Fairchild Air Force Base: Refueling and Survival Training Near Spokane
Fairchild Air Force Base lies near Spokane in eastern Washington. Team Fairchild includes the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, the Washington Air National Guard’s 141st Air Refueling Wing, and the 336th Training Group’s survival training mission. Tanker operations and survival training make different demands on the people who serve here, but both depend on trust and preparation.
An allegation can follow an Airman across assignments and involve events well beyond the installation. A report made during a family dispute may refer to an earlier deployment, a former duty station, and a recent encounter near Spokane. The defense needs to reconstruct those events rather than assume that one investigation file has put them in the right order. Bilecki Law Group represents service members facing military investigations and court martial proceedings connected to Fairchild, with attention to the evidence at each location.
The Security Policeman Who Stopped the Attack
In June 1994, a gunman attacked Fairchild’s medical facility, killing four people and wounding others. Andy Brown, a security policeman at the base, confronted and stopped the shooter. The Air Force’s account of the attack identifies Brown’s intervention as the act that brought it to an end.
His place in Fairchild’s history comes from what he did there. When people at the installation were in immediate danger, he responded. Remembering that response also means remembering the patients, families, and medical personnel whose lives were affected by the attack.
A legal crisis makes a different demand, but the person facing it still needs someone willing to take responsibility and do the difficult work. Our responsibility is to investigate the accusation, protect the client’s rights, and remain engaged when the case becomes complicated. An Airman should not have to navigate a serious allegation alone.
Why Airmen at Fairchild Bring Us In
A report can combine allegations from different years and installations into a single narrative. That narrative may sound persuasive until the defense compares it with the messages, travel records, earlier reports, and witnesses for each incident. We make those comparisons. If a family court or another civilian agency has relevant records, we examine what those records actually establish without treating a separate finding as a military acquittal.
We also look beyond the primary allegation. A protective order, a custody conflict, a disputed phone call, or an alleged attempt to influence a witness can create additional exposure. The defense should help you understand the restrictions in effect and avoid making the case worse while the evidence is being developed.
Your Air Force defense counsel is independent of the local command, and civilian counsel can ordinarily work with detailed military counsel at a general or special court martial. For covered offenses within the Office of Special Trial Counsel’s authority, key prosecution decisions rest with that office. We prepare for the actual decision process and forum instead of assuming the location of the allegation determines where it will be resolved.
UCMJ Charges We Defend at Fairchild Air Force Base
We defend the full range of UCMJ allegations, including the following.
Sexual Assault (UCMJ Article 120). We examine the alleged act, the account’s development, and the records that can test it. That includes communications before and after an encounter and the observations of people with direct knowledge. A relationship history may provide context, but it does not by itself establish consent or disprove an allegation.
Domestic Violence and Assault (UCMJ Articles 128b and 128). These cases can span multiple assignments and overlap with family proceedings. We separate each alleged incident by date, location, participants, and supporting evidence. A custody dispute does not automatically make an accusation false; it may identify a relevant motive or a source of records that must be investigated fairly.
Drug Use (UCMJ Article 112a). Washington’s civilian cannabis laws do not authorize military use. We examine the substance involved, the collection and testing evidence, and the circumstances of the allegation. A lawful retail sale under civilian law does not settle the separate military rules governing a service member’s conduct.
Orders and Protective Restrictions (UCMJ Article 92). A command order can remain enforceable while the underlying accusation is contested. We review its language, how it was communicated, and what conduct it prohibits. If it interferes with parenting arrangements or necessary communications, seek an appropriate modification through counsel rather than assume an informal exception exists.
Obstruction of Justice (UCMJ Article 131b). A call, a deleted message, or a request to another person can become evidence of alleged obstruction. The government must prove the offense’s elements, including the required intent. Preserve evidence and allow counsel to handle witness contacts; do not try to coordinate accounts or persuade someone to withdraw a report on your own.
A Career and a Reputation Worth Defending
When a case involves your family, the stakes extend beyond a disciplinary decision. You may be worried about seeing your children, maintaining an income, or returning to ordinary duties. Those concerns deserve a defense strategy that accounts for the whole situation while recognizing that military, family, and administrative proceedings make different decisions.
You need a lawyer who will pursue the evidence that can change the case and explain the choices in terms that matter to your life. We prepare to challenge serious allegations, defend your freedom, and protect your ability to move forward. If a negotiated resolution deserves consideration, we will explain its actual terms and how they compare with the risks of trial.
Contact Bilecki Law Group for a free case evaluation if you face an investigation connected to Fairchild. Bring the military notices and any relevant civilian court orders so we can identify the issues that require immediate attention.
A Defense Result Connected to Fairchild
No Sexual Assault or Assault Charges. The Airman Remained on Active Duty. An Airman facing allegations associated with Fairchild and earlier duty stations retained the firm to defend him. The defense developed communications, custody records, and other evidence that challenged the allegations. No Article 120 or Article 128 charges were preferred. Separate THC use and obstruction allegations were resolved through Article 15 punishment, including a reduction in grade, and the Airman continued on active duty. The matter was disposed of at Travis Air Force Base in California, with Fairchild among the locations connected to the alleged conduct. Read how we defended the allegations connected to Fairchild.
FAQ
Can allegations from Fairchild be handled after I move to another base?
Yes. A change of assignment does not automatically end an investigation or require trial at the place of the alleged incident. The responsible military authorities, available jurisdiction, assignment, and procedural decisions must be examined. Relevant witnesses and evidence may remain in Washington even when the case is handled elsewhere, so preserving those sources is important.
Does a civilian agency’s favorable finding automatically end the military case?
No. A civilian finding may be useful evidence, but its meaning depends on the question the agency decided, the standard it used, and the record it reviewed. We obtain the underlying material where available and explain why it matters to the military allegation. We do not treat a custody order or administrative assessment as a criminal verdict.
Do the same military jurisdiction rules apply to every Guard member at Fairchild?
No. For a National Guard member, duty status is central. Federal service and service under state authority raise different jurisdictional questions. We need the relevant orders and the dates of the alleged conduct before advising which military or civilian process can apply. Being physically present at an Air Force installation does not answer that question by itself.