My friend who's in the Reserves with me recently got arrested for a violation. Should he report this to our chain of command?

2017-07-08T11:26:32-04:00

My friend who's in the reserves with me recently got arrested for a violation (less than a misdemeanor in the state of NH), should he report this to our chain of command, he just needs advice on how to proceed

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2017 11:40 AM

2017-07-08T11:40:00-04:00

The COC is going to find out sooner or latter. it is best to come from your friend but if you know about it and he is not saying anything you should send it up the COC.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2017 1:43 PM

2017-07-08T13:43:28-04:00

UPDATE: If this Soldier was actually *arrested* then I doubt it was "less than a misdemeanor" as stated.

So, it really depends on what the violation is. If you say its less than a misdemeanor (likely an infraction that is non-bookable), then there is no way your command will find out. The only things you are really mandated to tell your unit from the civilian are about felonies, domestic violence (even misdemeanor as lautenberg still applies), and anything else they may affect your unit/duty. The being said, without knowing more about the violation I really couldn't tell you, but I do know an infraction is not going to pop up in any military background check unless it was an infraction issued by the military itself.

So I initially missed the part about you saying he was arrested. Are you saying he was actually taken into custody and/or taken to jail? This doesn't sound like an infraction, as those are typically not bookable offenses.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jul 8 at 2017 3:44 PM

2017-07-08T15:44:29-04:00

Less than a misdemeanor would be a summary offense, a ticket Is there a REWARD?

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jul 10 at 2017 5:07 PM

2017-07-10T17:07:29-04:00

No CO likes to be surprised. Tell him and if it ever comes up he can say he knew and dismissed it as irrelevant

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2017 5:08 PM

2017-07-10T17:08:11-04:00

Yea.....best bet is for your friend to notify his chain of command right away.

Response by SFC Joseph Lumpkins made Jul 14 at 2017 6:14 PM

2017-07-14T18:14:43-04:00

As a former S2, I know that every day I had to go down and get a copy of the blotter report and in the process I made a lot of contacts with the local authorities, so I would say that the best thing to do is to inform your chain of command, so that they are not blind sided with the news that one of their soldiers were arrested.

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Jul 14 at 2017 6:18 PM

2017-07-14T18:18:29-04:00

It is best to notify COC. This way they know about it and when someone higher in the COC tells them about it they already know along with the circumstances. This way they are not blindsided. It is always better to find out from the person than it would be from the higher.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jul 14 at 2017 9:37 PM

2017-07-14T21:37:12-04:00

Tell your company Gunny or whoevers your equivalent.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Jul 14 at 2017 10:27 PM

2017-07-14T22:27:40-04:00

We all make mistakes. Come clean and trust that the CO will appreciate not being hit in the head by surprises.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2017 10:08 AM

2017-07-16T10:08:30-04:00

If he is in the reserves and this happened outside of drill time then he doesn't need to notify his chain of command.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2017 8:40 PM

2017-07-31T20:40:07-04:00

Why wouldn't you? Bad news does not get better the longer you hang on to it...