FTR in the Army

January 19, 2025

Failure to report in the Army, or FTR in the Army, is governed by Article 86 of the UCMJ.

Essentially, if a Soldier is supposed to be in a certain location, and is not there at the prescribed time, then he/she is FTR in the Army. Even if a Soldier informs his/her leadership that they are going to be late, he/she is still FTR in the Army if he/she does not show up at the prescribed time and place.

If a Soldier is FTR, then his/her supervisor should counsel him/her using a DA Form 4856. While this is a best practice, a lack of counseling does not preclude adverse action against a Soldier for being FTR in the Army.

Being FTR can result in numerous adverse actions, including a letter of concern, Article 15 or a GOMOR. Additionally, repeated FTRs can result in separation from the Army for a pattern of misconduct.

There are numerous, legitimate, reasons as to why a Soldier may be FTR in the Army. These reasons could include medical reasons, personal hardship, lack of communication, and more. The chain of command is often unwilling to listen to legitimate excuses and are often very rigid. Any Soldier facing adverse action for an FTR in the Army should immediately consult with an experienced Military Defense Lawyer. While TDS is available to assist, they are often overworked, inexperienced, and not willing to provide assistance for relatively minor misconduct. Soldiers in these situations can hire Civilian Counsel, which allows him/her to hire a lawyer with a proven track record of success and high-quality former-client reviews.

This Article was written by Attorney Matthew Barry. Attorney Barry is highly rated by former clients and has a proven track record of success.

The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents Soldiers worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S. Attorney Barry and his team will travel to any base, worldwide, to represent Soldiers accused of misconduct.