Military Defense Attorney | Europe

Europe is home to one of the largest overseas concentrations of U.S. military personnel in the world — tens of thousands of service members assigned across Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, and a rapidly expanding rotational presence throughout Eastern Europe. Regardless of where you are assigned on the continent, you remain fully subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and the potential consequences of a court-martial, administrative separation, or non-judicial punishment are no different than they would be stateside. If you are facing military legal proceedings in Europe, experienced civilian defense counsel is not a luxury — it is a necessity.

Steven J. Goralski of Military Defense Litigator LLC is a former Marine Corps Major with over 11 years of active-duty service. He served as a criminal defense attorney and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, one of the Marine Corps’ most demanding legal offices, before transitioning to private practice. He has litigated cases at special courts-martial and general courts-martial across Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force jurisdictions and takes clients worldwide, including throughout Europe. Reach him at (855) UCMJ-LAW or 910-502-3737.

U.S. Military Installations Served in Europe

From the major Air Force hubs in Germany to the Navy’s Mediterranean footprint to the Army’s forward-deployed brigades, Military Defense Litigator LLC is available to represent service members across all U.S. installations in Europe, including:

Germany

• Ramstein Air Base — The largest U.S. Air Force base outside the continental United States and headquarters of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. High visibility, active command pressure, and a significant military justice docket.
• Wiesbaden (Clay Kaserne) — Headquarters of U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), the senior Army command on the continent. Misconduct allegations here escalate fast.
• Grafenwöhr / Vilseck (Rose Barracks) — Home to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. One of the busiest Army training environments in Europe, with a consistently high disciplinary tempo.
• Hohenfels — A major Army combat training center in Bavaria used by rotational forces from across the theater and CONUS.
• Stuttgart (Patch Barracks / Kelley Barracks) — Headquarters of EUCOM, AFRICOM, and SOCEUR. The concentration of senior leadership means any allegation gets elevated attention.
• Spangdahlem Air Base — Home to the 52nd Fighter Wing in the Eifel region.
• Baumholder — An Army installation in Rhineland-Palatinate supporting infantry and combat support units.
• Landstuhl Regional Medical Center — The largest U.S. military hospital outside the United States. Personnel stationed here are fully subject to UCMJ jurisdiction.

Italy

• Caserma Del Din (Vicenza) — Home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, the only U.S. Army airborne brigade in Europe. A combat-focused command with high standards and limited tolerance for misconduct.
• Aviano Air Base — Home to the 31st Fighter Wing, the Air Force’s sole permanently forward-deployed fighter wing in Europe.
• Naval Support Activity Naples — Headquarters of Naval Forces Europe and Allied Joint Force Command Naples. Navy and Marine Corps personnel serve in a highly visible joint and multinational environment.
• Naval Air Station Sigonella (Sicily) — A key Navy logistics and aviation hub in the central Mediterranean, supporting operations across the theater.

United Kingdom

• RAF Lakenheath — Home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which operates both F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35A Lightning IIs, making it the most capable U.S. fighter wing in Europe.
• RAF Mildenhall — Home to the 100th Air Refueling Wing and special operations aviation assets.

Spain, Belgium & Eastern Europe

• Naval Station Rota (Spain) — The largest U.S. naval installation on the European continent and homeport for Aegis ballistic missile defense destroyers.
• SHAPE / Mons (Belgium) — Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. U.S. personnel assigned here operate at the center of NATO command authority.
• Poland, Romania, and the Baltic States — Rotational Army and Air Force forces throughout Eastern Europe carry full UCMJ exposure regardless of the temporary nature of their assignment.

Why Europe Presents Unique Legal Risks for U.S. Service Members

The legal landscape in Europe is more complicated than either the Pacific or a stateside assignment. Each host nation — Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, and others — maintains a Status of Forces Agreement with the United States that dictates when that country’s criminal jurisdiction takes precedence over U.S. military jurisdiction. An off-base incident involving a local national can produce parallel proceedings in foreign courts and under the UCMJ simultaneously, with consequences that extend well beyond the end of a military career.

The ongoing expansion of U.S. rotational forces in Eastern Europe adds another dimension. Service members deploying to Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states are often in unfamiliar command environments, far from established support networks, and operating under conditions that generate disciplinary pressure. Even a relatively minor incident can escalate quickly when it occurs in a politically sensitive bilateral context. You need an attorney who understands not just the UCMJ but the unique pressures of serving in Europe.

Issues that frequently arise for service members stationed or deployed in Europe include:

• Off-base incidents and host-nation jurisdiction under country-specific SOFAs
• Drug offenses, including urinalysis failures and allegations involving controlled substances
• Sexual assault and sexual misconduct charges, prosecuted aggressively across all branches
• Assault and misconduct involving local nationals or allied military personnel
• Financial crimes including BAH/OHA fraud, larceny, and procurement irregularities
• Insubordination, disobeying orders (Article 92), and conduct unbecoming an officer or NCO
• Alcohol-related misconduct, particularly at smaller or more isolated installations
• Social media offenses and the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information

UCMJ Charges and Services We Handle in Europe

Military Defense Litigator LLC provides full-scope defense representation for service members stationed or deployed in Europe, across all branches of service:

Courts-Martial Defense

A court-martial conviction can mean confinement, a punitive discharge, forfeiture of pay, and a federal criminal record that closes doors for the rest of your life. Mr. Goralski has tried cases on both sides of the courtroom and brings that experience directly to your defense. He will challenge the government’s evidence, hold investigators and prosecutors accountable to the rules, and fight hard for the best possible outcome — whether that means winning at trial or negotiating a favorable pretrial agreement.

Administrative Separation Defense

An administrative separation can end a career without a court-martial conviction and still result in a characterization of service that affects VA benefits, federal employment, and civilian job prospects for years. You have the right to be represented by civilian counsel at an administrative separation board, and exercising that right is one of the most important decisions you can make. Mr. Goralski has appeared before separation boards and knows how to build a persuasive case for retention.

Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP / Article 15)

Accepting NJP may feel like the quickest way to put a problem behind you. It rarely is. NJP findings can follow you through promotion boards, reenlistment decisions, and security clearance reviews long after the punishment itself has been served. Before you accept or refuse, speak with an experienced defense attorney. Mr. Goralski can help you understand the realistic consequences and develop the strongest possible response.

Free Military Defense Counsel Walk-In Clinics in Europe

If you have been read your rights in connection with an Article 15 or NJP in Europe, you have the right to consult with a military defense attorney before deciding whether to accept or refuse. Walk-in clinics are available through the offices listed below. Keep in mind that government defense offices across Europe carry heavy caseloads. If you want dedicated, immediate representation focused entirely on your case, contact our firm today for an immediate consultation.

• ADC — Ramstein Air Base (Germany) | DSN: 314-480-2182 | COMM: +49-6371-47-2182
• ADC — Spangdahlem Air Base (Germany) | DSN: 314-452-6607 | COMM: +49-6565-61-6607
• ADC — RAF Lakenheath (UK) | DSN: 314-226-3608 | COMM: +44-1638-52-3608
• ADC — Aviano Air Base (Italy) | DSN: 314-632-5588
• TDS — Grafenwöhr / USAREUR-AF (Army) | Contact your installation SJA or the USAREUR-AF Trial Defense Service regional office
• RLSO Europe (Navy & Marine Corps) | Naval Support Activity Naples | Contact your installation legal office or RLSO Europe Africa Southwest Asia

UCMJ Investigations and Pre-Charge Advice

Being the subject of a CID, NCIS, or OSI investigation is not the same as being charged — but the decisions you make during an investigation can determine the outcome if charges are eventually preferred. The most important thing you can do is stop talking and call a lawyer. Mr. Goralski advises clients throughout the pre-charge phase, helping them assert their rights, avoid self-incrimination, and build a defense posture from the earliest possible moment.

Board of Inquiry (BOI) and Officer Elimination Proceedings

For officers, the stakes at a Board of Inquiry can be just as high as at a court-martial. A finding that supports involuntary separation — particularly with an other than honorable characterization — affects retirement eligibility, benefit entitlements, and how you are perceived by civilian employers for the rest of your working life. Mr. Goralski has the military background and legal experience to present a compelling case before a board of senior officers.

Why Choose a Civilian Military Defense Attorney in Europe?

Military-appointed counsel is available at no cost, but availability is not the same as capacity. Government defense attorneys across Europe juggle substantial caseloads, which means your case may not get the time and attention it deserves at the moment when preparation matters most. A civilian attorney works only for you — not for the government, not for the command, and not for a roster of other clients competing for the same block of time.

What Mr. Goralski brings to your defense:

• 11+ years of active-duty service as a Marine Corps officer, including time in some of the Corps’ most demanding legal and operational environments
• Hands-on criminal defense experience at Camp Lejeune’s busiest defense office, where high-stakes cases were the norm
• Insight from the prosecution and command side, gained during his years as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate
• Courtroom experience across multiple branches — Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force military justice systems
• True worldwide availability — geography has never been a barrier to representation

Your career took years to build. Don’t let it come apart without a serious fight. Contact Military Defense Litigator LLC for a confidential consultation today.

Contact a Military Defense Attorney for Europe

Whether you are stationed at Ramstein, Grafenwöhr, Wiesbaden, Vicenza, Lakenheath, Rota, or deployed to Eastern Europe, military legal proceedings require immediate attention. The sooner you have experienced counsel in your corner, the better your position will be when it matters most.

Call (855) UCMJ-LAW or 910-502-3737, or schedule a confidential consultation online. Steven J. Goralski and Military Defense Litigator LLC are prepared to defend you — wherever you are serving.