The Office of the Inspector General advises the Adjutant General on the overall welfare and state of discipline of the Wisconsin National Guard. It provides a continuous assessment of the organization’s operational and administrative effectiveness.
This office provides recommendations to The Adjutant General in order to eliminate shortcomings and violations of standards. It receives, reviews, and processes complaints, requests for assistance, advice, information, or grievances from individuals assigned to the Wisconsin National Guard and ensures appropriate action is taken.
Contact Our Office
Need assistance?
Phone: (608) 242-3085
Fax: (608) 242-3572
How to Submit a Request for Inspector General Assistance
Submit a completed DA Form 1559 (Army) or AF Form 102 (Air Force) by mail, email, or visit the office at JFHQ Rm 150.
Include your complete mailing address, daytime phone number, and an email address you check frequently.
Be ready when asked:
- What do you want the Inspector General to do for you?
- Do you have any supporting documentation?
- Have you given your chain of command an opportunity to address the issue?
- Have you requested assistance from elsewhere?
Who can request assistance?
Assistance is the Inspector General function that provides Soldiers, Airmen, Family members, Civilians, retirees, and contract employees the ability to seek help from the Inspector General on matters affecting their health, welfare, and personal readiness. However, anyone may submit a complaint, allegation, or request for information or assistance to any Army Inspector General concerning a matter of Army Interest.
Inspector Generals do not…
- Recommend Punishment
- Interpret Law
- Establish Command Policy
- Exercise Directive Authority
- Change established redress procedures
Rules of Engagement (AR 20-1)
- Everyone has the right to see the Inspector General (military retirees, family members, civilians)
- No allegation or request for assistance can be ignored
- The Inspector General is not a commander, we are fair and impartial fact finders and problem solvers
- Investigations, inquiries and inspections are directed by the Inspector General’s Commander (not by the Inspector General)
- Inspector General records cannot be used as the basis for adverse action nor to compare commands or commanders
Confidentiality
All Inspector Generals have a duty to protect to the maximum extent possible, the personal identity of a complainant, witness or any other individual providing information to the Inspector General, particularly when the individual specifically requests confidentiality. . . Confidentiality and discretion are core concepts for Inspector Generals, though Inspector Generals do not have a legal privilege of confidentiality. Rather, Inspector General confidentiality results from the Inspector General’s special relationship with the commander, the deliberative process, protection in both the FOIA and the PA, and as a necessary incident to the protections of 10 USC 1034.
~ AR 20-1, para 1-13
Before you tell it to the Inspector General
Command Redress: In accordance with AR 20-1, Inspector Generals encourage Soldiers and DA Civilians to discuss any issues, allegations, or requests for assistance first with the commander, chain of command or supervisor.
Certain issues are NOT Inspector General appropriate and may have to be referred to the appropriate office for action. This includes non-support of Family Members; criminal allegations; Sexual Harassment / Assault Response and Prevention; Equal Employment Opportunity; hazardous work conditions; or a non-Army or Air Force issue. Many items will either be directed to the appropriate command or to the appropriate staff agency. However, we will maintain oversight until the issue is resolved.
In many situations, laws and regulations provide a Soldier, Airmen or DA Civilian with a means of redress. This includes: discharges; medical evaluation boards results; courts martial actions; Evaluation Reports; and Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss. Soldiers, Airmen and DA Civilians should first utilize the prescribed redress process before seeking assistance. (Note that an Inspector General can help you identify this process) Following the redress process, the Inspector General may conduct a due process review to determine if the complainant received due process according to regulation.
The Inspector General only makes recommendations, and does not order a resolution. Don’t expect instant action on your request…Be patient.
Keep in mind, the Inspector General may not give you the answer you want.