Obey. Comply. Respect. Ask no questions.
Starting from the first day of military training, soldiers are conditioned to follow rules and obey the demands of senior officers. But if you are a soldier under military investigation then understand that things have changed. You cannot behave as a subordinate being dictated by his peers, instead learn that you are a citizen entitled to rights under the constitution. Here are 5 things that you need to avoid when facing a military investigation:
- Do NOT Talk to Anyone
Once you are told that you are under investigation, do not start discussing your case openly. Avoid people from your chain of command, colleagues, law enforcement and even family and friends. Any on or off the record statements can be held against you in a court. Hiring a lawyer is advised to help you navigate through these tricky times. Hire a professional military investigation lawyer who can inform you of your rights and take over the proceedings.
- Do NOT Provide Private Information
Your lawyer will come in and help you invoke your rights. After this the investigation body may ask you to give consent over a range of demands. Remember you are not breaking any laws if you say NO to these demands. Avoid giving names, addresses, contact numbers, messages or communication history, even if you have nothing to hide. In certain cases, law enforcement has even asked for DNA samples, but you should not agree unless court permission is given.
- Do NOT Agree Or Offer to Take a Polygraph Test
Polygraph tests are simply a fallacy that cause drama and invoke fear in the person taking the test. There is no supporting scientific evidence for the authenticity of polygraph tests. So do not offer to take one,unless court permits.
- Do NOT Break the Military Protective Order
MPO is issued by the higher commanders for soldier’s like you who are undergoing investigation. It is a code of conduct which prohibits you to talk to certain individuals as long as the investigation continues. Do not even try to overstep these orders because they will only make the situation worse. You can be charged with additional offences and this will hurt your stance in the original case filed against you.
- Do NOT Self Investigate
Being a soldier, it can be hard to sit idle without any preparation and wait for things to happen to you after the case has progressed. But you have to understand that going out on your own conducting interviews and evidence can harm you more than helping you. Investigation can only be done by the law enforcement and you can add to it only through your lawyer and no one else.
Facing a military investigation is hard and can become a trying time, not just for you but also your family. To make this time easier on yourself, follow this guideline and avoid complications in your proceedings.