Army will look for false accusations, consider ‘credibility’ in misconduct cases
New rules will send misconduct complaints to a “credibility assessment” before a full investigation is launched, and removes negative flags from personnel records during investigations.
Patty Nieberg
Jul 8, 2025 4:10 PM EDT
The Army made some changes to how it investigates misconduct, adding a new fact-finding process called a “credibility assessment.” Army photo by Capt. Erick Schneider-Cuevas.
The Army has made changes in how it investigates misconduct allegations with new rules that may muddy the waters for soldiers making anonymous reports of misconduct like toxic leadership or hazing, former military lawyers warned. The updated rules also stop the flagging of an accused soldier’s personnel record in advance of an investigation, which could delay career progression, and introduce punishments for soldiers proven to have made false accusations.
The changes came in a June update to the Army’s 15-6 regulation, which governs the process for investigating military-related misconduct like sexual harassment, toxic leadership, adultery, fraternization, cruelty and maltreatment of subordinates, violation of orders and regulations, misuse of government resources, and hazing.
The new regulation introduces several new terms that add new processes or concepts into the framework of a 15-6 investigation. Those investigations can lead to administrative punishments or more serious Uniformed Code of Military Justice proceedings that result in discharges or rank and grade demotions.
An Army official told Task & Purpose that the goal is to reduce the number of 15-6 investigations and “clarify” for commanders, especially for junior officers, that there are other processes — like a memorandum for records — they are encouraged to use for “everyday friction” within their command and when there’s not “sufficient evidence.”
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-15-6-investigation-regulation/
