CAMP ARIFJAN COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Camp Arifjan Court-Martial and UCMJ Defense
From courts-martial and Boards of Inquiry to other UCMJ defense and administrative actions, these are the cases I handle for service members at Camp Arifjan. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Camp Arifjan: What You Need to Know
Understanding how the military justice system works at Camp Arifjan is the first step in protecting yourself. Knowing why a seasoned civilian defense lawyer matters is the second. This section covers both.
Courts-Martial at Camp Arifjan
Three types of courts-martial can be convened for service members at Camp Arifjan. A summary court-martial handles minor offenses and can impose limited punishments, including confinement and reduction in rank. A special court-martial handles mid-level offenses and can result in confinement, forfeiture of pay, and a bad-conduct discharge. A general court-martial handles the most serious offenses. It can impose lengthy confinement, a dishonorable discharge, and other severe penalties.
If you are facing a court-martial at Camp Arifjan, the prosecution has likely been building its case before you were ever charged. You need a defense lawyer who can match that preparation. You need someone with the trial experience to fight in the courtroom — not just negotiate behind closed doors.
Convening Authorities at Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan is a U.S. Army installation built and funded by the government of Kuwait, operating under a Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two nations. The host unit is Area Support Group – Kuwait (ASG-KU). The installation serves as the forward headquarters of U.S. Army Central (ARCENT), also known as Third Army, the Army component of U.S. Central Command. The General Court-Martial Convening Authority is the ARCENT commander. The Special Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically the ASG-KU commander.
Cases originating at Camp Arifjan may be handled in-theater or deferred until redeployment. Even when proceedings are delayed until you return stateside, statements, evidence, and decisions made at Camp Arifjan often shape the entire case. A skilled defense lawyer can engage with the convening authority early. Before charges are referred, there may be an opportunity to advocate for your interests, present mitigating evidence, or persuade the command to take a different path.
The Office of Special Trial Counsel
Under recent military justice reforms, certain cases are now handled by the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). These include sexual assault offenses, domestic violence, and related crimes. The OSTC operates independently from the chain of command. An independent special trial counsel decides whether to refer these cases to court-martial — not your commanding officer.
This means that for certain offenses, the convening authority no longer controls whether your case goes to court-martial. Having a civilian defense lawyer who understands how the OSTC process works is critical if you are facing these types of charges at Camp Arifjan.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Army can process you for administrative separation through a Board of Inquiry or an Administrative Separation Board. A Board of Inquiry is used for officers. An Administrative Separation Board is used for enlisted soldiers. These boards can end your military career. They can also determine your discharge characterization, which affects your veterans’ benefits and future employment.
You have the right to a lawyer at these proceedings. A civilian defense lawyer who understands the administrative separation process can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment at Camp Arifjan
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Camp Arifjan, your command can impose an Article 15 for minor offenses. If you accept an Article 15, you give up your right to a court-martial. In return, you limit the maximum punishment your command can impose.
You have the right to consult with a defense counsel before accepting an Article 15. You also have the right to demand a court-martial instead. A defense lawyer can help you weigh your options and can advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding.
Why You Need a Civilian Defense Lawyer
The Army provides defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service (TDS). The TDS field office at Camp Arifjan is part of the 8th Circuit-South and serves service members across Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and the broader U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. TDS attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
I have defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards in theaters of war and in courtrooms at home — and I bring the same fight to every case. I know how the military justice system works. I know the commands, the convening authorities, and the procedures. When everything you have worked for is on the line, you need a lawyer who has the experience, independence, and fight to stand with you.
About Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan is a United States Army installation located in the Ahmadi Governorate in southern Kuwait, approximately 30 miles southwest of Kuwait City, west of Shuaiba Port and Kuwait Naval Base. The camp was built and funded by the government of Kuwait at a cost of $200 million and operates under a Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two nations. At 17 square miles, divided into seven zones, Camp Arifjan is the largest U.S. military installation in Kuwait, hosting approximately 9,000 U.S. military and civilian personnel with a surge capacity of up to 15,000 during major troop rotations. The installation serves as the forward headquarters of U.S. Army Central (ARCENT), also known as Third Army, the Army service component of U.S. Central Command. The host unit is Area Support Group – Kuwait (ASG-KU), which provides base operations, security, and life support. Key tenant commands include the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, the 401st Army Field Support Brigade responsible for Army Prepositioned Stock-5 valued at $2.5 billion across 47,000 pieces of equipment, the 160th Signal Brigade and 54th Signal Battalion, the 335th Signal Command (Forward), the 595th Transportation Brigade, the 751st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Forward Groups, Navy Customs Battalions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division-Kuwait, and the CENTCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center. Patton Army Airfield, with location identifier OK2A, supports helicopter ground operations and an Aviation Classification and Repair Activity Depot task force providing theater-level aviation maintenance. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Romania, and Poland are also forward deployed at the installation. Camp Arifjan serves as the primary logistics hub for U.S. forces across the Central Command area of responsibility, coordinating ground operations across 21 countries and serving as the Defense Logistics Agency staging node for the region.
The decision to build Camp Arifjan followed the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which prompted the U.S. Army to seek a replacement for Camp Doha, a converted industrial warehouse complex near the Iraqi border that had served as the Army’s Kuwait headquarters since the 1991 Persian Gulf War. In July 1999, the Kuwaiti government began construction south of Kuwait City near the village of Arifjan, named for the desert shrub Rhanterium epapposum, known locally as arfaj. The base was not scheduled for completion until 2005, but the Iraq War accelerated the timeline, and Camp Arifjan became operational in 2002, two years ahead of schedule. In August 2003, the Coalition Forces Land Component Command headquarters moved from Camp Doha to Camp Arifjan. In December 2003, the CENTCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center was established at the base to synchronize theater-level logistics. From 2003 onward, Camp Arifjan served as the primary staging ground for hundreds of thousands of troops entering and exiting Iraq and Afghanistan. The base also became the central up-armoring facility for military vehicles deploying to the Central Command area, with tens of thousands of vehicles receiving add-on armor kits before forward movement. In 2022, five new warehouses adding 320,000 square feet of covered storage were completed at a cost of $27 million to protect prepositioned equipment. In April 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut the ribbon on new Unaccompanied Officers Quarters housing 300 personnel. On June 3, 2026, Iranian Fateh-110 ballistic missiles targeted Camp Arifjan as part of a broader Iranian barrage that simultaneously struck NSA Bahrain and Kuwait International Airport.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Camp Arifjan fall under the ARCENT chain of command. The ARCENT commander serves as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority, and the ASG-KU commander serves as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority. Assigned defense counsel are provided through the Trial Defense Service 8th Circuit-South field office at Camp Arifjan, which covers Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Israel, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. Legal assistance is provided by the ASG-KU legal office. Camp Arifjan’s role as the largest U.S. logistics hub in the Middle East, its position as the ARCENT forward headquarters, its prepositioned stock valued at $2.5 billion, and its support of combat operations across the Central Command area make it one of the most strategically important U.S. military installations in the world.
For defense at other installations in CENTCOM, see our CENTCOM Court-Martial Defense Lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases do you handle at Camp Arifjan?
I handle courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, administrative separation boards, Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment proceedings, military investigations, and UCMJ defense for service members at Camp Arifjan. My primary focus is court-martial defense. This includes serious offenses such as sexual assault, drug offenses, fraud, and violent crimes under the UCMJ. Cases originating at Camp Arifjan may be handled in-theater or deferred until redeployment, but statements and evidence gathered at the base often shape the entire case.
Do you represent all branches at Camp Arifjan?
Yes. While Camp Arifjan is primarily a U.S. Army installation, service members from every branch are assigned here, including Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel. I represent service members from every branch facing military discipline anywhere in the world.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the TDS?
The Army provides defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service (TDS). The TDS field office at Camp Arifjan is part of the 8th Circuit-South and serves service members across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. TDS attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
What is a Board of Inquiry?
A Board of Inquiry is an administrative proceeding used to separate officers from the Army. The board reviews allegations of misconduct or substandard performance. It can recommend separation with a specific discharge characterization. You have the right to a lawyer at a Board of Inquiry. A skilled civilian defense lawyer can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Can you help with Article 15 at Camp Arifjan?
Yes. I can review the evidence against you, advise you whether to accept the Article 15 or demand a court-martial, and advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding. Article 15 punishments can include restriction, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and extra duties. Having a lawyer involved early can make a significant difference in the outcome.
I’m under investigation — what should I do?
Do not make any statements to investigators, your chain of command, or anyone else about the allegations without consulting a lawyer first. You have the right to remain silent under Article 31(b) of the UCMJ. Contact a defense lawyer immediately. The earlier I get involved, the more I can do to protect you. This includes conducting an independent investigation, engaging with the command before charges are referred, and building a defense strategy from day one.
Can you help with sexual assault allegations under the UCMJ?
Yes. Sexual assault allegations under Articles 120, 120b, and 120c of the UCMJ are among the most serious charges a service member can face. These cases carry severe penalties, including lengthy confinement and sex offender registration. Under recent reforms, the Office of Special Trial Counsel now handles these cases independently from the chain of command. I have experience defending sexual assault cases in the military. I understand the unique evidentiary and procedural issues these cases involve. If you are facing a sexual assault allegation at Camp Arifjan, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Camp Arifjan?
I travel to Kuwait for courts-martial and administrative boards. When you contact me, I will work with you to establish a timeline that meets your needs. I have spent years defending service members at courts-martial and administrative boards, and I am ready to step in when you need me.
Talk to a Camp Arifjan Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Camp Arifjan, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.