In today's Military, can you survive an Article 15 or Letter of Reprimand and still have a successful career?

From experience, a LOR can and will end your career. I was sexually harassed by a commanding general officer (BG). I informed the next MG in the command who was a female. I was afraid of retaliation and wasn’t sure what to do, therefore I requested the assistance of from the next general in my chain of command who happen to be a female. She didn’t do anything but refer me to her EO counselor who did nothing. During the same time I received a referred OER. I am a MAJ and been in over 20 years, and have never received anything derogatory in my record ever. I requested a commanders inquiry, which was forward to the next level, the female MG whom I complaint to about the BG sexual harassment. When in 3 months the commander inquiry turned into an AR 15-6 which stated I falsified my OER. I requested meeting with my rater and senior rater to discuss the OER and the fact that I had a profile and the box on my OER was not checked. I checked the box and forward to my rater, requesting a meeting. I never signed my OER, just reviewed, check profile block, and requested meeting. Once I was denied a meeting, I forward to BG, requesting commanders inquiry and who was my commanding general and the one who sexually harassed me. From the AR 15-6, the OER remained valid and filed, I was accused of falsifying my OER, then two months later given a General Officers Memo Of Reprimand (GOMOR). Then two months later I was given a notice of Involuntary Separation. I appealed the OER, which I was given full relief and is being corrected in my file. I am in the middle of appealing my GOMOR. In the mean-time I have been passed over for promotions and pending separation, as my military career is ending due to retaliation for complaining of sexual harassment against my commanding general officer. Both BG and MG has mover to higher positions elsewhere, while I am still pending separation. A soldier can’t sue the military and therefore is stuck with whatever given, be it right or wrong. Funny, the Army teaches you to speak up and say something, however, once you do, your career is over. Where is the justice!

I would have to say that it all depends on what level it is. Anything that stays with local command like a LOR or summarized AR-15 might be recoverable, anything that can go with you to a new command definitely not. Even when i was in it was becoming a zero defect zero tolerance atmosphere. Too bad really some of the best lessons are learned from making a mistake.

Chesty Puller, one of the Marine Corps most decorated, colorful, and respected leader, once said that if you want the best fighting Marines, go to the Brig. In this day and age of zero tolerance and pristine Soldiers, can we have real warriors? Until the feces hits the fan and real warriors are needed in abundance, I don't think so, save the SPECOPs. And when that happens, because it surely will, will there be any Chesty Puller's to lead the way or just clean cut M.B.A.s?

Short answer - NOPE - and i don't care if it's for spitting on the sidewalk or whatever. Frankly, i don't understand what the big deal is. I mean, the point of an article 15 is to deal with minor infractions - with an emphasis on the word MINOR. If we're recruiting for the Boy Scouts and promoting based on Brownie points, that's one thing, but contrary to building a combat-effective Army.

Frankly I think the crackdown on so called toxic leadership has more to do with purging the military of warriors not likely to respond well to an Obama order to shoot at Americans than it does with any proper reason for relief from command. I knew some of the folks they fired and saw how they did it and was not impressed. Today you have to be Politicaly Correct first, and a Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman second. If you do not believe that Gays and transgenders promote good order and discipline, of course you must be purged. If you believe that Christians should be able to pray in the Name of Jesus, you must be purged. If you are a normal sailor and go out and get loaded on liberty, you must be purged. Standards have been lowered, not increased. The things they have increased are meaningless doctrine and shitty little regulations that really have nothing at all to do with warfighting.
I served from 64 to 91, 18 years surface craft and 8 years fast attack submarines. From my time on the tip of the spear, I can tell you that the only captain I had who would survive in today's PC Navy is the one I had absolutely no respect for. The captains Surface and subsurface that I respected and would have followed into a flaming compartment would not last a week in today's military. The Political suck ups that are being promoted to flag rank, and the back stabbing enlisted types being promoted to CMC these days are absolutely a disgrace to the Naval fighting force. You train as you will fight. Sweat in training or bleed in combat. The flip side of that is Work hard, Play hard. You cannot drive men to near exhaustion for weeks and months on end and then expect them not to blow off steam on the beach. Alcohol related incidents my ass. As an E6 in B school we used to go to lunch and have a few beers with it, then go back to class and get to work. Today, that would get you a nice captains mast and ruin your career. The idea of Breathalyzers on the quarter deck is one for the books. What idiot thought that one up? What panty waisted individuals thought that it was a good idea? These are Warriors and Men and Women, not a bunch of high school kids. Yes, we had the occasional captains mast back in the day, though you really had to work to get one. You could get past that and roll on. Hell, I had an article 15 that went to special courts martial for assault. I was found not guilty, but I am betting that back then I could have survived even that. I would have been busted, but later on it would have been quietly expunged from the record, if I straightened up.
I would not serve in todays military under this traitorous individual for all the tea in china. Your mileage may vary.

CW4 (Join to see) - The sad truth is that, in today's zero-defect military, the chances of surviving "bad paper" are slim. Obviously, whether you can have a "successful career" after getting an Art 15 or LOR depends on (1) a person's definition of a successful career and (2) when the Art 15/LOR was received. If a COL or CSM gets a LOR, for example, they have already had a successful career (in most folks' eyes). If a SGT (E-5) gets an Art 15/LOR and has a desire to serve 20 years or more and become a SGM, it is probably not going to happen.

With all the draw-downs and other personnel actions to "right-size" the military, folks with any derogatory information in their personnel files are at great risk of elimination.

Based on my experience in the USAF, an LOR and Article 15 for an enlisted person is considered rehabilitative. However, in today's climate the Article 15 will most likely end the person's career. That will certainly be a discriminator when looking at "quality force" indicators when force reductions are being implemented. LORs typically will not end an enlisted persons career unless they have numerous ones in a "Unfavorable Information File." For officers, both LORs and Article 15s are a definite career ender.

I can attest that at one time it could be overcome. I personally have been on the 'other side of the desk' a couple of times, mainly for being an honest, and unfortunately smart-ass Marine. I received mine early on in career and was told by the officer handling the Art. 15 'use this to further your career, not end it'. And I did, preparing to retire after 22 years of service and as a Master Sergeant in the infantry. However, in today's military climate, I do not believe the same could be held true. With 'up-or-out' promotion requirements, horrific leadership issues, and other restrictions brought about by both military services and government administration, it could indeed end the careers of many outstanding service members, those that otherwise would have served 20+ years doing what they are good at and love very much. Zero tolerance has become the standard, as COL Jean (John) F. B. pointed out. It used to be make a mistake, learn from it, move on. Now, make a mistake and you're all of a sudden 'not good enough'. Those who have been around the Marine Corps a while have heard the play on Admiral Nimitz' statement about Marines on Iwo Jima in WWII, "Of those who served, uncommon valor was a common virtue" be turned in to "For those we serve, common sense is an uncommon virtue". Sadly, this comes true all too often, with commanders foregoing common sense and looking at the 'standards' as end all, putting their stamp on the service by discharging those that 'failed to meet standards' in just one instance. And I too second LTC Thelma Carnes Rowe "Where is the justice in that?"

I was on the fast track, made E-7 in 8 years. Then I went into recruiting. I was relieved from duty, not for any wrong doing but because I didn't enlist enough recruits. I was at 110 percent enlistments but did not meet my "mission box" criteria and as a result I was relieved. Only job I have ever been fired from as a soldier or a civilian. I stayed in for another 9 years but was never considered for another promotion and eventually gave up and got out after 17 years.

yes. but it is hard. I have a NJP on my record and still re-enlisted. im on a probationary re-enlistment for 2 years and then my career will be back on track. it takes a lot to bounce back from a lapse of judgment, you will be scrutinized by everyone looking for another little hiccup for a while but it is survivable. I am living proof of that. you also have to not only show that you did only have a momentary lapse but you have to show that you have improved because of the incident. you have to show that you walked through the gauntlet and came out stronger and wiser in a way that no one can doubt. it is hard because you can feel the eyes of everyone just looking for a minor misstep to call you out on and put you back on the chopping block. many service members don't bounce back because of this, they say "well they want me to fail now" and just keep digging that hole deeper.