An investigation was launched against an Army First Lieutenant for fraternization after he was discovered engaging in a romantic relationship with an enlisted Soldier of the same age within his unit. Despite the commonalities in age and the natural occurrence of relationships, the military’s strict policies on fraternization led to significant scrutiny. The relationship came to light primarily because the enlisted Soldier shared details about their relationship with others, leading to a widespread rumor within the unit.
Following the initiation of an AR 15-6 investigation and the imposition of a FLAG on the officer, he sought the expertise of Tim Bilecki. The defense strategy included advising the Lieutenant to exercise his right to remain silent during the investigation, a departure from his initial inclination to speak to the investigator.
The investigation substantiated the fraternization allegations, resulting in the issuance of a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) by the Commanding General. Tim prepared the rebuttal and asked the Commanding General to treat the relationship as an error in judgment that did not require a permanent reprimand. He put the circumstances of the relationship before the General and sought local filing so the Lieutenant could continue his career.
The General ordered local filing. The Lieutenant received a reprimand, but Tim secured the filing decision the defense had requested.
Prior results do not predict future outcomes.