How to Win GOMOR Rebuttals: Combining Storytelling with Legal Precision

Let me take you behind the scenes. Imagine you’re a two-star General. Your inbox is flooded with emails, your schedule is packed with briefings, and now, on top of everything else, a GOMOR rebuttal lands on your desk. Are you going to sift through 30 pages of dry legal arguments? No way. You’ll skim the first paragraph, maybe the second, and if it doesn’t grab you, it’s going straight to the bottom of the pile. That’s why storytelling isn’t just important in a GOMOR rebuttal—it’s everything.

The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher

A GOMOR is no small thing. It’s not just a piece of paper; it’s a career killer. If it’s permanently filed, it follows you everywhere: to promotion boards, new commands, and administrative separation hearings. You could have 15 spotless years in uniform, and one GOMOR can wipe it all out.

I’ve seen it happen. A soldier gets a GOMOR for something like BAH fraud or a baseless allegation of misconduct. They think, “It’s just administrative—it’s not a court-martial. I’ll write a quick rebuttal, and it’ll all go away.” That’s where they’re wrong. A GOMOR isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a fork in the road. One path leads to salvaging your career. The other? Well, let’s just say it’s not pretty.

Why Storytelling Works

When my team and I take on a GOMOR rebuttal, we don’t see it as just another legal document. We see it as a chance to tell a story—a story that gets a General to stop, read, and think. And here’s the thing: that story has to do more than just sound good. It has to make sense. It has to be backed by evidence. And it has to resonate with the person reading it.

Here’s an example. A few months ago, we had a client who was accused of misconduct that didn’t hold up under scrutiny. The evidence was thin, the investigation was sloppy, and honestly, the whole thing was a mess. But that didn’t matter to the Commanding General. What mattered was what we put in front of him: a rebuttal that didn’t just deny the allegations but painted a full picture of who this soldier was. We told the story of their service, their sacrifices, and the circumstances that led to the accusation. By the end, the General wasn’t just reading a document; he was understanding a person. That’s what wins cases.

Building the Perfect Rebuttal

So, how do we do it? It starts with a blank slate. No templates. No cookie-cutter arguments. Every rebuttal is built from the ground up. We storyboard it—yes, like a movie. Who’s the protagonist? Who’s the antagonist? What’s the conflict, and how does it resolve? By the time we’re done, the rebuttal doesn’t just make a case; it tells a compelling story.

But storytelling isn’t enough on its own. It has to be backed by evidence. That’s where the legwork comes in. We gather sworn statements, text messages, emails—whatever it takes to validate the narrative. Because without proof, even the best story falls flat.

The Secret Weapon: Writing That Works

This is where my colleague Ben Gold comes in. Ben is the best writer I’ve ever met. Period. He has this uncanny ability to take a mountain of evidence, distill it into a cohesive narrative, and make it impossible to ignore. His writing pulls you in from the first sentence. It’s not just compelling; it’s magnetic. And when you’re writing for an audience that includes two- and three-star Generals, that kind of skill isn’t optional—it’s essential.

I’ll give you an example of what doesn’t work. Most GOMOR rebuttals I see from other firms—or worse, the ones soldiers try to write themselves—are dry, repetitive, and uninspired. They list facts without context, arguments without emotion. And guess what? They fail. Why? Because no one wants to read them. And if no one’s reading, no one’s reconsidering.

Why We Win

At our firm, we take a different approach. We don’t just draft rebuttals; we craft them. Every case gets the time, attention, and precision it deserves. We figure out the story that needs to be told, back it up with evidence, and write it in a way that grabs attention and doesn’t let go.

That’s why our rebuttals get read. That’s why they work. And that’s why, when a soldier hires us, they know they’re getting the best shot at saving their career.

Final Thoughts

A GOMOR rebuttal is more than just a response to allegations. It’s your one chance to tell your side of the story, to fight for your future, and to make the case for why you deserve to stay in uniform. Don’t waste it. If you’re facing a GOMOR, you need more than just good intentions. You need a strategy. You need evidence. And most importantly, you need a story that matters.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about what happened. It’s about why it matters. And that’s the story we’re here to help you tell.