Author: Will Helixon

Retired JAG Officer (LTC) and owner of the Law Office of Will M. Helixon. A military trial lawyer at heart, I look to always help servicemembers who are facing adverse action, separation boards, and courts-martial.

MEB, PEB, IDES…and the Alphabet Soup of Medical Discharges (Part 1 of 4)

A view of the Naval Medical Center San Diego aka Bob Wilson Naval Hospital in the Balboa Park in San Diego.

What is the Medical Evaluation Board Process?

Formerly, the Services and the VA Considered Disability Separately

If you are confused with the acronyms IDES, MEB, PEB, DBQs, C&P Exams, VASRD, PEBLOs, MSCs NARSUMs, SMEBCs, and VARRs, you are not alone.  So what is an MEB anyway?   Colloquially, servicemembers refer to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) as an MEB.  That common name comes from the fact that the IDES system was formerly two different systems.  The Army/Navy/Air Force used one disability evaluation system and the Veterans Administration used a different system.  The Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) served, and continues to serve, as the military services’ evaluation system .  But now, the services and the VA work together; though sometimes they work together with the type of inter-service rivalries we know and love as servicemembers. Continue reading “MEB, PEB, IDES…and the Alphabet Soup of Medical Discharges (Part 1 of 4)”

Military Lawyer, Court-Martial Defense, Army Attorney The Law Office of Will M. Helixon - Over 71 years of military law experience.

Investigations and Field Grade Officers: The Impact of AIPP Filings

In 2014, with little fanfare, the military made important changes to the filing and use of the results of administrative investigations.  These changes especially affected field grade officers and their chances to earn future promotions.  This blog post discusses the high points of these changes.  It also discusses the importance of receiving advice from an experienced military defense lawyer who understands these changes.  It is critical to challenge flawed and incomplete investigations at every opportunity.  These stages include at upon completion of the investigation, upon discovery of grounds for reconsideration, and when entered into the AIPP database.

Continue reading “Investigations and Field Grade Officers: The Impact of AIPP Filings”

Military Lawyer, Court-Martial Defense, Army Attorney The Law Office of Will M. Helixon - Over 71 years of military law experience.

Pending a Court-Martial: Should I Hire a Civilian Court-Martial Defense Lawyer?

The decision whether to hire a civilian court-martial defense lawyer is a very personal and private matter that depends on several factors, including the cost, experience of the attorney, their current workload, the time they have to commit to your case and relationship you have with your detailed military lawyer. Each case is different, and whether you should hire a civilian court-martial defense lawyer is unique to every case, client, and existing military defense counsel.

Continue reading “Pending a Court-Martial: Should I Hire a Civilian Court-Martial Defense Lawyer?”

Military Lawyer Helixon

Ten Baseball Lessons For Military Lawyers

Military litigators, including court-martial defense lawyers, can apply lessons from baseball to their practice to become better lawyers and advocates.

[In June, 2014, after nearly eighteen years of active duty in the U.S. Army, I resigned from active duty and entered the U.S. Army Reserves.  The SJA at Joint Base Lewis McChord afforded me the opportunity to address the Soldiers as I transitioned to the Reserves, and this blog entry is derived from that speech.]

My grandfather, Raymond, was an imposing man standing well over six feet tall.  Even in the waning years of his life, his physical strength was unmatched.  A natural athlete, grandpa lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track in college at the University of Wisconsin River Falls (formerly River Falls Teacher’s College) from 1931-34 – his best sport was basketball and he was captain of the team, but it was baseball that he pursued.  His dad, my great-grandfather managed a semi-pro baseball team in Marshfield, Wisconsin, winning the league championship in 1934.

Continue reading “Ten Baseball Lessons For Military Lawyers”

False or True - Military Defense-Court-Martial-Defense-Helixon

False Reports of Sexual Assault meets “Always believe the Victim”

It’s Time to Advocate for the Accused:  The Pendulum has Swung too Far in Prosecuting Sexual Assault Cases in the Military

 As I have written before, sexual assault is a heinous crime.  The military and society should ensure that every sexual offender faces justice, and every victim of this crime is provided the necessary support to overcome the consequences of its brutality.  Even the court-martial defense lawyers would agree that those who are guilty of sexual assault should be held accountable.  However, in the zeal to respond to the perceived sexual assault “crisis,” the military cannot disassemble the protections against wrongful convictions, and cannot ignore that false reports of sexual assault must be guarded against.  Advocacy for victims must not trample on the rights of the accused.  A thorough reading of the Constitution reveals no reference to “victims” while at the same time providing protections of the rights of the Accused in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th & 14th Amendments – these protections are to guard against wrongful convictions.

Continue reading “False Reports of Sexual Assault meets “Always believe the Victim””