major updates to army regulation 15-6

On 22 June 2025, the Army released major changes to Army Regulation 15-6 (AR 15-6 Investigations). They created preliminary inquiries requiring commanders to conduct a credibility analysis of complaints. They also empowered commanders to penalize false or repeated false allegations.

The most significant changes are in Chapter 1.  There are three types of procedures now:

1. Preliminary inquiries
2. Administrative investigations
3. Board of officers.

The regulation requires commanders to assess all available information to determine if there is sufficient credible information to warrant further fact-finding. In other words, the days of frivolous AR 15-6 investigation is hopefully over.  This is an important area of advocacy where lawyers can advocate for commanders to terminate proceedings early in the case. 

The new standard of proof explicitly requires commanders to weigh conflicting evidence. This language is taken very closely from the Military Judge's Benchbook instructions for courts-martial. 

Most significantly, the regulation permits commanders to take adverse action against individuals who knowingly make false allegations. 

These are major changes to AR 15-6. They provide significant opportunity for lawyers to intervene and advocate for their client's innocence. 

​https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN43931-AR_15-6-000-WEB-1.pdf