Claims
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate Bldg 124
White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002
(575) 678-1263 (DSN 258-1263)

Office Hours and Services

HOURS :

• MON - THURS: 0730 – 1600
• FRI: 0730 – 1530

EMERGENCY : Walk-in basis
LOCATION : Building 124, Cozier Street, 1st Floor
TELEPHONE : (575) 678-1263 DSN 258
APPOINTMENTS : No appointments are necessary, unless you are conducting business with a claims attorney. Pursuant to Army Regulation 27-20, this office processes several types of claims for and against the Army. If you are unsure whether your claim can be processed by this office, please call or stop by the office. Please remember that our office personnel cannot assist anyone in filing a claim against the government; however, we can give you the necessary forms to fill out.

The three most common types of claims filed with this office are the following :

• Personnel Claims Act , 31 USC § 3721, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, Chapter 11.

  These are administrative claims by military personnel and DA civilians only for losses incident to service. This includes household goods damages during shipment; POV shipment damage; on-post POV theft, vandalism and other unusual occurrences; and on-post quarters damage and theft. This is a gratuitous payment statute, not intended as total insurance coverage. All claims under this chapter must be presented to an Army claims office within two years of the incident.

• Claims under Article 139, Uniform Code of Military Justice , 10 USC § 939, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, Chapter 9.

  These are administrative claims made against military personnel only for loss of, or damage to, real or personal property that has been willfully damaged or wrongfully taken. Claims for death or personal injury, subrogated claims, and claims founded in negligence or breach of a contractual or fiduciary relationship are excluded. All claims under this chapter must be presented to an Army claims office within 90 days of the incident.

• Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 USC §§ 2671 – 2680, as implemented by Army Regulation 27-20, Chapter 4.

  These are administrative claims made by anyone against the United States Government for loss or damage caused by a government employee acting in the scope of his/her employment. The FTCA requires the filing of an administrative claim, signed and demanding a sum certain, with the appropriate agency within two years of the incident. Once the claim is filed, the claimant must wait to file suit in federal court until six months have elapsed since the date of filing, a final offer is issued, or the claim is denied, whichever comes first.