John Caulwell is a Soldier’s Soldier – a retired Army combat veteran, former Armor Officer, and recipient of two Bronze Stars with “V” devices. John has a commanding presence in dealing with military leaders and senior officers. With his mettle tested on the battlefields of Iraq as an Armor Officer, he has seen it all — and is ready for any challenge offered by the government. As a Warrior AdvocateTM, John specializes in responding to GOMORs and Letters of Reprimand, influencing commanders, and providing guidance to Warrior ClientsTM as they navigate a wide variety of adverse actions. As an experienced combat Warrior, John brings a calming influence to often otherwise overheated situations. Not afraid to strike hard blows against the government, John also realizes that tact, diplomacy, and collegial professionalism oftentimes achieves faster, fairer, and better results. Knowing when to negotiate, and knowing when to dictate, is a skill he brings to every Warrior Client’sTM case. As a previous trial counsel, senior defense counsel, and Chief of Justice, John combines courtroom experience with military justice management, to serve as a litigation force multiplier and persuasive Warrior AdvocateTM. John isn’t just an advocate; he’s a litigation leader, amplifying every defense, and anchoring every plea. With John on your team, you’re not only represented, you’re protected.
Biographical Video
Educational Background
Civilian Education
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor Science Education English, 1998.
- Indiana School of Law – Bloomington, Juris Doctorate, 2009.
Military Education
- Officer Basic Training, Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, December 2001.
- Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, April 2002.
- Armor Officer Basic Course, Fort Knox, Kentucky, August 2002.
- Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, Charlottesville, Virginia , February 2010.
- Judge Advocate Graduate Course, Charlottesville, Virginia, June 2014.
- Intermediate Level Education, Grafenwoehr, Germany, 2017.
Professional Licenses & Memberships
Indiana Bar Association
Professional Legal Experience
Deputy Chief of Claims
U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Claims Service, Wiesbaden, Germany, June 2019 to October 2021.
Responsible for supporting the Chief of Claims in overseeing the processing of all claims against the U.S. Army filed in Europe and Africa, including maneuver claims, personnel claims, and tort claims.
Chief of Military Justice
Office of the Staff Judge Advocated, 7th Army Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany, June 2017 to June 2019.
Responsible for the administration of military justice within the entire GCMCA footprint, including courts-martial, separation boards, non-judicial punishment, GOMORs, and administrative separations through the Notification Procedure. Advised the Staff Judge Advocate on all pre-trial and post-trial military justice actions throughout Bavaria.
Chief of Administrative Law
Office of the Staff Judge Advocated, 7th Army Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany, June 2016 to June 2017.
Responsible for the processing and review of all administrative law actions within Bavaria, including command directed AR 15-6 investigations, AAIP filings, GOMORs, Line of Duty Investigations, and other administrative actions. Ensured that all investigating officers and administrative separation boards were properly briefed and advised regarding the investigation and board hearings. Supervised 3 administrative law attorneys.
Senior Defense Counsel
U.S. Army Trial Defense Services, Alaska Field Office, Fort Richardson, Alaska, June 2014 to June 2016.
Advised and represented Soldiers facing military justice and adverse administrative actions including courts-martial, separation boards, and other career-ending administrative actions. Fully litigated approximately 20 courts-martial. Supervised 2 trial defense attorneys.
Chief of Administrative Law and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, June 2012 to June 2013.
Processed and reviewed all administrative law actions at Fort Leonard Wood, including command directed and other investigations, advised investigating officers about the scope and duties involved in their investigations, and advised separation board presidents regarding their duties during board proceedings.
As the SAUSA, was responsible for administering justice in the U.S. Magistrate court, prosecuting civilians for violations of federal law on the military installation, including traffic violations, drug and alcohol offenses, and other misdemeanors.
Trial Counsel (Prosecutor)
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, June 2011 to June 2012.
Responsible for the drafting and completing military justice actions against Soldiers who violate the UCMJ, including prosecuting courts-martial, representing the government at separation boards, and processing Article 15s and chapter separation packets. Prosecuted approximately 10 courts-martial.
Legal Assistance & Claims Attorney
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, March 2010 to June 2011.
Advised soldier and family member clients on a variety of legal matters ranging from family law, tax, landlord tenant issues, contracts, will, powers of attorney, and command adverse administrative actions. As claims attorney, assisted investigating the validity of personnel claims and advised the Chief of Client Services on the merits of tort claims submitted against the Army.
Armor Officer (Tank Platoon Leader, Tank Executive Officer, Battalion Maintenance Officer)
- Tank Battalion Maintenance Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-37 Armor Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany, September 2004 to June 2006.
- Tank Company Executive Officer, C Company, 2-37 Armor Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany, September 2003 to September 2004.
- Tank Platoon Leader, B Company, 2-37 Armor Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany, September 2002 to September 2003.
Deployments and Contingency Operations
Tal Afar, Iraq (January 2006 to June 2006)
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-37 Armor Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany.
An Najaf & Al Kufa, Iraq (June 2004 to July 2004)
C Company, 2-37 Armor Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany.
Baghdad & Sadr City, Iraq (April 2003 to June 2004)
B and C Company, 2-37 Armor Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany.
Awards, Decorations, and Skill Identifiers
- Funded Legal Education Program Recipient
- Bronze Star Medal for Valor (2nd Award)
- Bronze Star Medal for Service
- Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award)
- Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award)
- Army Achievement Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 4 Campaign Stars
- National Defence Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Services Medal
- Army Service Medal
- Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award)
- Presidential Unit Citation (2-37 Armor BN, 1BDE 1AD)
- German Armed Forces Bade for Military Proficiency – Gold
Your Warrior Law TeamTM – The Law Office of Will M. Helixon – Your Warrior AdvocatesTM
The Law Office of Will M. Helixon, your Warrior Law TeamTM, with over a century of combined legal experience, has served as Warrior AdvocatesTM in multiple complex and high-profile military cases. Founded in 2015, and rebranded and relaunched on October 14, 2023, the Warrior AdvocatesTM of the firm represent Warrior ClientsTM in most military law cases, including military justice matters, adverse administrative actions, complex legal assistance issues, affirmative administrative actions, and fundamental military employment problems.
Experts in rebutting adverse administrative actions, our Warrior AdvocatesTM represent Warrior ClientsTM facing command-directed investigations and AR 15-6 investigations, responding to adverse findings of investigations and AAIP filings, and answering notices seeking to revoke security clearances and professional de-credentialing.
Pending the need for legal advice for complex legal assistance questions, Warrior ClientsTM routinely rely on our Warrior AdvocatesTM in responding to GOMORs, letters of reprimand, and referred, relief for cause, and negative performance evaluations (NCOERs and OERs), assisting with medical issues such as MEBs and PEBs, navigating centralized board actions such as applications to the service component Board of Correction of Military Records (BCMRs) and Discharge Review Boards, and answering QMP Boards, the DASEB, the AGDRB, SSRBs, and other service-specific boards.
When our Warrior ClientsTM suffer wrongs by their command or fellow service members, our Warrior AdvocatesTM advise and assist submitting Inspector General (IG) complaints, Equal Opportunity (EO) complaints, and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) grievances and filing complaints and claims under Article 138 UCMJ (remedying command wrongs) and Article 139 UCMJ (compensation for wrongful taking/damage to personal property).
Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also assist Warrior ClientsTM with basic military employment issues including responding to notices of suspensions and terminations and submitting initial applications with the EEOC and MSPB.
Call our Warrior AdvocatesTM at the Law Office of Will M. Helixon, your Warrior Law TeamTM, today to help with your legal issues in Germany, Poland, and the United States. All our Warrior AdvocatesTM maintain licenses to practice before all military trial courts.Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also assist Warrior ClientsTM with basic military employment issues including responding to notices of suspensions and terminations and submitting initial applications with the EEOC and MSPB.
GERMANY
Vilseck: Bürgermeister-Weiss-Strasse 5, 92249 Vilseck, Germany
Wiesbaden: Bärenstrasse 3, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany
Kaiserslautern: Europaallee 33, 67657 Kaiserslautern, Germany
POLAND
Poznan: Andersia Business Ctr., 1st Floor, 7 Anders’ Square, Poznan, 61-894
UNITED STATES
Central Texas: 700 Smith St. #61070, SMB# 50377, Houston, TX 77002
Washington: 1201 Pacific Avenue, 6th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402
Colorado: 102 S. Tejon Street, Suite 1100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
KY/TN: 1860 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Suite 128L, Clarksville, TN 37040
OKC/N. Texas: 1019 Waterwood Parkway, Suite C, Edmund, OK, 73034
Germany +49 (0) 152 2990 0341
United States (913) 353-6466 (main)
Toll Free (844) HELIXON (435-4966)
