This is an urgent update for all Army soldiers - Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, & TDRL members going through the PEB process. Source: Office of the Judge Advocate General dtd 27 May 26.
1. ALL SOLDIERS: Effective immediately as of May 27, 2026, the Army's Office of Soldiers' Counsel (OSC) will no longer provide
legal services to Soldiers — regardless of component — prior to the Informal PEB stage. This means that Soldiers undergoing
MEB processing, IMR preparation, and rebuttal submission will no longer have access to OSC representation during those critical phases.
2. RESERVISTS AND GUARDSMEN: Beginning July 1, 2026 — two days from today — OSC will cease providing legal services to Reserve
Component Soldiers entirely, including those on active-duty orders of fewer than 30 days. This restriction
applies to both duty-related and non-duty-related DES cases at all stages.
3. ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS: For Active-Duty Soldiers, once Informal PEB findings are received, OSC services will generally be limited to a
single legal consultation appointment.
4. TDRL SOLDIERS: The Army also ended OSC representation for TDRL members, including at formal hearings. These changes are
driven by staffing shortages within OSC.
5. SUMMARY: While these changes will not affect my clients, as I like to take cases on at the MEB stage, they will impact all soldiers going through the PEB process without counsel now or in the near future. As an attorney who has been practicing in this area of law for more than 25 years, I have never seen the Army withdraw legal services from so many soldiers in one fell swoop. It will place soldiers at a distinct disadvantage compared to their peers in the Navy & Marine Corps, Air Force & Space Force, & Coast Guard.
1. ALL SOLDIERS: Effective immediately as of May 27, 2026, the Army's Office of Soldiers' Counsel (OSC) will no longer provide
legal services to Soldiers — regardless of component — prior to the Informal PEB stage. This means that Soldiers undergoing
MEB processing, IMR preparation, and rebuttal submission will no longer have access to OSC representation during those critical phases.
2. RESERVISTS AND GUARDSMEN: Beginning July 1, 2026 — two days from today — OSC will cease providing legal services to Reserve
Component Soldiers entirely, including those on active-duty orders of fewer than 30 days. This restriction
applies to both duty-related and non-duty-related DES cases at all stages.
3. ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS: For Active-Duty Soldiers, once Informal PEB findings are received, OSC services will generally be limited to a
single legal consultation appointment.
4. TDRL SOLDIERS: The Army also ended OSC representation for TDRL members, including at formal hearings. These changes are
driven by staffing shortages within OSC.
5. SUMMARY: While these changes will not affect my clients, as I like to take cases on at the MEB stage, they will impact all soldiers going through the PEB process without counsel now or in the near future. As an attorney who has been practicing in this area of law for more than 25 years, I have never seen the Army withdraw legal services from so many soldiers in one fell swoop. It will place soldiers at a distinct disadvantage compared to their peers in the Navy & Marine Corps, Air Force & Space Force, & Coast Guard.
