The importance of GOMOR rebuttal. Take this seriously.
A soldier receiving a GOMOR can have devastating consequences on their military career and retirement unless they seek legal representation. Legal assistance is crucial to fight back and protect your rights, and this is what we do best.
A military letter of reprimand, also known as a GOMOR, is a formal written statement used to reprimand military personnel for misconduct or a violation of military regulations. The letter of reprimand is a serious document and can have significant consequences for a service member’s military career, including loss of rank, pay, and privileges.
Our experienced military defense lawyer can help you navigate this challenging situation, protecting your career, name, family, and dignity. We can assist you with steps including writing a GOMOR rebuttal and appealing your letter of reprimand.
Though GOMOR can have career-ending effects, how you deal with the situation can make a difference. Schedule a consultation today. Let us save your pride. Read on for complete information on GOMOR and how our attorney can help.
GOMOR – What Is it?
GOMOR is the abbreviation of the General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand. It is primarily a one-page letter of reprimand that acts as an administrative warning. The reprimand letter is signed by a general officer and issued to a soldier or member of the military service who fails to conform to the established policies and standards.
The first paragraph of the letter mentions the conduct of the soldier for which they are reprimanded. The second part of the letter shows the disappointment of the general officer in the soldier, and the final part of the letter includes some required legal language from AR 600-37 with a given timeframe for the military officer to provide a rebuttal. GOMOR rebuttal is filed in two ways- permanent and local. Here is a quick overview:
Permanent
A Permanent GOMOR is filed by order of the soldier’s general officer in the Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR). The general officer is senior to the GOMOR recipient. This GOMOR is filed in the soldier’s performance folder and military records – permanently.
As permanent, it can adversely affect the recipient’s service, military career, and future. However, you have the legal right to appeal and get the unfavorable information removed from your AMHRR.

Local
The GOMOR filed locally is in your Military Personnel Record Jacket. It remains on record for not more than three months. After that, it is destroyed. Hence, the impact of local GOMOR on your career is minimal.
Why is GOMOR Issued?
- Behavior that may warrant a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand includes the following:
- Inappropriate sexual conduct or relationships
- SHARP (sexual harassment and assault response & prevention) violations
- Violation of equal opportunity
- Civilian criminal charges
- Toxic leadership behavior
Why Is A Rebuttal Letter Important?
A service member who receives a GOMOR has the right to rebut, or challenge, the charges against them. This is important because a GOMOR can have long-lasting effects on a service member’s career, and it is essential that they have the opportunity to present their side of the story and to correct any errors or misunderstandings in the charges against them.
The GOMOR rebuttal process allows the service member to provide evidence and testimony to support their side of the story, and to provide clarification on any issues that may have led to the charges. The goal of the rebuttal process is to provide a fair and just outcome for the service member, and to ensure that the charges against them are accurate and based on evidence.
A rebuttal in a written form is essential for multiple reasons. A written rebuttal provides:
- Additional and reliable evidence Affidavits and sworn statements of witnesses that directly attack the alleged misconduct stated in the reprimand letter
- Crucial documents like character service letters to assure the command authority that the act of misconduct was only a limited occurrence
- Persuade the issuing commander to file a local letter of reprimand
Write a Formal Rebuttal
The recipient of GOMOR has 7 to 10 days to write a formal rebuttal. You can respond to GOMOR in three different ways:
- Accept your mistake/action and request a second chance.
- Acknowledge your misconduct but request that the letter should be filed locally instead of permanently
- Deny allegations that gave rise to the reprimand letter. However, you should address the underlying facts and mitigating evidence.
With the written GOMOR rebuttal, make sure to attach supporting documents like:
- Witness sworn statements
- Photographic evidence
- Letter attesting your character
- Accolades received
- Non-commissioned Officer Evaluation Reports
- Officer Evaluation Reports
- Court judgments
- Officer Record Briefs
- Enlisted Record Briefs
The written rebuttal should be submitted with supporting documents to the general officer in a sealed envelope/folder. Nonetheless, make sure to keep copies of these documents with yourself too.

Appeal the GOMOR Filing Decision
Once you submit your GOMOR rebuttal matters, it will be reviewed, and accordingly, GOMOR will be filed. For instance, if filed permanently in your OMFP, you have the right to appeal the general officer’s filing decision. The three methods to appeal are:
- Request for GOMOR letter removal
- Request DASEB (Department of Army Suitability and Evaluation Board) for transferring the GOMOR to their restricted fiche
Request DASEB for GOMOR removal from the OMPF
Why Hiring an Attorney For GOMOR Rebuttal Important?
Understanding that an officially filed reprimand letter is the military’s first step towards the soldier’s separation from their duty/service is vital. Though the command doesn’t initiate separation, it automatically triggers a mandatory administrative separation board. Convincing the general officer to file local GOMOR or discard it altogether is difficult but possible. However, you need to hire an experienced lawyer for legal guidance and case representation to increase your success chances.
At Military Justice Attorney, we offer zealous and passionate legal representation at every step of the process. Our military defense attorney can guide you through the process smoothly and ensure you take the right action at the right time. We can evaluate your situation and suggest the best legal action. Our goal is to protect your rights, honor, and future.
As the rebuttal is the first step to protecting your military career, it has to be effective. And that’s why you can rely on us. We will assist you in determining the best arguments for a formal rebuttal. Additionally, our attorney will draft a convincing and well-written statement for the best outcome. We have the expertise and experience to frame arguments ensuring the rebuttal is:
- Convincing and conveying the military service officer’s professionalism
- Strongly communicates the message with maximum impact for a favorable outcome
Our military defense lawyer can also help draft your extension request if you can’t meet your rebuttal submission deadline. Besides this, in situations where GOMOR is filed permanently, our attorney can help appeal the decision and strive relentlessly to safeguard your rights. Contact us for more information about GOMOR rebuttal or legal assistance, writing a rebuttal, or appealing the filing decision. Schedule a consultation with our military defense attorney today.