What is the next course of action when the IG will not respond to your request for assistance on an issue that is unresolved at every level?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:16:03 -0400

Anyone know what the next course of action is when IG will not respond to your request for assistance resolving an issue that has been unresolved at every level? Asking for a friend…

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2023 5:55 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:55:01 -0400

Congressional

Response by COL Randall C. made Oct 13 at 2023 6:00 PM

COL Randall C. — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 18:00:04 -0400

When you say "will not respond", did they actually submit a formal complaint, or is your friend describing that they left a voicemail or nobody picks up the phone? I'd at least double-check the official contact info if that's the case (see below).

Is it possible no action is being taken because it's one of the things the IG does not get involved with* (although they should have informed your friend of that)?

If they can't get the local IG office to respond/act, then contact the next higher (using the "Find an Army IG" page*). For example, if this were you then you'd click on Georgia and all the Army IGs in the state of GA are shown (I assume the 485th doesn't have an IG, so next higher is the 98th).

If the 98th doesn't respond, then the next higher is the 108th Training Command out of North Carolina*. After that, you would contact the USARC IG.

If they want to ensure it is handled as a formal complaint, then you need to submit a written and signed (electronically or physically) document*. The first thing they will ask is if the individual has tried to handle this through the unit commander and/or used the Open Door Policy of higher command.
-----------------------------------------------------
* IG FAQ - https://www.usar.army.mil/IGFAQs/
* Formal Complaint with USAR IG office - https://www.usar.army.mil/FilingwithIG/
* Find an Army IG - https://ig.army.mil/REQUEST-IG-ACTION/Find-an-Army-IG/
* 98th IG contact info - 98th Training Division, 10489 Old Cusseta Road, Fort Moore, GA 31905, [login to see] /3129, [login to see]
* 108th TC IG contact info - 108th Training Command, 3600 Arco Corporate Drive, Charlotte, NC 28273, [login to see] /5593/5594, [login to see]

IG FAQs

Official site of the U.S. Army Reserve, the federal military reserve forces of the United States.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Oct 13 at 2023 6:15 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 18:15:47 -0400

That's one of the vaguest questions I've seen posted on here. It's pretty possible what you requested assistance for is outside the scope of the IG. But without knowing what it is - and not saying you should post about it on a public forum necessarily - no one can really give a solid answer.

Response by COL Dan Ruder made Oct 14 at 2023 10:37 PM

COL Dan Ruder — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 22:37:32 -0400

What I read here is that a formal complaint was not made to the IG. Even if the issue is not within the IG's scope (such as crimes) they still inform the complainant of the appropriate agency to discuss the matter with.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 16 at 2023 3:43 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:43:02 -0400

Anytime somebody tells me everything has been tried or attempted I immediately become suspicious because that is rarely the realty.

Was the IG complaint formally submitted?
Is it something the IG actually takes action on. One thing I learned via rally point is the IG role is a small key hole and if it doesn't fit other avenues of approach are required.

Have all avenues been attempted at the Platoon, Company, Bn, Regimental or Div?
Formally, in writing? Not just a hallway conversation or a text to someone somebody knows?

I would ensure all boxes were checked. If everything was actually done go the congressional route but heavy caution needs to be used when breaking that glass for emergencies. Once you do that it changes everything and the individual becomes nuclear and leadership will avoid them because it was escalated all the way to the top.