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, a military defense attorney specializing in UCMJ Article 134 fraternization cases. 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. In response, extensive rebuttal materials were prepared, appealing to the Commanding General’s empathy and highlighting the human aspect of the error in judgment. This approach resonated with the Commanding General, who decided to locally file the GOMOR, allowing the Lieutenant the opportunity to continue his career with the potential for the incident not to impact his future assignments significantly.
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