In May 19, 2018, I received a General Officer Letter of Reprimand (GOMOR) for something a legal adviser thought was my fault. The first few days was stressful because I have 10 days to explain to the General why I wasn’t guilty. By my experience, almost every Soldier who gets a GOMOR is separated fro...m the Army. But after I hired Mr. Carpenter it was a big relief. Mr. Carpenter got in contact with those legal advisers, which are things I couldn’t do because I must follow my chain of command. On July 13, 2018, I received the good news that my GOMOR was filled “locally.” I know of Soldiers who got involved in an incident and went to legal on post a month later; and are still awaiting a decision. I am really happy with Mr. Carpenter’s representation of me and would highly recommend him to every Soldier that needs help with a GOMOR rebuttal. He saved my career.

Mr. Carpenter came to my rescue after I had exhausted all the JAGs had to offer me. He fought for my life and my career. He was very professional and passionate in the courtroom, and gave his all, so that in the end we came out on the winning side. After facing over seven charges the prosecutors dro...pped five of them once they realized I had a civilian lawyer who was dedicated and had such great experience. I was able to receive an Honorable Discharge and keep all my benefits.

We hired this attorney to get our son discharged from the Marines. Our son was denied medical treatment during combat training and went UA to get medical treatment. He surrendered but was held under deplorable circumstances and went UA again. That's when we hired the attorney to negotiate his su...rrender and discharge. The attorney took care of everything and our son was home, completely free of USMC FOREVER in about five weeks. During the time he was held conditions were 100% better and the attorney was on top of it.

Once accused I became the outcasted village leper and the Navy wanted nothing to do with me. Steve was there for me as I waited 22 months for adjudication, and offered sage advice that ultimately helped me win my case. At my board of inquiry they threatened administratively separating me with an OTH... discharge 100+ days before retirement ... that would have meant: NO GI Bill, NO retirement, and possibly NO VA Disability Benefits. Thanks to Steve, I received a FULL Honorable Retirement with my GI Bill and all other VA Benefits. I cannot thank Steve enough for all the amazing work he did to find justice in a military judicial system that is heavily influenced by rank and not by objective evidence. When Steve gets in the zone, he's able to connect all the dots and make sense out of the madness. I'd highly recommend that you hire his services ASAP, before you sign ANY legal paperwork. Seriously, save yourself the trouble and give him a call. Stephen Carpenter is a superhero that uses his powers for good in a military system gone insane with leaders who are all focused on self-preservation at the cost of their own people. If you're in physical danger, feel free to turn on the Bat signal ... but if you need legal help, you better turn on the SC singal. Thank you, Steve, for saving my career, saving my hard earned reputation, and for protecting my family from legal destruction.

When I received the news of my selection by the promotion board, I immediately felt euphoric. All my hard work, dedication, and perseverance had paid off during a time of uncertain promotion rates. However, my joy soon turned to utter disheartenment as I received word the next day that my promotion... had been scroll withheld for reconsideration (under a new Secretary of the Army policy affecting officer promotions for O-3 and above), based on a past, filed CID report, which did not result in any formal judicial proceeding. The Army now required me to meet a Promotion Review Board (PRB), the results of which would then be sent to the SecArmy for final review to determine my fitness to serve at the next rank. With my career and reputation on the line, I knew immediately that I had to retain a seasoned, aggressive civilian attorney with prior JAG experience and a reputation for winning. After researching several lawyers, I decided on Mr. Stephen Carpenter -- a fortuitous decision. Steve’s case load and travel are heavy at times, but he ultimately came through when it mattered. I specifically remember two pivotal moments, during the course of my rebuttal process: 1) during the planning phase to overcome the PRB, and 2) during the execution of our rebuttal and eventual win. 1) Planning Phase: Stephen meticulously reviewed all documents and evidence to provide insightful commentary and analysis. He wrote me three detailed, key talking points that provided the best defense for my case. I knew he was the right attorney. 2) Execution of Rebuttal: Steve's rebuttal letter shocked me. In a good way. He not only relayed and analyzed a detailed synopsis of events that transpired (to lead up to the false accusation), he also cited specific CID regulations to demonstrate the procedurally incorrect investigation performed by the local CID. Mr. Carpenter’s legal expertise and precise writing/communication ability were absolutely vital to my case; he compiled a far better rebuttal memorandum than I could have attempted myself. The entire PRB process took one year, and in the end, I received the excellent news that I would retain my promotion. I fully endorse Stephen Carpenter. My advice: if you are under investigation and/or pending legal action, GOMOR, Court Martial, PRB, etc., ensure you hire an accomplished civilian attorney who focuses exclusively in military law. Take some time to do your research, but do not delay in making a decision. You will need all the time you can get to prepare your defense and/or rebuttal. Protect your career by hiring a skilled civilian attorney to represent you; it is money well spent.