Investigation Complete, article 121

[rrfan21]

I am in the Marines and an investigation was done by the unit where I just left. I have not seen the investigation, but I am suspected of violating article 121 (misappropriation). Here is what happened:

I was the holder of a Unit Travel Card as well as a GTC. I occasionally used the UTC to pay for my hotel room while I was TAD vice my GTC. I did this to reduce the TAD costs since the UTC was paid using a different pot of money. Once my TAD was complete, I told the Admin Chief not to run my hotel room under my GTC because I used the UTC.

Part of my purchase file was to show that my GTC was not paid and since I did not know how to pull down the voucher showing this (I asked the admin chief numerous times for this) I created a dummy one in word so I would not get hit on the inspection.

As it turned out, the admin chief did run the payment for my room and I was paid for my hotel room directly to my GTC. I was paid for something that the USMC paid for already.

I should have gotten the actual voucher to verify and I should have monitored my statements , but I figured the extra money (3K over 2 years) I was paid was due to me saving money while I was TAD.

The investigation officer was the AO as well as the approver for TAD should have caught the error as well.

The investigation is now complete and has been forwarded to my new command for action. My new CO is a Col.

I have 16 years in the Marines and am an E-6 with a spotless record and excellent evals.


Here are my questions:

1. What punishment might I receive

2. Do you think this will go to a court martial

3. If I am forced to pay the $3K back (which I should) will they take this all at once or can it be paid over time and if so, for how long?

My biggest concern is that I will lose rank and the ability to retire.

[CGRAY]

Here are my questions:

1. What punishment might I receive
If found guilty at NJP, red in rank, 1/2 mo pay for 3K, base/barracks restriction 30 days.

2. Do you think this will go to a court martial
Probably not without you requesting it to do so.

3. If I am forced to pay the $3K back (which I should) will they take this all at once or can it be paid over time and if so, for how long?
If you can't afford to pay back right away, probably 1/2 months pay until paid in full.

This is assuming you are lucky. If CO confidently feels that you willingly attempted to defraud, I would expect harsher punishment, possibly CM. Base legal will advise you as to their recommendation once/if charge sheet is made.

[Peligroso27]

16 years in and you think you would be able to read an LES correctly.

I'm not buying your story and neither will your C.O. You knew exactly what was going on and can expect to be punished accordingly.

E-6 reduced to E-5 after 16 years of service, won't that put you at high year tenure?

[rrfan21]

Peligroso....I am taking what you say with a grain of salt considering an LES has nothing to do with my case.


Now, I forgot to add that my wife manages the money and she had asked me numerous times why I had been getting extra money and I told her I guess it was from money I saved while TAD.

Also, I was told that it is hard to reduce an E-6. Can an E-6 be reduced at an NJP or does it have ot come from a CM?

I have a few Marines (Retired LtCol, active LtCol, and a MSgt) that will be writing recommendation letters concerning my performance and character. Will this help at all with the decision my CO has to make?

[CGRAY]

Also, I was told that it is hard to reduce an E-6. Can an E-6 be reduced at an NJP or does it have ot come from a CM?
It's not hard at all. The only bearing your rank has on the situation is that you can only be reduced 1 rank at an Article 15. If you were a E4 or below, you could be reduced all the way down to E1. Not passing judgement, but a Staff Sgt should be aware of Article 15 proceedings.

I have a few Marines (Retired LtCol, active LtCol, and a MSgt) that will be writing recommendation letters concerning my performance and character. Will this help at all with the decision my CO has to make?
Probably not. Guilty is guilty. Not having done it before is not a defense. Would advise not dragging others with good reputations to vouche for yours, for their sake. Plead stupidity and hope for the best. If you bought any Gunny chevrons, hopefully you saved the receipt.

[rrfan21]

Thanks for the info. It seems I am screwed which sucks because I close on my house on 8 Jul. Hopefully, this will not affect my wife and 2 kids too much. I am guilty of being stupid, but there was no intent to defraud whatsoever. My family is my life and there is no way I would do something this stupid with so much visibility that could have an effect of them.

All I can do is pray about this, ask for forgiveness and hope that I am able to continue to march.

I am due to deploy to Iraq in Feb and this invest is holding this up.


Also, the investigation was done by my old unit and of course they made their recommendation. Is ti usually the norm for the CO (my current one) to go off of their recommendations or would he usually take his own action.?

[RealAmerican]

Originally Posted by rrfan21

I created a dummy one in word so I would not get hit on the inspection.

This will be the nail in your coffin. It seems like you just got complacent and tried doing stuff your own way. That will get you in trouble every time.