A permanently filed GOMOR/LOR will remain in the performance portion of the Army
Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR) and can be seen by Army Human
Resources Command (HRC) and promotion boards. It will stay there through the
Soldier’s career unless it is appealed for removal or transferred to the restricted portion
of the AMHRR. Information in the restricted file of the AMHRR is not generally
viewable by promotion or selection boards. Exceptions are DA selection boards, if the
board president makes a specific written request; the CSM/SGM, SGM Academy, and
CSM/SGM retention boards, and some government agencies may view restricted file
material by written request. For more information on who may view restricted file
material, see AR 600-8-104, para. 2-6 & 2-7.
Receiving a GOMOR may prevent you from being promoted. The negative information
may also be addressed in your NCOER/OER. A negative NCOER and GOMORs may
trigger a Qualitative Management Program (QMP) review. The QMP is designed to
deny NCOs continued service on qualitative grounds if they do not meet retention
standards for continued service. Reprimands issued as punishment under an Article 15
proceeding will be filed with the Report of Proceedings. For officers, a GOMOR can
also be a later basis for separation.
3. How do I Respond to a LOR/GOMOR?
Upon receipt of a reprimand, you will be notified of the opportunity to respond, and the
date by which the response must be submitted. This response is referred to as “rebuttal
matters.” Rebuttal matters should reply to the reprimand as denying the allegations or
requesting that the reprimand be filed in a local or restricted file. You should address
the underlying facts and provide mitigating evidence.
There are generally two strategies to rebut a reprimand. Your Legal Assistance
Attorney (LAA) can help you understand these strategies and how to proceed in
rebuttal: (1) Extenuation and Mitigation: This means the recipient acknowledges the
misconduct, but there are factors that minimize the seriousness of the act, and as a
result permanent filing is too harsh. (2) Exculpatory: Exculpatory means the recipient is
arguing he or she did not actually commit the act giving rise to the reprimand. This is a
rare argument since ordinarily reprimands are reviewed with great scrutiny by general
officers and legal advisors before issuance.
You will usually have 7-10 days to prepare and submit your written statement. The time
limit for submission of your rebuttal begins the day you receive the GOMOR/LOR, so
act quickly to avoid missing the suspense date.
To help the LAA understand what has occurred, write out a complete description of the
events surrounding the LOR. You should write the statement in memorandum format;
this memo will be the foundation of your statement. Make sure you write legibly and
bring the draft when you see the LAA. Your local LAA can help you edit and refine your
written statement.