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How Long Do I Have to Respond to a GOMOR?

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Short answer: The deadline is set in the referral memorandum the general officer gives you, and under AR 600-37 it is commonly seven calendar days from the day you are served. You can ask in writing for more time, and reasonable extensions are commonly granted. Civilian military defense lawyer Alexandra González-Waddington of Gonzalez & Waddington advises treating those days as the entire fight and starting on day one.

In this video, Alexandra González-Waddington explains how the GOMOR response clock works and how to use every day of it.

What is a GOMOR?

A General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) is a written reprimand from a general officer, usually your brigade or division commander. It is commonly issued for a DUI, an adverse investigation, a sexual harassment finding, an improper relationship, or a failure of leadership.

A GOMOR is not punishment under the UCMJ. It is an administrative action governed by AR 600-37, and commands use it precisely because it does not require the process an Article 15 or a court-martial does. That makes the response window your only real chance to be heard.

When does the GOMOR response deadline start?

Before a GOMOR can be filed in your permanent record, it must be referred to you. You are served with the memorandum and the evidence the general relied on, usually an investigation or a police report, and told you may submit matters in rebuttal, extenuation, or mitigation.

The clock normally starts the day you acknowledge receipt. Read the referral memo closely, because it states your exact suspense date and how to submit your response. Under AR 600-37, the period is commonly seven calendar days, which includes weekends and holidays.

Can I get an extension to respond to a GOMOR?

Yes, you can ask. Submit a short written request through your chain of command explaining why you need more time, such as obtaining the full investigation, gathering statements, being deployed or in the field, or hiring a lawyer.

Ask the same day you are served. Reasonable requests are commonly granted, but an extension is never guaranteed, so do not stop working while you wait for an answer. Keep a copy of the request and the approval.

What happens after I submit my GOMOR rebuttal?

The general reads your response, usually with a recommendation from the staff judge advocate, and makes the filing decision. There are three possible outcomes:

  • Withdrawn. The general can rescind the reprimand entirely.
  • Local file. The GOMOR is kept at the unit and destroyed after a set period, current guidance says 18 months, or when you transfer to a new general court-martial jurisdiction, whichever comes first. No promotion board sees it.
  • Permanent file. The GOMOR goes into the performance folder of your Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR), where promotion boards and QMP boards will see it for the rest of your career.

Your rebuttal is the only input you get into that decision.

How should I use the response window?

Here is how Alexandra González-Waddington recommends spending a seven-day window. If you get an extension, stretch the same plan across the extra time.

Day one: Request the extension if you need it, and get the complete packet, meaning every document the general saw. Talk to a lawyer the same day, because a GOMOR rebuttal is a specific kind of writing and the stakes are your career.

Days two through five: Gather evidence. That means statements from witnesses, records that contradict the allegation, your evaluations and awards, and letters from senior leaders who will vouch for you.

Days five through seven: Draft, review, and submit the rebuttal through the channel the referral memo names. Keep a copy and proof of the date you turned it in.

What mistakes should I avoid during the GOMOR response period?

  • Do not miss the deadline. A GOMOR filed with no response is very hard to remove later.
  • Do not send a one-paragraph apology just to get it over with.
  • Do not wait for your commander to tell you what to write.
  • Do not admit more than the evidence proves, and do not attack the investigator or the complainant.

What to do right now

  1. Find your suspense date on the referral memo and put it on your calendar.
  2. If you need more time, submit a written extension request today.
  3. Request a complete copy of everything the general reviewed.
  4. Contact a military defense lawyer before you write anything.
  5. Start collecting evaluations, awards, and character letters from senior leaders.
  6. Submit your rebuttal on time, keep a copy, and keep proof of when you turned it in.

Key takeaways

  • Your GOMOR deadline is set in the referral memo and is commonly seven calendar days under AR 600-37.
  • You can ask for an extension in writing, and reasonable requests are commonly granted.
  • The general decides after reading your rebuttal whether to withdraw the GOMOR, file it locally, or file it permanently.
  • A permanently filed GOMOR is seen by every promotion and QMP board for the rest of your career.
  • Missing the deadline or sending a weak apology often leads to permanent filing.

Frequently asked questions

Are GOMOR deadlines counted in calendar days or business days?

Usually calendar days, which means weekends and holidays count. Read your referral memo, because it controls your exact deadline.

What happens if I miss the GOMOR response deadline?

The general can make the filing decision without hearing from you, and a GOMOR with no rebuttal is very likely to be filed permanently. If you are close to the deadline, request an extension immediately and explain why.

Do I have to respond to a GOMOR?

No, a response is optional. But silence gives the general no reason to file the reprimand locally, so in almost every case you should submit a rebuttal.

Can I respond to a GOMOR after it is filed?

Not to the general who issued it. After filing, your options are a petition to the Department of the Army Suitability Evaluation Board (DASEB) or the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) under AR 15-185, both of which are harder than winning the original filing decision.

Video transcript

Read the full transcript of this video

How long do you have to respond to a general officer memorandum of reprimand? Seven calendar days from the day you’re served under AR 600-37. And you can ask for an extension, which is usually granted. Those seven days are the entire fight, so start on day one. I’m Alexandra González-Waddington, civilian military defense lawyer and co-founder of Gonzalez & Waddington. A general officer memorandum of reprimand is the most common career-ending action in the Army, and the response window is the only time you get to change the outcome. Here’s how the clock works.

First, what a general officer memorandum of reprimand is. It’s a written reprimand from a general officer, usually your brigade or division commander, for misconduct. A DUI, an adverse investigation, a sexual harassment finding, a relationship, a failure of leadership. It’s not punishment under the UCMJ. It’s an administrative action governed by AR 600-37, and it’s used precisely because it doesn’t require the process an Article 15 or a court-martial does.

Second, the referral. Before a general officer memorandum of reprimand can be filed in your permanent record, it has to be referred to you. You’re served with the memorandum and the supporting documents, usually the investigation or the police report, and you’re told you have the right to submit matters in rebuttal, extenuation, or mitigation. Under AR 600-37, the suspense is seven calendar days. If you’re deployed or the documents are hard to obtain, you can request more time in writing through your chain of command, and reasonable extensions are routinely granted. Ask for the extension the same day you’re served, especially if you need a lawyer.

Third, what happens with your response? The general officer reads it and makes the filing decision. Local file, which is held at the unit and destroyed after 3 years or when you leave, or the permanent Army Military Human Resource Record, where every promotion board and every QMP board will see it for the rest of your career. The imposing general can also withdraw the general officer memorandum of reprimand entirely. The response is the only input you get into that decision.

Fourth, what to do in the 7 days? Day one, request the extension if you need it and get the complete packet, every document the general saw. Day one or two, hire a lawyer because a general officer memorandum of reprimand rebuttal is a specific kind of writing and the stakes justify it. Days two through five, gather the evidence. Statements from witnesses, records that contradict the allegation, evaluations, awards, letters from leaders who’ll vouch for you. Days five through seven, draft, review, and submit the rebuttal through your chain of command, keeping a copy and proof of the date.

Fifth, what not to do. Don’t submit a one-paragraph apology because you’re embarrassed and want it over. Don’t miss the deadline. A general officer memorandum of reprimand filed without a response is nearly impossible to remove later. Don’t wait for your commander to tell you what to write. And don’t write anything that admits more than the evidence proves.

So, how long do you have to respond to a general officer memorandum of reprimand? 7 days, extendable on request, and every one of them counts. I’m Alexandra González-Waddington, a civilian military defense lawyer and co-founder of Gonzalez & Waddington. We defend service members worldwide facing military investigations, courts-martial, administrative separation boards, and military disciplinary actions. If your career, reputation, or freedom is on the line, you need experienced military defense lawyers fighting for you. When the government builds a case, we build your defense. Visit ucmjdefense.com or call 1-800-921-8607 for a free, confidential consultation.

Talk to a military defense lawyer

Gonzalez & Waddington helps service members worldwide respond to GOMORs and letters of reprimand, Article 15s, investigations, courts-martial, and administrative separation boards. Michael Waddington, a former Army JAG officer, has been a lawyer for over 25 years. Call 1-800-921-8607 or visit ucmjdefense.com for a confidential consultation.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

How Long Do I Have to Respond to a GOMOR?

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