---
title: "List the facts for an Article 138 complaint of wrongs"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/prepare-a-redress-of-grievance-complaint-about-a-service-decision/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A64-H20261018-6-US"
practice_area: "Military & Defence Law"
tier: "red"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# List the facts for an Article 138 complaint of wrongs

> List the commanding officer, the wrong the member describes, whether the member asked that officer for redress, and the response on the file. Do not write the complaint.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/prepare-a-redress-of-grievance-complaint-about-a-service-decision/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Military & Defence Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Red: Lawyer writes; AI may check, clarify or collect data |
| How AI is used | List the commanding officer, the wrong the member describes, whether the member asked that officer for redress, and the response on the file. Do not write the complaint. |
| What the lawyer must review | Article 138, 10 U.S.C. § 938, lets a member of the armed forces who believes he was wronged by his commanding officer, and who on due application to that officer is refused redress, complain to any superior commissioned officer. That officer must forward the complaint to the officer exercising general court-martial jurisdiction over the officer against whom it is made. The officer exercising that jurisdiction must examine the complaint, take proper measures for redress, and as soon as possible send the Secretary concerned a true statement of the complaint and the proceedings. You write the complaint. The tool does not. This is not a court-martial appeal under Articles 66 or 67. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Prepare a redress of grievance complaint about a service decision](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/prepare-a-redress-of-grievance-complaint-about-a-service-decision.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: List the commanding officer, the wrong the member describes, whether the member asked that officer for redress, and the response on the file. Do not write the complaint.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- Do not skip the application to the commanding officer. The statute requires a refusal of redress first.
- Write nothing that is sent as the complaint.

## Sources

- [10 U.S.C. § 938, Article 138, Complaints of wrongs](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/938) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [ABA Formal Opinion 512, Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools (29 July 2024)](https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/professional_responsibility/ethics-opinions/aba-formal-opinion-512.pdf) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [ABA Model Rule 1.1, Competence](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_1_1_competence/) (checked 2026-10-22)

## Forms and precedents for this task

| Form or precedent | Kind | AI level | Summary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Screen before a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about Defence](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/defence-force-ombudsman-screen.md) | Checklist | Yellow | A screen for a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about Defence: who the complaints page says may complain, what it says is outside the investigation, and the redress step for a serving member. |
| [Redress of grievance complaint about a service decision (Defence Regulation 2016 Part 7)](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/redress-of-grievance-complaint.md) | Letter | Yellow | A structured redress of grievance complaint by an ADF member about a decision, act or omission in their service: the decision, why it is wrong or unfair, the steps taken, and the remedy sought, with… |
| [Redress of grievance timetable after the complaint is lodged](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/redress-timetable-after-lodgement.md) | Checklist | Yellow | A timetable for a redress of grievance after it is lodged: the 21-day and 6-month limits, no automatic stay, the update intervals, and the limit on what the Inspector-General can decide. |
| [Scope of a submission to the Inspector-General of the ADF](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/igadf-submission-scope.md) | Checklist | Yellow | A screen for a submission to the Inspector-General of the ADF by someone who is not completing the redress form: who may write, which military justice concerns the page lists, and what the Office… |

Signed-in accounts can read the full text of each one.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*