An Army GOMOR, or General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand, is a formal written reprimand issued by a general officer that documents misconduct in a soldier’s record and, when filed permanently, can end a career through blocked promotions or involuntary separation. It sits below court-martial in severity but above any reprimand a lower-ranking commander can issue, because only a general officer can order it placed permanently in your Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR).
What a GOMOR Is
The GOMOR is governed by Army Regulation 600-37, which controls how unfavorable information is filed in the AMHRR.1U.S. Army. AR 600-37 Personnel-General Unfavorable Information To issue one, the general officer must believe by a preponderance of the evidence that the soldier committed the misconduct alleged. That means the allegation is more likely true than not.2U.S. Army Presidio of Monterey. General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) and Letters of Reprimand
That bar is far below the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used at court-martial. You can be formally reprimanded on evidence that would never support a criminal conviction. The GOMOR exists precisely to address conduct that damages good order and discipline but falls short of what a prosecutor would take to trial.
What Gets a Soldier a GOMOR
GOMORs typically address misconduct a commander considers serious enough for official documentation but not worth prosecuting. Common triggers include failing to perform assigned duties, refusing to follow lawful orders, misusing government property, and conduct unbecoming a soldier’s rank or position. Driving under the influence, violations of the Army’s sexual harassment policies, and inappropriate relationships also frequently result in GOMORs.
One boundary matters here. For allegations involving sexual assault or other offenses covered by the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program, the general officer cannot file the GOMOR locally. The only options are to withdraw it or file it permanently. There is no middle ground.
The Rebuttal Window
When a general officer proposes a GOMOR, the soldier gets written notification describing the alleged misconduct and the intent to reprimand. Active duty soldiers have 7 calendar days to submit a written response. Guard and Reserve soldiers not on active duty get 30 calendar days.1U.S. Army. AR 600-37 Personnel-General Unfavorable Information Extensions can be requested, and reasonable ones are often granted, but the clock starts on notification, not when you first read the memorandum.
The rebuttal is the single most important step in the process. This is when you can gather sworn statements, documentation of mitigating circumstances, and any evidence that undermines the allegation. The general officer reviews everything you submit before deciding whether to issue the GOMOR at all and, if so, where to file it. Contact your installation’s Trial Defense Service office as soon as you are notified. TDS attorneys represent soldiers at no cost and can help build a rebuttal that addresses both the underlying facts and the filing decision.
Seven days is not much time, and a thin rebuttal or no rebuttal gives the general officer no reason to reconsider. Address the specific allegations point by point, and argue in the alternative for withdrawal or, failing that, local filing rather than permanent filing.
Local Filing vs. Permanent Filing
After reviewing the rebuttal, the issuing general officer has three options: withdraw the GOMOR entirely, file it locally, or file it permanently in the performance folder of the AMHRR.3U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood. The GOMOR Appeal Process The difference between the two filings is enormous.
A locally filed GOMOR stays at the unit level. Promotion boards cannot see it. It is automatically removed when you transfer to a new duty station or after 3 years, whichever comes first.3U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood. The GOMOR Appeal Process Local filing is still serious, but it does not follow you and, on its own, will not end a career.
A permanently filed GOMOR goes into the performance folder of your AMHRR, where Human Resources Command and every promotion board reviewing your record will see it.1U.S. Army. AR 600-37 Personnel-General Unfavorable Information For most soldiers, permanent filing effectively ends any realistic chance of further advancement.
What a Permanent GOMOR Does to a Career
The most immediate impact is on promotions. Because the reprimand sits in the performance folder that boards review, most boards will pass over a soldier who has one. The document signals that a general officer found the misconduct credible enough to warrant a career-level sanction.
For noncommissioned officers from staff sergeant through command sergeant major, a permanent GOMOR can trigger the Qualitative Management Program. When HRC receives material for permanent filing in an NCO’s performance or restricted folder related to conduct in the current grade, the NCO becomes eligible for QMP screening. QMP boards review the full record and can recommend involuntary separation. A GOMOR is explicitly listed among the categories of material that trigger QMP eligibility.4U.S. Army. Qualitative Management Program (QMP) Frequently Asked Questions Officers face parallel risks through officer separation boards.
A GOMOR does not automatically revoke a security clearance, but it can prompt a review. The adjudicating agency may examine the underlying conduct for concerns about judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness. If your clearance is essential to your MOS, suspension or revocation can itself become the basis for further administrative action.
Getting It Moved or Removed Later
Two administrative avenues exist for a permanently filed GOMOR. Neither is quick.
Transfer to the Restricted File
The Department of the Army Suitability Evaluation Board (DASEB) can approve moving a permanently filed GOMOR from the performance folder to the restricted portion of the AMHRR. Once restricted, promotion boards no longer see it. To succeed, you have to show the reprimand has served its intended purpose. A strong package typically includes evidence of the time elapsed since filing, an expression of accountability for the underlying conduct, at least one positive evaluation report received after the GOMOR was imposed, and a memorandum of support from the chain of command or the original imposing authority.3U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood. The GOMOR Appeal Process
If DASEB denies the appeal, you must wait one year before resubmitting. The denial letter is placed in the commendatory and disciplinary portion of your performance record, so an unsuccessful appeal leaves its own mark.3U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood. The GOMOR Appeal Process
Full Removal Through the ABCMR
The Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) can order a GOMOR removed from the record entirely if you show by a preponderance of the evidence that the filing involved an error or injustice. The application is submitted on DD Form 149 within 3 years of when you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the error.3U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood. The GOMOR Appeal Process The ABCMR presumes no administrative error occurred, so the burden is on you. Applications with no new evidence beyond what was already considered may be returned without action.
Before going to the ABCMR, you must exhaust other administrative remedies, including the DASEB process. The ABCMR is a civilian board within the Department of the Army with broader authority than DASEB, and a correspondingly higher bar for relief. Retaining a military law attorney to prepare the application is worth serious consideration.