, Patrick Space Force Base, Homestead ARB, NSA Panama City, NAS Key West, and multiple Coast Guard sectors and air stations, Florida hosts tens of thousands of Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guard members.

Because of this density and operational tempo, Florida also generates an unusually high number of UCMJ cases, command investigations, NJPs, administrative separations, Boards of Inquiry, GOMORs, and law enforcement investigations (NCIS, OSI, CID, CGIS). Many of these actions are driven by alcohol-heavy nightlife, beach tourism, domestic disputes, training environments, and political pressure on command to “act quickly” when accusations arise.

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law is a globally recognized military defense firm focused heavily on Florida-based cases. This guide explains the major types of military cases Florida service members face, what to expect, and how our firm defends you at every stage.

If you are under investigation or facing any of the case types below in Florida, you should treat it as a serious threat to your career and freedom.

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1. Court-Martials in Florida (General, Special & Summary)

A court-martial is the military’s criminal court. If your case is sent to court-martial, you are facing a federal criminal trial that can result in confinement, a federal conviction, a punitive discharge, loss of rank and benefits, and a permanent criminal record.

Types of Court-Martial:

• General Court-Martial (GCM) – Most serious. Felony-level, often for sexual assault, serious domestic violence, drug distribution, major fraud, or serious violence.
• Special Court-Martial (SPCM) – Mid-level. Can impose up to 12 months confinement, BCD, reduction, forfeitures.
• Summary Court-Martial – Typically for lower-level misconduct; still dangerous because it creates a criminal record and damages your career.

Where Court-Martials Happen in Florida:

• NAS Jacksonville & NS Mayport – high volume of sexual assault & domestic cases
• NAS Pensacola & NAS Whiting Field – trainee-heavy UCMJ prosecutions
• Eglin AFB & Hurlburt Field – AFSOC, test & operational cases
• Tyndall AFB – aviation & sexual assault cases
• Patrick SFB – clearance-heavy cases involving Guardians & Airmen
• NSA Panama City & NDSTC – diving, EOD & training-related cases
• Sector Miami, Sector Jacksonville, Sector Key West, AIRSTA Clearwater – Coast Guard court-martials

What Florida Service Members Can Expect:

• Rapid law enforcement involvement: NCIS/OSI/CID/CGIS plus local police
• Command pressure to “send a message” in high-visibility cases
• Political/media sensitivity in sex, DV, and alcohol cases
• Stacked panels (members) who are heavily briefed on “good order & discipline” rhetoric
• Need for aggressive, experienced trial counsel — not just a JAG who’s rotating in and out

Our firm aggressively cross-examines witnesses, attacks weak forensic and digital evidence, exposes investigative bias, and pushes back on unlawful command influence — especially common in Florida’s high-profile installations.

2. Article 15 / NJP / Captain’s Mast in Florida

Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP), called Article 15 (Army/Air Force/Space Force) or Captain’s Mast / Office Hours (Navy/Marine Corps), is a powerful disciplinary tool that can wreck your career without a trial.

Why NJP in Florida Is Dangerous:

• Commands at Florida bases often use NJP as a quick “fix” after civilian arrests or bar incidents.
• You may feel pressured to “just accept it” to avoid a court-martial — but the resulting record can end promotions and re-enlistment.
• NJP records can drive later separation boards, QMP, QSP, or GOMORs.

Common NJP Sources in Florida:

• Alcohol incidents in Jacksonville Beach, Pensacola Beach, Destin, Clearwater, Tampa’s Ybor City, Miami Beach, Key West
• Liberty violations, disrespect, minor drug possession, dereliction
• “Bar fights,” disorderly conduct, or civilian police calls

We help Florida service members evaluate whether to accept or refuse NJP, shape the record, present mitigation and defense evidence, and prepare for possible follow-on separation actions.

3. Reprimands, GOMORs & Negative Evaluations

GOMORs (General Officer Memoranda of Reprimand), written reprimands, and negative evaluations (OER/NCOER, FITREP/EPR) are often used in Florida commands when there is smoke but no fire — or when leadership wants punishment without the burden of proof.

Why Reprimands Matter:

• Permanently filed GOMORs are career killers
• Negative evals tank promotions, schools, and retention boards
• Record entries drive QMP, QSP, and administrative separations

Florida-Specific Patterns:

• GOMORs for off-duty DUIs, bar fights, and domestic cases
• Reprimands for failure to report, fraternization, “poor judgment” in nightlife districts
• Negative evals following civilian police involvement in Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Pensacola

We write aggressive, detailed rebuttals for GOMORs, Page 11s, Letters of Reprimand, and negative evals — tailored to commands and political climates at each Florida installation.

4. Boards of Inquiry (BOIs), Boards of Officers & Officer Elimination

BOIs / Boards of Inquiry are administrative trials for officers. For officers stationed in Florida, a BOI often comes after an investigation, GOMOR, IG complaint, or allegation that did not go (or could not go) to court-martial.

What Officers in Florida Can Expect:

• Commands framing the BOI as a “career referendum” rather than a fact-finding event
• Heavy emphasis on “loss of trust and confidence” by senior commanders
• A panel of field-grade officers reviewing years of service based on a single allegation

We represent Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard, and Space Force officers in Florida BOIs and elimination boards, building comprehensive case themes, cross-examining witnesses, and arguing for retention or at least an honorable discharge characterization.

5. Administrative Separations (Enlisted)

Administrative separation boards (ADSEP, Chapter boards, etc.) are among the most common case types we see in Florida. Commands routinely attempt to separate enlisted members after:

• Article 15/NJP
• GOMOR / negative eval
• Civilian arrest (even with dropped charges)
• Allegations of misconduct without sufficient evidence for trial

Florida Installations Where Separations Are Common:

• NAS Pensacola & NAS Whiting Field – student disenrollment + separation
• NAS Jacksonville & Mayport – misconduct and “loss of confidence” cases
• Eglin & Hurlburt – alcohol, DV, and “not suitable for SOF” narratives
• Tyndall & Patrick SFB – clearance-driven separation attempts
• NDSTC / NSA Panama City – training mishap and personality conflict cases

We fight Florida separation boards like trials — cross-examining witnesses, presenting character evidence, timelines, digital records, and mitigation to keep you in or secure honorable service.

6. Command Investigations & AR 15-6 / JAGMAN / CGIS-Triggered Inquiries

Before NJP, GOMORs, or separation boards, there’s often a command investigation. In the Army this might be an AR 15-6 inquiry; in the Navy/Marine Corps, a JAGMAN investigation; in the Coast Guard, a CGIS or command-directed investigation.

What Florida Service Members Should Expect from Command Investigations:

• Investigators frequently start from a presumption that “where there’s smoke, there’s fire”
• Witnesses are often interviewed with leading questions
• Exculpatory evidence (texts, videos, context) is ignored or minimized
• Findings are often written to match command expectations

We advise Florida service members through the command-investigation stage, including whether to submit written statements, how to handle interviews, and how to prepare for follow-on actions.

7. GOMORs, Page 11s, Letters of Reprimand & Rebuttals

Florida commands rely heavily on paper punishment — GOMORs, Page 11s, Letters of Admonishment (LOA), Letters of Reprimand (LOR), negative evals — especially when a case is “too weak” to prosecute criminally but too politically sensitive to ignore.

We help Florida service members by:

• Drafting strong written rebuttals tailored to the command and fact pattern
• Documenting exculpatory evidence and witness statements
• Framing the event in context — operational tempo, stress, misunderstandings
• Arguing for local filing rather than permanent, career-ending filing

A properly drafted rebuttal often makes the difference between career salvage and total destruction.

8. Military Law Enforcement Investigations (NCIS, OSI, CID, CGIS)

Florida has one of the highest concentrations of military law enforcement activity due to its base structure and tourism-driven civilian environment. The primary law enforcement agencies that investigate Florida service members are:

• CID – Army Criminal Investigation Division
• NCIS – Naval Criminal Investigative Service (Navy & Marine Corps)
• OSI – Air Force Office of Special Investigations (Air Force & Space Force)
• CGIS – Coast Guard Investigative Service

Florida Locations Where These Agencies Are Very Active:

• Jacksonville & Mayport – NCIS-packed environment
• Pensacola & Whiting – NCIS, especially for students
• Eglin, Hurlburt, Tyndall, MacDill, Patrick – OSI-heavy regions
• Miami, Clearwater, Jacksonville, Key West – CGIS hot zones

Golden Rule for Florida Service Members:

Never speak to NCIS, OSI, CID, or CGIS without a civilian military defense lawyer.

• Even “witness” interviews can flip and become suspect interrogations
• Agents will use your words to build a theory against you
• “Cooperating” does not mean you’ll be cleared

We regularly defend clients whose only mistake was talking to investigators without counsel.

9. What Florida Military Members Can Expect – The Reality

If you’re stationed in Florida and accused of misconduct, expect:

• Fast command reaction due to high visibility bases
• Automatic involvement by NCIS/OSI/CID/CGIS for serious allegations
• Flagging or restriction while the command “figures it out”
• Pressure to accept NJP “instead of” court-martial
• Paper punishment (GOMOR / negative eval) if prosecution is weak
• Follow-on separation boards to quietly remove you

Most Florida service members are blindsided by how quickly the system turns against them. By the time they realize what’s happening, investigators have already gathered statements and command has made up its mind.

This is why you need elite legal help early — before everything is stacked against you.

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Authoritative UCMJ Resource: Judge Advocate Legal Resources (JAGCNet)

Florida Military UCMJ Case Types – Frequently Asked Questions