Article 138 Complaints
It is not unusual for military members to grumble now and then about actions taken by the command. Those who have served know that the military can be a tough place to work from time to time.
But occasionally the command takes an action for which just grumbling behind closed doors is not enough. Sometimes the command takes an action that forces a servicemember to take a stand to protect their rights!
Article 138, UCMJ, states:
"Any member of the armed forces who believes himself wronged by his commanding officer, and who upon due application to that commanding officer, is refused redress, may complain to any superior commissioned officer, who shall forward the complaint to the officer exercising general court martial jurisdiction over the officer against whom it is made…"
Article 138 is a powerful weapon for a servicemember who has been wronged by their command. These complaints garner immediate high level attention and can sometimes be the only way to correct an improper action by a commander. Article 138 complaints must follow a strict procedure, and will be summarily denied when the proper procedure is not followed.
The Law Office of Shawn M. Cline has handled countless complaints under Article 138 against commanders for various injustices. If you feel that your command has taken an action against you which might require a complaint under Article 138, don’t hesitate to contact us. Time lost is opportunity lost, so there is no reason to delay. The initial consultation is always free, and we will give you an honest assessment of your chances for success before we collect any fee. The military command has most of the cards… but not all of them. Don’t be afraid to come talk to us about this powerful weapon in YOUR arsenal!