On reprimands

[Amerpie]

Why is it that the stories about the seven officers and NCOs who received reprimands over the abuses in Iraq always contain the phrase "This could end their military careers"? There are millions of Americans (including veterans) who have had their civilian careers ended by layoffs during the Bush administration. Why is it tragic when a military career ends but not a civilian one?

In fact, most military service doesn't end in retirement anyway. Few people can endure the constant deployments our modern imperialist policy demands.

[Direckshun]

1. Good topic. But there's a difference.

It's probably not significant that the soldiers are losing their jobs (after all, there are hundreds of soldiers every year losing their jobs in the military that the press never reports on). The press is instead making a big deal out of why the soldiers are losing their jobs.

[Nihil]

3. It's also significant ...

... that a "reprimand" does not necessarily end their career.

The impression I get - and I'm sure a more knowledgable person will
correct me if it's wrong - is that a US "reprimand" is somewhere between
the "first verbal warning" and "final written warning" in civvie street.
It is not the same as "fired (/dismissed/terminated) with cause" (which
would be dishonourable discharge) and is not even equivalent to being
laid off thanks to the job being outsourced.

I'm with the original poster: if the media doesn't report that "Joe X
was issued with a written warning after the offence", why should it do
it for "Sgt Joe X"?

Is it simply to pretend that some punishment has taken place?

[Direckshun]

4. The press is reporting it because...

...we're all a little more interested in what Sgt. Joe X did to Iraqi POWs than how Joe X screwed up his last TPS report.

[CRK7376]

6. The majority of those

involved in the prisoner scandal have already received a GOMAR and that is a career ender. A GOMAR (General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand)means the military has no trust in your abilities to do much of anything. One will not be promoted, most will not be allowed to reenlist, and in many cases, especially this case, more punishment/charges are possible. Anybody with a GOMAR is dead in the water. Their careers are over.

[Tinoire]

8. All it means is that they won't get promoted

and by the way, it's GOMOR.

It doesn't kill your career; it just stops you from advancing for a while. It's exactly what it says - a reprimand from a General Officer that MAY be inserted into your personnel file as unfavorable information. For Enlisted personnel, it rates less than even a summarized Article 15 or a Formal Article 15. For Officer personnel it puts you at the bottom of the barrel for promotions.

So wow. A GOMOR. 1 step above a counseling statement. That's real harsh.

I've been around soldiers my entire life. Know the ins and outs of this. A GOMOR is totally inappropriate here- these people should already have been in full court-martial.

=================

CHAPTER 16
THE MEMORANDUM OF REPRIMAND


1. Reference. AR 600-37, Unfavorable Information.

2. General. A memorandum of Reprimand is an administrative measure imposed by a commander or general officer to discipline a soldier for misconduct. It is more serious than a formal counseling statement. It is less serious than a Summarized Article 15. In essence, it is a formal expression of strong disapproval, along with a warning of the consequences of continued misconduct. A Memorandum of Reprimand should cover these topics:

a. Facts (specifics about the misconduct).

b. Reprimand (formal expression of strong disapproval).

c. Warning (possible consequences of repeated misconduct).

d. Requirement for reply by the soldier.

e. Disposition of the reprimand.

3. Filing of Memorandums of Reprimand.

a. A supervisor may recommend a reprimand, but only a commander or general officer can file a reprimand or order one to be filed.

b. Any commander or general officer can order a reprimand be filed in the soldier’s Military Personnel Record Jacket (local 201 file). The filing period can be up to 3 years or until the soldier is reassigned to another General Court Martial Convening Authority.

<snip>

e. For reprimands put in the Military Personnel Record Jacket, enlisted soldiers can appeal to any commander in the chain of command. Officers must appeal to the initiator of the reprimand, or higher.

f. For reprimands in the Official Military Personnel File, the soldier must appeal to the Department of the Army Suitability Evaluation Board.

=====

Here's the example of a GOMOR:


MEMORANDUM FOR Soldier’s Name and Unit (with Geographical Location)
1
2 SUBJECT: Reprimand
1
2
3 1. Facts. (The start of the memorandum should state in detail the facts of the misconduct that
cause the commander’s disapproval.)

EXAMPLE:

1. Facts. At 2230 on 22 July 1989, the Staff Duty NCO, SSG James K. Green, discovered
that your section vehicle was unsecured. Later investigation revealed that you were the last
person to leave the motor pool. This is the fourth time in the past two months that you have
been reported for failing to secure your vehicle or equipment. The other dates were 25 May,
12 June, and 12 July. (See attached Memorandum and Witness Statement.)

2. Reprimand. (Next, the memorandum should clearly and forcefully state the commander’s disapproval of such misconduct.)

EXAMPLE:

2. Reprimand. Such negligence is unacceptable of an NCO, and I strongly disapprove of it.
It reflects poorly on your attention to detail and sense of responsibility.

3. Warning. (Next, the memorandum should tell the soldier that the reprimand is an administrative, not a judicial or nonjudicial action. And it should warn the soldier of the consequences of continued misconduct.)

EXAMPLE:

3. Warning. This reprimand is an administrative measure and not punishment under
Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). But I must warn you that similar
negligence in the future may result in more severe action on my part, such as a bar to
reenlistment or an Article 15.

4. The Requirement for Reply. (The memorandum should require the soldier to respond within a reasonable amount of time. The soldier must be told that he or she has the right to present any information in his or her own behalf.)

EXAMPLE:

4. Requirement for Reply. You must reply to me in writing within seven days that you understand this reprimand and warning. You may also submit a statement in your behalf. Include one of the following statements in your reply:

a. “I have read and understand the unfavorable information presented against me, and I submit the following statement in my behalf: . . .”

b. “I have read and understand the unfavorable information presented against me, and I choose not to make a statement.”

5. Disposition of the Reprimand. (The memorandum should then describe the commander’s intentions about filing this reprimand.)

EXAMPLE:

5. Disposition of This Reprimand. After reading your reply, I will decide what to do with this memorandum. I have the option of putting it in your Military Personnel Records Jacket (your local 201 file) for up to three years or until you’re reassigned outside this command.
1
2
3
4
5 2 Encls COMMANDER’S NAME LINE
1. Memo, Office Symbol, date, RANK, BRANCH
subj: Title Commanding
2. Witness Statement, date

http://sill-www.army.mil/fscaod/cad/writing%20guide/16%20Memorandum%20of%20Reprimand.doc

====

Sorry, I don't consider that harsh at all. I've known soldiers who got Article 15s for missing PT formation or showing up for night shift drunk, once.

[Tinoire]

2. Because their punishment is so light, it's laughable

that they need to throw that in. What a disgrace.

"could end their military career"

Wow! What a nice ;) ;) slap on the wrist. Is the Army out of its effing mind? Administrative reprimands?

Sheesh, and we're talking about Reservists who have no military "career". Guess it's going to really sting that they "could" be barred from the week-end beer bashes.

[CRK7376]

5. I take offense to your

weekend beer bash statements. 1000s of reservists are serving honorably in absolute miserable conditions. Many have chosen to serve their nation for years as Reserve and National Guardsmen. They put their full-time jobs on hold, their families are left behind, and they are dieing in Iraq, Afghanistan and other less than fun places to serve our nation. A few bad apples, and obviously the leadership of the units at the various prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan where these horrific abuses of prisoners took place failed miserably, but don't blame all soldiers, Reservists or Guardsmen for the failings of a few.

Years ago the Guard and Reserve had the "Weekend Warrior" mentality, yes there were plenty of beer bashes, tell me a profession where employees don't go out after work for a drink or two...many, many folks out there do. I know I've been there, both sides of the street, as a Reservist and a Guardsman, plus Active Duty. I spent 13 years in the civilian sector before returning to serve my nation. Current operations in the Balkans have been going on for nearly 8 years relies heavily on Reserve/Guardsmen. Since 9/11 1000s of Guard and Reserve soldiers have been mobilized and sent where Shrub deems we're needed. But don't accuse the Reservists of not having a Military Career. You are wrong and making flagrant broad brush strokes against people that are near and dear to me. I know this because I've worn a uniform for over 25 years of service; Active, Reserve and Guard.

[Tinoire]

7. You can take offense all you want

Some units may train hard but I know for a fact that most of them did not and this was a constant problem for the Regular Army. I am sure, now that once we had a war on our hands and everyone started getting called up the training was taken more seriously.

Maybe you have a better explanation for soldiers showing up not even knowing the Geneva Convention? :shrug:

[Amerpie]

9. I'm with you

Someone from my family has been serving in the National Guard or on active duty since the the 1930's. My Grandfather, Father and I all served in the same unit of the NC Guard at different times.

Unit cultures change over time. Today's Guard is all business. They have to be because of the operational tempo. Their culture is different than that of active duty units because most of the soldiers are older and have more life experience. They bring something to a mission that units made up of 22 year-old and under kids can't. There are positives on both sides, though. I'm not denigrating active duty folks either. My son (age 20) is serving on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as a nuclear reactor operator, something I'd never be able to do in my wildest dreams (or want to for that matter).