The purpose of this Board is to decide if your rank, at the time of retirement or separation was “satisfactory.” Many officers and family members are shocked and surprised after they drop their retirement papers and after over twenty years of service, they must now justify their career, rank and retirement to the Board. You have a right to submit matters on your behalf to show that you have held your rank in a satisfactory and honorable manner. Sadly, the Board has to power to recommend not only that one rank be taken away but as many as they deem necessary to take you back to a point when your service was satifactory.
A client came to Ms. Gorecki-Robbins after the Board had made its decision and in that case, the officer went from an 0-5 to an 0-3. Once notified, you will have thirty days to respond to the Board. If your file has been flagged, then you have some kind of “issue” in your file, for example: General Officer Letter of Reprimand, General Officer Article 15, Relief for Cause OER or some kind of other negative administrative action in your file. Even if you had letter of reprimand filed “locally” please be aware that the Board can gain access to all underlying investigative files for example, a CID report. Whatever the “issue” is, you will typically have to re-litigate it with this Board. Many Officers don’t fight the underlying “issue” in their file and this may the first time you are providing a fulsome response to an allegation(s). If you have previously provided rebuttals and they were not met with favorable action then let us help you craft a response that presents you in the best light with the goal of saving your retirement money. Now is not the time to “do it yourself” – your retirement pension depends on it. Ms. Gorecki-Robbins encourages everyone to do the math by going to the DOD retirement calculator to determine the loss in pay if one rank is taken away – for an officer, this can easily total over $500,000.00 before taxes over the course of your lifetime.
Call today and let us help you get over this last hurdle before you leave the military – Free initial consultation.
TESTIMONIALS
“100% Driven to win your case. Decisive, no nonsense, and easy to confide in…a Master of her Profession. You will not find a better attorney to represent you should you require it in one of her specialty areas than Anita Gorecki-Robbins. I hired Anita in 2021 to represent me during my Army Grade Determination Board process, following a very questionable admin investigation. From the first phone call to the final determination, she provided clear counsel and guidance, the way forward, and a reassurance that we had done everything possible to win my case. And did I. Not only was I allowed to retire in my current rank and grade, but with an honorable discharge, and all the awards and recognition indicative of a successful 25-year military career. You want the best to represent you, especially when everything you have worked for hangs in the balance. You want that attorney to be Anita Gorecki-Robbins.”
–GAL Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), United States Army
“When I first reached out to Anita Gorecki-Robbins for legal assistance, I was in a bad place. I personally made some assumptions about truth and justice in the overall conduct of an investigation and I believed I had nothing to worry about. I was wrong! I was emotionally distraught, in a panic and in the mist of the worse depression I had ever experienced. I knew I was wronged and that the truth didn’t matter and it was just going to get worse. There was a possibility that I would lose my rank, my retirement and my Honorable Discharge – everything!
It was at this point that I reached out to Ms. Gorecki-Robbins. She was so calm, professional and understanding. She knew where I was and what I needed to get me through the process. She put together the packet that saved my rank, retirement and characterization of service! But she did more, she was there to help whenever I needed her. Although I have never met her in person, I know that she saved me! I believe in her and recommend her 100% to anyone with military justice issues. Reach out to her early! She is amazing!” S.E.
“I found Anita on line in my desperate search to find an expert in grade determination boards. She is more than just an expert but someone who is passionate about her cases. She took my case by the horns and never let go. Without her I don’t believe I would have retired after 23 years of service with my rank as LTC. Without her I would have been lost in a system of red tape and confusing bureaucracy. If you find yourself trapped amidst military dogma and the vagueness of UCMJ contact Anita.” J.F.
“My case was adjudicated in my favor successfully due to the professional and comprehensive approach of Mrs. Gorecki-Robbins. Her experience and understanding of the military justice system allowed her to craft a defense tailored to the audience and a holistic view of the problem, which subsequently, shaped a just and informed decision favorable on my behalf. She doesn’t take all cases and if she does, she believes in your cause. That in itself is comforting and inspires confidence.” M.L.
“Ms. Goreck-Robbins is a tireless worker and a relentless advocate. Her advice and counsel was spot-on, and she was there when I needed her. I retained Anita to help me with a grade determination and retirement board, and her knowledge of the law and the system helped ensure that I am retiring at my current rank, saving me hundreds of thousands of dollars over my lifetime. She’s a lifesaver.” J.M.
“Anita is an awesome attorney!!! She is very competent, informative, and friendly. Anita definitely cares about her client and their outcome. She is one in a million! I am happy she is on my side and I am retiring at my current rank.” D.L.
PRESS
Politifact.com -Reed and McCain make a case to save Gen. Petraeus’ pension (January 31, 2016)
“The specific sequence of events that might lead the Army to retroactively demote a retiree are quite rare to begin with, according to Anita Gorecki-Robbins, a lawyer and former Army Judge Advocate General officer who represents members of the military in grade determination proceedings.
First of all, she said, the officer’s active-duty misconduct — or lawbreaking — must stay off the radar prior to his or her retirement. Then after retirement someone must tell the Army’s review board about it.
During her 15 years of experience, she’s never encountered such a case.
As Gorecki-Robbins says: “This is truly a unique set of facts.”
Download Army Regulation 15-80 here
Call today to get a free consultation or contact us and we will get back to you shortly to set up your appointment. Let us explain the process to you and evaluate your case.