General Order Number 1 Violation

October 17, 2026

A General Order Number 1 Violation in the Army can result in serious, and career ending, consequences. Attorney Barry, an experienced Military Defense Lawyer, explains at this link.

General Order Number 1, sometimes called GO1, can vary depending on the General Officer administering the policy. Typically, GO1 is put into effect during deployments or other special situations. General Order Number 1 is meant to regulate Soldier's conduct when on a mission or away from their normal duty station. While the specifics of the order vary, they typically consist of the following:

a provision stating that violations of the order are punitive in nature, therefore making violations criminal under Article 92 of the UCMJ;
restriction to certain areas or listing areas/types of establishment that are off limits;
either a prohibition on the consumption of alcohol or a prohibition on becoming "intoxicated;"
a prohibition of removing, possessing, selling, defacing, or destroying archeological artifacts or items of cultural or historic significance;
a prohibition on selling, bartering, or exchanging any currency other than at the official host-nation exchange rate or commercial rate commonly available at hotels;
a prohibition on adopting as pets or mascots, caring for, or feeding any time of local domestic or wild animals;
a prohibition on introducing, purchasing, possessing, using, or selling privately-owned firearms, ammunition, or explosives;
a prohibition of sexual activity in certain areas (i.e.. barracks rooms, government vehicles, workspaces);
requirements to travel in battle buddy teams;
a prohibition on viewing or possessing pornography;

Again, GO1 can, and does, vary by location. Each order should be tailored to the mission at hand and reviewed and approved by a JAG before publishing. The specifics of General Order Number 1 should be briefed to each Soldier before it goes into effect; however, because it is an order given by a General Officer, knowledge is not a required element to be proven. Essentially, a Soldier can be punished for violating GO1 without ever having knowledge of the specifics of the order. It is therefore essential that Commanders brief their Soldiers about the contents of General Order Number 1 and for Soldiers to proactively seek it out and read the specifics.

A suspected General Order Number 1 Violation is typically investigated through a preliminary inquiry, commander's inquiry, or 15-6 investigation. Furthermore, a GO1 violation can be discovered/investigated during a larger CID investigation or MPI investigation.

If substantiated, a General Order Number 1 Violation typically results in an Article 15, GOMOR, and/or bad evaluation (NCOER or OER). While a Court-Martial is possible, these are typically not pursued. Furthermore, a GO1 Violation can result in the initiation of elimination (Officers) or separation (Enlisted).

Any Soldier facing a suspected General Order Number 1 Violation in the Army should immediately consult an experienced Military Lawyer. While Trial Defense/Legal Assistance Attorneys are available to assist, they are often inexperienced, over-worked, and unwilling or unable to provide the appropriate amount of time and attention needed, which is ill-advised with so much at stake. Furthermore, during deployments, JAGs may not be immediately available due to geographical constraints. A civilian Military Lawyer can be retained, which allows a provider 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 as extensive experience with General Order Number 1 Violations in the Army and all associated consequences.

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