Nonpunitive Letter of Caution in the Navy

April 13, 2026

A Nonpunitive Letter of Caution in the Navy or Marines is governed by the JAGMAN, available for download at this link.

A nonpunitive letter of caution in the Navy or USMC is a personal matter between a Superior and the Servicemember in question. The NPLOC should reference the behavior in question and specifically state the deficiencies/conduct in question. Furthermore, it should state how the Sailor/Marine in question should change their behavior to avoid future consequences. Typically, supporting documentation will be enclosed. An example NPLOC is in Appendix A of the JAGMAN.

The NPLOC will not be filed in a Servicemember's official military record. Furthermore, no reference to it will be be made in service-record entries, fitness reports, performance evaluations, or any other official records, and documents cannot refer to the nonpunitive letter of caution in the Navy or Marine Corps. That said, the conduct in question leading to the NPLOC can be referenced on any of those records and can be used to support a detachment for cause proceeding, for relief of Command, or to support a negative endorsement.

If the Servicemember submits a rebuttal to any facts alleging inadequate counseling or a failure to warn of deficiencies, a copy of the NPLOC may be included in the correspondence forwarding the Servicemember's rebuttal. If this happens, the NPLOC may properly be included in someone's military record upon filing of the complete correspondence. This should be considered before filing a rebuttal to a nonpunitive letter of caution in the Navy.

Any Servicemember that receives a nonpunitive letter of caution in the Navy or Marines should recognize that his/her career is in jeopardy. Such a letter can be the start of the Command attempting to separate a him/her from Service through the administrative separation process (Enlisted Navy, Enlisted Marine, Naval Officer, Marine Officer).

In these situations, an experienced Military Defense Lawyer should be consulted. While JAGs are available to assist, they are often over-worked, inexperienced, and unwilling or unable to provide adequate advice/assistance for Nonpunitive Letters of Caution in the Navy and USMC. A civilian Military Lawyer can be retained, which allows a Soldier to be represented by a proven lawyer with good 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. He has extensive experience with all types of Military Adverse Actions, including those related to a Nonpunitive Letter of Caution in the Navy and Marine Corps.

The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents Servicemembers worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S.