Tips For Working with the IG

Tips for Working With Your Inspector General IG Office

To present an issue without fear of reprisal is the right of any Soldier, Civilian, or Family Member seeking IG help. After all, problem solving is one of the IG’s primary missions.

 What steps should you take?                                                                                  

If IG assistance is needed, contact your local IG first.
(RSC and USARC IG's are the first point of contact for AGR and TPU soldiers.)

Give your chain of command a chance to solve the problem.
(Many problems must be addressed to the chain of command for resolution)

Be sure you have a problem, not just a peeve.
(Are you being given inaccurate information or just slow service?)

Remember IG's only resolve a case on the basis of fact.
(Your claim that a supervisor has violated the rules doesn’t make it fact. A claim must be supported with evidence. Do you have copies of documents or can you reference a policy that has been violated?)

Some situations first require other methods of redress.
Be honest and don’t provide misleading information.
(IG's will discover the truth quickly in most cases and there are penalties for knowingly providing false information.)

Keep in mind IG's can only recommend, not order a resolution.
(Only Commanders can order; the role of the IG is to assist and advise.)

Don’t expect instant action on your request. Be patient.
(Inquiries and Investigations take time, and IGs tend to have heavy workloads.)

Be prepared to take "No" for the answer.
(In either case "Yes" or "No", the IG will explain why.)