Expert: Jason Grabill - 2/28/2010

Question
Hello Sir!

My husband was in the Navy and has been out for about 6 years. He was great, but decided to make a dumb move and got in trouble. He made a false official statement and received extra pay he was not entitled to. Kind of sad and complicated because at the time, shortly after, we had our first child, etc. Even the judge kind of felt sorry for him as he should of have gone about it the right way, but he took responsibility and did his time in the brig. When he decided he did not want to reenlist surprise surprise-yes sir, they said things were questionable..that is when he said he had done this. So when they had to investigate, he had no pay or something like that, and then he did time in the brig. He was kept in the military for another 2 years without work or pay and then discharged. I do get angry because I saw people who actually in my opinion did worse and got a slap on the hand and are still representing this country-his best man, who I now know was the one who encouraged him, is still serving, and had done this. The judge actually felt sorry because at the time, we actually had our first child, etc. He just did things wrong. But it is what it is, I just do not think it should drag and follow him forever and I refuse to because he did more for the military than that negative. Even when our child was born, we did not use insurance nor any kind of pay from them. He has repaid 10x his mistake. Higher ranking officials, his supervisors backed him up and know it was out of character. Anyway, enough venting. His court martial was in 2002 in Norfolk, VA. My question.

How can he get an arrest report? information sheet and a disposition of the court? I know how easily this can be in the "civilian world" but since this was military, it is a lot harder and what he has, it does not seem like it is that. Please advise. We need this so we can give to the person so he can get a preliminary evaluation to see if he can teach. We are no longer in VA. Someone in the legal office told him to omit that that he served but in this situation, he cannot take a chance (maybe with a simple like job, but not a career). We do have his FBI check, and it does pop up. I refuse to keep being punished for something stupid he did years ago. I did not know until he confessed. I refuse to see him let him hold him back because he is no criminal and made a mistake that has been long paid for. I appreciate it your help!

Regards,

Nicole

Answer
Nicole:

 First, if he lies on any background check it'll easily show up, and he'll be fired, so by all means, do NOT do that.   

 He should be able to get his courtmartial record if he asks for his official personnel file from the navy, it would be included in that.  There may only be a few pieces of paper, and what he has may in fact be all there is.  There probably isn't an arrest report per se since likely as not, he just went direct to courtmartial and the brig from there.  

 Again, he should be able to get his complete military records, and everything about the CM will be included in them.  

Jason