By Tim Bilecki | Published 20 July 2025 | Updated 6 November 2026 A U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command agent badge. The photo is illustrative and is not connected to any case. (Photo by Jeffrey Castro, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.) The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not […]
By Tim Bilecki | Published 17 July 2025 | Updated 6 November 2026 A U.S. Marine Corps graphic on social media cybersecurity. The graphic is illustrative and is not connected to any case. (U.S. Marine Corps graphic by Sgt. Nichole Anunciacion.) The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or […]
By Tim Bilecki | Published 15 July 2025 | Updated 6 November 2026 A U.S. Air Force illustration warning about sextortion. The illustration is illustrative and is not connected to any case. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Staff Sgt. Joshua Magbanua.) The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or […]
Don’t Let the Chain of Command Decide Your Guilt One minute you’re a rock star Marine. The next, you’re a problem. Not because of what you did, but because someone made an accusation. And before you’ve had a chance to tell your side of the story, before any investigation is complete, before the facts are […]
How Military Trials Are Won: The Strategy Behind the Fight Most people think winning a military trial is about knowing the law. It’s not. Military trials aren’t won by throwing legal jargon at a jury. They’re won through strategy, preparation, and the ability to tell a compelling story. The government builds its case based on […]
By Tim Bilecki | Published 11 July 2025 | Updated 6 November 2026 A garrison headquarters building. The photo is illustrative and is not connected to any case. (U.S. Army photo by Sam Shore.) The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement. I’ve seen plea deals […]
Military Criminal Defense: Strategy Over Surrender If you’re facing charges in the military justice system and you know you’re guilty, the gut instinct is to surrender early. To take the deal. To get it over with. That instinct is understandable. But it’s often dead wrong. One of the most dangerous things I see in court-martial […]
Military Accused? Your Risk Might Matter More Than Your Guilt There’s a misconception floating around military courtrooms – and it’s one I’ve spent nearly two decades trying to dismantle. It’s this idea that if you’re guilty, you plead guilty. End of story. But here’s the truth: court-martial defense isn’t that simple. Guilt alone isn’t what […]
The Truth About Military Investigations: What Every Service Member Needs to Know The biggest mistake a service member can make when facing a military investigation? Thinking it will all go away on its own. It won’t. If you’re under investigation, whether it’s for sexual assault, fraud, domestic violence, drug use, or any other offense, the […]