Before you file a complaint / Frequently Asked Questions
Please review these FAQ's before filing a complaint. We encourage you to contact your local IG Office to ensure fastest possible response.
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Who May File Army IG complaints?
If you have a concern and are unsure if you should file a complaint, contact
your local IG office for guidance.
Any Army military or civilian member may file an IG complaint. However, many
Department of the Army (DA) civilian complaints (e.g., discrimination, sexual
harassment, and conditions of employment) must be addressed by agencies other
than the IG. Anyone, including civilians with no Army affiliation, may file
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) disclosures. Depending on the circumstances, the
IG may also accept complaints from dependents or relatives of active duty
members and retirees and their dependents. However, it is always best for the
actual "victim" or person who witnessed the alleged wrongdoing to file the
complaint.
What type of complaints are appropriate?
Any Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) and violations of law, Army instructions, or policy should be reported through the appropriate grievances channels. The subject of your complaint must be an Army program or person. Bear in mind, however, the fact that you may disagree with your supervisor(s) over management styles or have what you believe is a "personality conflict", does not constitute an injustice or mismanagement. If you are not sure your concern is a reportable matter, contact your local IG office for guidance or advice.
When are IG complaints appropriate?
Individuals should attempt to resolve Fraud, Waste, and Abuse(FWA) issues and
personal complaints at the lowest possible level, using command channels before
elevating them to the next higher level or the Office of the Inspector
General.
Further, complaints must be promptly filed within IG, command, or
other grievance channels. IG's may dismiss a complaint if there is no FWA,
recognizable wrong or violation of law, regulation, or policy. Also, complaints
should be received in a timely manner.
Where should complaints be filed?
Complaints may be filed with a supervisor or commander in your chain of command, an IG or other appropriate inspector, or within any established grievance channel. Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) complaints may be reported to the Army Audit Agency (AAA), Army Office of Special Investigations (AOSI), security police, or other proper authority. Promptly advise the AOSI of suspected criminal misconduct or fraud. It is the intent of the Inspector General System that IG closest to the complaint provides assistance or conduct inquiries into the matters submitted.
What types of complaints are NOT IG appropriate?
The following issues and allegations are ordinarily not appropriate
for IG intervention:
- Criminal allegations
- Issues that have other means of redress (If the appropriate redress procedures
were used, IGs will advise complainants that IG involvement focuses on ensuring
that the complainant received due process and the protection of rights as
intended by law and regulation)
- Courts-martial actions
- Nonjudicial punishment
- Officer evaluation reports
- NCO evaluation reports
- Enlisted reductions
- Type of discharge received
- Pending or requested discharge
- Complaints that a commanding officer has wronged a soldier
- Financial liability investigations of property loss
- Relief for cause
- Adverse information filed in personnel records (except for allegations of
reprisal)
- Claims
- The issue is not Army related
- Soldier EO complaints
- Civilian allegations of reprisals
- Department of Defense civilian employee redress through other channels
- Hazardous work conditions
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Collective bargaining agreements
- Appeals of adverse actions within the purview of 5 USC 7701-7703