What is a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) or Letter of Reprimand (LOR)?

A General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) or Letter of Reprimand (LOR) is a formal warning given to service members—whether enlisted or officers—who fail to meet military standards or policies. The military will file these reprimands can either in a service member’s permanent record or locally, depending on the severity.

The military considers GOMORs and LORs negative marks on a service member’s record and can affect their promotion, career progression, or even lead to administrative separation.

A GOMOR is written by a general officer and may be filed either locally or in the service member’s permanent file. In the U.S. Army, a GOMOR might be filed in a restricted portion of the soldier’s record, where it is generally not visible to promotion boards. Having a lawyer who understands the process can improve a service member’s chances of a better outcome.

Where are GOMORs or LORs Filed?

Locally Filed GOMOR or LOR:

A locally filed GOMOR or LOR will be visible to the service member’s chain of command but not to promotion boards. It will usually be removed after a change of duty station or 3 years, whichever comes first. However, new regulations from the Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA have made it so that officer promotion boards can now access summaries of investigations and substantiated misconduct.

Permanently Filed GOMOR or LOR:

When a GOMOR or LOR is permanently filed, it stays in the service member’s human resources record and is visible to promotion boards and the human resources division. This reprimand can remain throughout the service member’s career unless successfully appealed or transferred to the restricted portion of their record.

For the U.S. Army, restricted file materials can be viewed by specific selection boards or government agencies with written approval.

Consequences of a GOMOR or LOR

Receiving a GOMOR or LOR can have serious consequences, including:

• Promotion delays or denial
• Negative marks on evaluations
• In the Army, a negative NCOER (Non-Commissioned Officer Evaluation Report) or GOMOR may trigger a Qualitative Management Program (QMP) review, potentially leading to separation.
• For officers, a GOMOR can be grounds for administrative separation.

How to Respond to a GOMOR or LOR

Service members have the right to respond to a GOMOR or LOR. This response, known as “rebuttal matters,” must be submitted within a specified timeframe. A lawyer experienced in military law can assist with crafting an effective response to improve your chances of success.

What Should Be Included in a Rebuttal?

When preparing a rebuttal, service members should:

• Deny or explain the allegations
• Provide evidence to support their case, such as mitigating circumstances or new information
• Request that the reprimand be filed locally or in the restricted portion of their record

While service members are not automatically entitled to a military attorney, hiring a civilian military lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome.

GOMOR Rebuttal Success Stories

Facing a GOMOR or LOR can be stressful, but many service members have successfully turned their situations around with strong legal representation. If you’re facing a GOMOR or under investigation, don’t wait—get in touch with an experienced lawyer to help safeguard your career.

Your career, reputation, and future are at stake. 📞 Call the Law Office of Peter Kageleiry, Jr. at (757) 504-2815 Or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation.