Defending Military Members Worldwide Since 2006

Gonzalez & Waddington are civilian military investigation defense lawyers representing service members worldwide when CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS opens an investigation. Military investigations often begin before charges and can quickly trigger administrative separation, non judicial punishment, or court martial exposure based on early interviews, statements, searches, and digital evidence. Call 1-800-921-8607 if investigators contact you.

Military Investigations Can Ruin Your Career & Your Life

This is the central authority page for understanding military investigations and the legal risks that follow. It is built for service members who are being contacted by investigators, told they are “a witness,” warned that “it is just a statement,” or suddenly realize their command is treating a situation as a legal problem. Military investigations frequently move faster than people expect, and the investigation record often becomes the foundation for every later decision. Unlike many legal topics that begin with formal paperwork, investigations often begin with a phone call, an informal request to “come talk,” or a supervisor saying your name came up. In the military system, the investigation stage can shape administrative action and court martial exposure long before a person sees charges. This page explains how the process works, what agencies do, why the same investigation can lead to both administrative and criminal consequences, and how early defense work can matter. If you want deeper guidance on a specific category of investigation, use the internal links in this hub. Each linked page is designed as a focused authority page for that subject area.

Quick links to deeper investigation resources

• Criminal Military Investigation Defense Lawyers – CID, NCIS, OSI
• Command-Directed Investigation Defense Lawyers – Military Administrative Cases
• Military Sex Crimes Investigation Defense Lawyers
• Military Investigation Rights – Article 31(b), Statements & Searches

What a military investigation is

A military investigation is a formal inquiry into alleged misconduct. It can be criminal, administrative, or both depending on the allegation, the branch, and the way the command chooses to handle the matter. Investigations are used to gather facts, preserve evidence, interview witnesses, document statements, and create an official record for command and legal review. Being under investigation is not the same as being guilty, and it is not the same as being charged. Still, the practical reality is that an investigation can immediately place a service member under scrutiny, affect duties, and create a record that drives later decisions. In many cases, the investigation is the most important phase because it is where narratives hard reveal themselves through written summaries, statements, and credibility assessments. Military investigations also differ from civilian cases because of the command structure. Commands have administrative authority that can proceed on a different track than criminal proceedings. Even when a case never becomes a court martial, the investigation may still lead to adverse paperwork, separation processing, or other career ending consequences.

Aggressive Military Defense Lawyers: Gonzalez & Waddington

Watch the military defense lawyers at Gonzalez & Waddington break down how they defend service members worldwide against UCMJ allegations, CID/NCIS/OSI investigations, court-martials, Article 120 cases, administrative separations, and GOMORs. If you’re under investigation or facing charges, this video explains what your rights are and how experienced civilian military counsel can make the difference.

Who investigates: CID, NCIS, OSI, CGIS

Different investigative agencies handle military cases depending on the branch and circumstances. Army investigations frequently involve CID. Navy and Marine Corps investigations frequently involve NCIS. Air Force and Space Force investigations frequently involve OSI. Coast Guard investigations frequently involve CGIS. In joint environments, overseas assignments, and mixed service fact patterns, coordination can occur across agencies and with command legal offices. Investigative agencies generally perform similar core functions. They gather statements, collect digital evidence, preserve records, interview witnesses, and produce reports and summaries that are later reviewed by legal authorities and command decision makers. While each agency has its own procedures, the common pattern is that early evidence and early statements tend to become the backbone of the investigative record. If you want a deeper discussion of agency involvement and how investigations are built, see Criminal Military Investigation Defense Lawyers – CID, NCIS, OSI for felony level investigations and Military Investigation Rights – Article 31(b), Statements & Searches for a rights focused breakdown of questioning and evidence collection.

How investigations commonly begin

Most military investigations begin with a report, referral, or complaint. Sometimes the report is detailed. Sometimes it is vague. Often it is based on a conversation, a text message, a third party interpretation, or a chain of command concern that someone “might have done something.” Commands and investigators are trained to treat reports as triggers for fact finding, not as final conclusions. Investigations can begin after off duty incidents, interpersonal conflict, relationship disputes, alcohol centered social settings, or online communications. For example, it is common for young service members to socialize off post, meet people through dating apps, and later face misunderstandings that turn into allegations. That does not mean misconduct occurred. It means the reality of service member life can create contexts where complaints are made and the command is obligated to act. Investigations also begin through administrative pathways. A command directed inquiry might start as a “fact finding” effort and later produce adverse action. For that pathway, see Command-Directed Investigation Defense Lawyers – Military Administrative Cases.

Why the investigation stage is the most dangerous stage

The investigation stage is often where the case is shaped into a narrative that becomes hard to unwind later. Early interviews may lock in timelines, assign motive, and frame credibility. Early digital evidence may be interpreted in ways that become embedded in the final report. Even when later facts complicate the story, the initial written record tends to guide the command’s perception of what happened. In the military, decisions can be made quickly even without charges. Commands can begin administrative separation processing based on investigative findings. They can impose adverse administrative measures, issue letters of reprimand, and pursue non judicial punishment. That means a service member can lose a career even if the case never becomes a court martial. This is why investigation stage representation matters. The goal is not to dramatize a situation. The goal is to recognize that investigations are consequential, that the record is powerful, and that early missteps can have lasting effects.

Military investigation rights: Article 31(b), statements, and searches

Service members have specific legal protections during investigations, including Article 31(b) safeguards when suspected and questioned by military authorities. Many service members mistakenly assume their rights work like civilian Miranda warnings, or that casual questioning does not count. In practice, investigations can involve formal and informal questioning, and statements can become permanent evidence whether they are written, recorded, or summarized by investigators. Searches and digital evidence collection are also common. Phones, laptops, cloud accounts, and messaging platforms can become evidence sources. Evidence may be gathered through consent based collection, command authorizations, or other lawful processes depending on the circumstances. Digital evidence is frequently used to corroborate or challenge statements, to establish timelines, and to evaluate credibility. For a focused authority page on rights, see Military Investigation Rights – Article 31(b), Statements & Searches. That page is built to answer the specific questions service members ask when investigators want a statement or when commands are discussing searches.

Common investigative methods and evidence types

Military investigations are structured around evidence development and documentation. Investigators typically collect statements, interview witnesses, and request records. The methods can vary depending on the allegation, but the categories tend to repeat across cases. Understanding those categories helps service members understand why investigations can expand quickly and why early evidence can become decisive.

• Interviews and statements: Investigators often begin with complainant interviews, then witnesses, then the subject. They document what is said and may request written or recorded statements.
• Digital communications: Text messages, messaging apps, social media communications, photos, videos, and location related data can become part of the record.
• Credibility and consistency: Investigators often compare accounts for internal consistency and for alignment with other records.
• Physical evidence and records: Depending on the allegation, the investigation may rely on logs, access records, medical records, and other documentation.
• Command coordination: Investigators routinely brief command and legal authorities as the investigation develops, which can accelerate administrative actions.

From investigation to consequences: administrative action, NJP, and court martial

A military investigation can end in several ways. Some investigations close without adverse action. Some lead to administrative action. Some lead to non judicial punishment. Some are referred for court martial. The key point is that the investigation record is commonly used in all pathways. Administrative consequences are often the most underestimated. A command can initiate separation processing based on investigative findings even without criminal charges. Adverse paperwork can be issued and filed. Careers can be derailed through administrative processes that are faster and less understood than court martial proceedings. If your investigation is already producing administrative fallout, these pages are part of the same authority cluster and should be linked and used together:

• Administrative Defense Lawyers – Military Separation & Adverse Actions
• Boards of Inquiry & Administrative Separation Lawyers
• Letters of Reprimand Defense Lawyers
• Non-Judicial Punishment Defense Lawyers

Criminal investigations and court martial exposure

Criminal investigations are the pathway most service members fear, and for good reason. When an investigation is built as a felony level case, the government is often developing evidence with court martial litigation in mind. Charging decisions can follow once the investigative record is assembled, reviewed, and routed through legal channels and convening authority processes. Criminal investigation defense focuses on managing the investigative stage with the understanding that early evidence decisions often drive later charging decisions. That includes how statements are documented, how digital evidence is preserved, how witness credibility is treated, and how investigative summaries frame the narrative. For felony level criminal investigations, see Criminal Military Investigation Defense Lawyers – CID, NCIS, OSI. For court martial litigation and charges, the court martial cluster of pages should be used as the downstream authority layer when a case moves toward preferral and referral.

Sex crimes investigations and high risk escalation

Sex crimes investigations are treated as high risk matters and often escalate quickly. These cases frequently involve credibility disputes, alcohol and memory issues, delayed reporting dynamics, and digital communications that become central evidence. Even when facts are contested, investigative posture is often aggressive, and command involvement can be immediate. Because of the stakes, sex crimes investigations commonly lead to both administrative fallout and court martial exposure. Early investigative steps, including interviews and digital evidence collection, often define the official narrative that later drives charging decisions or separation actions. For a focused sex crimes investigation authority page, use Military Sex Crimes Investigation Defense Lawyers. For a broader sex crimes defense cluster, use Military Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers.

Article 120 investigations and why they are treated differently

Article 120 allegations often originate at the investigation stage and can become the center of a service member’s career crisis. These allegations are treated as felony level matters in military practice, and they often lead to aggressive investigative posture and swift command involvement. Because these cases frequently turn on consent disputes, intoxication issues, credibility conflicts, and digital communications, the investigation stage can become decisive. Even when there is no physical evidence, investigations can rely on statements, digital records, and credibility assessments. In many cases, administrative action begins before the court martial pathway is fully decided, which is why investigation stage representation is critical. For the dedicated Article 120 court martial authority page, see Article 120 Sexual Assault Court-Martial Lawyers.

CSAM and online sting investigations

Investigations involving alleged child sexual abuse material, online enticement, or undercover sting operations are among the most severe categories in military practice. These cases are commonly driven by digital evidence, device forensics, controlled communications, and investigative records that can expand quickly. The consequences can be career ending and life altering, and the investigation stage is often where the most important evidence is created and preserved. For this category, use Military CSAM & Online Sting Defense Lawyers. That page is designed as a standalone authority page for digital evidence driven investigations that often lead to felony level charges.

Sexual harassment investigations

Sexual harassment allegations can begin as administrative investigations and later escalate into more serious proceedings depending on findings, evidence, and command decisions. Even when framed as non criminal, these investigations can lead to adverse action, separation processing, and long term career consequences. Because many cases involve communications, workplace dynamics, and reporting requirements, the investigative record often becomes the main driver of outcomes. For the dedicated authority page in this cluster, use Military Sexual Harassment Defense Lawyers.

Command directed investigations and the administrative pipeline

Command directed investigations are often treated as internal administrative matters, but they commonly produce the record that drives career ending action. These investigations can expand in scope, include broad witness interviews, and result in written findings that are later used to justify adverse decisions. Service members sometimes underestimate them because they are not always called “criminal,” but the stakes can be just as severe. If your command has opened an administrative investigation or is discussing a fact finding process, the command directed investigation authority page is essential: Command-Directed Investigation Defense Lawyers – Military Administrative Cases. Because these investigations often lead to administrative action, they should also be connected to the administrative defense cluster: Administrative Defense Lawyers – Military Separation & Adverse Actions.

Letters of reprimand and investigation driven adverse paperwork

Investigations frequently result in adverse paperwork such as letters of reprimand, which can be filed and used to justify later separation action or career restrictions. The investigative record commonly forms the factual basis of the reprimand, which is why investigation stage events can still matter even after the investigation concludes. For a focused authority page on this topic, use Letters of Reprimand Defense Lawyers. That page is part of the same authority cluster and should be linked from relevant investigation pages when adverse paperwork is issued or threatened.

Non judicial punishment and investigation fallout

Many cases that begin as investigations end with non judicial punishment or similar disciplinary action. Service members often assume that non judicial punishment is minor compared to a court martial, but it can still result in rank reduction, pay consequences, limitations on future assignments, and administrative follow on action. In many cases, non judicial punishment is the bridge from investigation to separation processing. For the dedicated authority page on this topic, use Non-Judicial Punishment Defense Lawyers.

Boards of inquiry, separation boards, and investigation based separation

Investigations frequently become the foundation for separation boards and boards of inquiry. In many cases, the investigation record is introduced as the key evidence basis, and the service member may have to fight to correct inaccuracies and contest the command’s interpretation of events. This is why investigation stage decisions and record creation matter long after an investigation is “completed.” For board specific authority pages, use Boards of Inquiry & Administrative Separation Lawyers, and the broader administrative defense hub at Administrative Defense Lawyers – Military Separation & Adverse Actions.

How Gonzalez & Waddington approach the investigation stage

Gonzalez & Waddington focus on military justice and represent service members worldwide at the investigation stage. The investigation phase is where records are created, narratives are formed, and administrative or charging decisions begin to take shape. That is why the firm’s approach is built around early involvement, disciplined case assessment, and a clear understanding of how investigative files drive both administrative and court martial outcomes. Investigation stage representation is not limited to one type of case. It includes noting the ways evidence is gathered and summarized, understanding the role of statements and digital evidence, and recognizing how investigative findings can trigger administrative separation or court martial referral. It also includes preparing for the possibility that an investigation may split into multiple pathways, including administrative action and criminal prosecution. If you are under investigation, or you expect contact from CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS, contact Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607. The earlier a service member understands the process and the risks, the better positioned they are to navigate what follows.

How the investigation hub connects to the rest of the authority ecosystem

This investigation hub is designed to connect directly to the rest of your military justice situation. Most service members under investigation are not dealing with a single isolated event. They are dealing with a system that can pivot quickly from investigation to adverse action. That is why this hub links to administrative and sex crimes clusters as well as investigation category pages. If your main concern is administrative separation risk, the administrative hub is the correct next layer: Administrative Defense Lawyers – Military Separation & Adverse Actions. If the investigation is in the sex crimes category, the sex crimes cluster should be used alongside the investigation pages: Military Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers. If the investigation is centered on Article 120 allegations, the Article 120 court martial authority page should be reviewed as the downstream trial level authority: Article 120 Sexual Assault Court-Martial Lawyers.

Frequently asked questions about military investigations

What does it mean if CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS wants to talk to me? It usually means an investigation has been opened and investigators are gathering statements and records. Contact may occur before charges are filed, and statements can become part of the investigative record used for later administrative or court martial decisions. Can I face administrative action even if there are no charges? Yes. Investigations often lead to letters of reprimand, non judicial punishment, separation processing, or other adverse action based on investigative findings. Are command directed investigations serious even if they are not criminal? Yes. Administrative investigations frequently drive career ending outcomes because the command uses the investigation record to make retention, discipline, and adverse action decisions. Why do sex crimes investigations escalate so quickly? These allegations are treated as high risk matters. Investigations often focus heavily on interviews, digital evidence, and credibility conflicts, and command involvement may occur immediately. Where do I go for deeper guidance on rights and questioning? Use the dedicated rights authority page: Military Investigation Rights – Article 31(b), Statements & Searches.

Next steps and internal pathways

If you are trying to identify which category best matches your situation, these internal pages are designed to be used together. Start with this investigation hub, then move to the most relevant branch below based on what is happening in your case.

• If you are dealing with felony level allegations and agency driven criminal investigation posture, start with Criminal Military Investigation Defense Lawyers – CID, NCIS, OSI.
• If your command opened a fact finding or administrative inquiry, use Command-Directed Investigation Defense Lawyers – Military Administrative Cases.
• If the investigation involves sexual assault, consent disputes, or sex related allegations, use Military Sex Crimes Investigation Defense Lawyers and Military Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers.
• If the investigation involves rights, statements, or searches, use Military Investigation Rights – Article 31(b), Statements & Searches.
• If the investigation is already producing administrative fallout, use Administrative Defense Lawyers – Military Separation & Adverse Actions and the board, reprimand, and NJP authority pages linked above.

Call for investigation stage representation

If you are under military investigation, the timing of representation matters. Investigations often begin before charges and can rapidly shape administrative and court-martial exposure through early interviews, statements, searches, and digital evidence development. For military investigation defense worldwide, contact Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607.