Prior to the military’s implementation of the COVID-19 shot mandate in 2021, Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brandon Budge had established an outstanding 18-year career as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and he’s fighting to bring it back to pre-mandate status before it’s too late.
Grounded for 18-months for refusing the shot, CW3 Budge was prevented from flying a Black Hawk. During this period, he received a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR). He viewed a subsequent requirement to undergo a Flying Evaluation Board (FEB) as an act of reprisal. Even though the FEB eventually cleared him of any misconduct, his command still issued a GOMOR, which ultimately led to him losing promotion eligibility.
To his surprise, on September 2, CW3 Budge was notified by the office of Chief of Staff of the Army that the GOMOR on his record was being revoked. Although many would consider it a cause for celebration, CW3 Budge does not share their enthusiasm at this time.
Why? Because CW3 Budge immediately inquired whether he would be restored to the rank of CW4 for which he was selected in February 2022, and his contact at the Army Chief of Staff’s office is hopeful, but recommended he reach out to a legal representative, Ms. Melissa Halsey, at the Pentagon.
Budge contacted Ms. Halsey, who said that although the GOMOR is being rescinded, he would not be reinstated to the rank of CW4. “She simply seemed to suggest that I would be eligible for promotion in the upcoming cycle,” CW3 Budge shared.
Here’s the problem with this determination as he explained to The Gateway Pundit: CW3 Budge had been selected for promotion to CW4 in the 2021 promotion board; however, the issuance of a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) triggered a Special Selection Review Board (SSRB). The SSRB subsequently revoked a February 1, 2022, promotion. Budge explained that once an officer receives a GOMOR, promotion becomes “virtually unattainable.”
As a result, he was not selected during the next promotion board and is now classified as a “two-time non-select,” he explained. This designation necessitates his separation from the Army, subsequently forcing him into retirement on October 6, 2025. With approximately 20 working days remaining to rectify his situation, he fears there is no time to reapply to the Department of the Army Suitability Evaluation Board (DASEB) as the legal representative suggested.
“I made it very clear that the GOMOR was the sole reason the SSRB was convened and why this board ultimately removed my promotion to CW4, but that doesn’t seem to matter at this point,” CW3 Budge shared. “If the GOMOR has been removed, the SSRB was unnecessary and my rank should be restored to CW4, plain and simple.”
On Tuesday, CW3 Budge formally requested a copy of the decision from Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR).
Image: Email Screenshot by J.M. Phelps (CW3 Budge to Ms. Halsey)
In her reply, she admitted not having a copy of the decision and questioned whether she could legally have access to it. Although Ms. Halsey might not have the authority to directly release the information to CW3 Budge, can she not assist in expediting its release? “With each delay, I’m reaching a very critical point and my back is against the wall, as no further action may be taken without the ABCMR’s official decision,” he explained.
“Without answers to the questions I’m asking, my family remains in limbo, and I can’t move on with my life,” he said. “I need to find out if the Army is really going to take care of this.”
What makes this process most painstaking is that his requests for assistance appear to be slow rolled. In approximately 20 working days, the Black Hawk helicopter pilot will be forced to transition to civilian life, and he is frustrated by the lack of a clear decision.
“At this moment, as clarified by [Ms. Halsey] from the Pentagon,” CW3 Budge said, “the GOMOR will be lifted, but I will not be reinstated to the rank for which I was previously chosen after 18 years of service.”
“The financial impact is significant—approximately $40,000 in lost back pay—and, if I happen to live to the age of 85, more than a half million in lost retirement benefits,” Budge also pointed out. “I still have six children at home, and I’ve earned the rank of CW4.”
As CW3 Budge’s legal representative, Attorney R. Davis Younts, a retired Air Force JAG, remains “optimistic about the current administration’s commitment to correcting injustices faced by service members like CW3 Budge during the COVID-19 mandate era.” He told The Gateway Pundit, “I am encouraged by the leadership’s willingness to revisit and rectify past wrongs, as evidenced by the decision to revoke the GOMOR, [saying] this is a positive step toward restoring fairness for dedicated soldiers who have served honorably.”
“However, with CW3 Budge’s forced retirement looming on October 6,” Younts agreed, “the window to fully restore his rank and career is rapidly closing.” He asserted, “The Army has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to justice by acting swiftly to reinstate his rightful promotion to CW4, ensuring his years of service are properly honored.”
Younts urges the Department of Defense and the Army to expedite the necessary actions to prevent an irreversible outcome for CW3 Budge and his family. “The leadership’s intent to right these wrongs is clear, but time is of the essence,” Younts emphasized.
“The revocation of the GOMOR is a promising start, but without immediate action to restore his promotion and prevent his separation,” he said, “the remedy falls short of true justice.”
“I respectfully call on the Army to prioritize this case and provide the clarity and resolution CW3 Budge deserves before he is forced out,” pleaded Younts. “His exemplary service and the financial stability of his family hang in the balance, and I am confident the current leadership can deliver the swift resolution needed.”
Having attended a retirement brief on September 3, the question lingers for CW3 Budge: Will the Defense Department act quickly enough to preserve his career and the rank he is entitled to?
CW3 Budge emphasized that his views do not represent the views of the Department of Defense or Department of the Army.
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