One of the most damaging mistakes a service member can make in a military reprimand rebuttal is responding with anger, emotion, or a point-by-point attack against the commander. This Gonzalez & Waddington tutorial is educational, not legal advice. If you have a live investigation or court-martial, call 1-800-921-8607.
Quick answers
Should I talk to CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS after watching this?
No. Appear if ordered. Do not waive rights. Do not consent to a phone search. Invoke Article 31(b) and call counsel the same day.
What if investigators say they just want my side?
That is evidence collection. Do not clear it up. Stop talking, write a private timeline for counsel, and call Gonzalez & Waddington: 1-800-921-8607.
Watch on YouTube. Questions about a case: call 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019.
Educational information only. Not legal advice. Using this briefing does not create an attorney-client relationship. Facts, commands, and outcomes vary. For advice about your case, speak with a lawyer.
Video transcript
Transcript of the video “Military Reprimand Rebuttal: The #1 Mistake to Avoid,” with Michael Waddington of Gonzalez & Waddington.
Read the full transcript of this video
And once you submit a bad rebuttal, you cannot take it back. It becomes part of your record. Commanders, promotion boards, and separation boards will read it and judge you by it. That’s why this process cannot be rushed, and it cannot be handled casually.
When I write a rebuttal for a client, I approach it the same way I prepare for a court hearing or a trial. I break down the allegation, analyze the evidence, identify inconsistencies, and then build a professional memorandum that reflects the truth and protects the client’s future. It is a legal document, and it needs to be treated like one.
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