The military will provide you with a free attorney. However, attorneys are like any group of people, some are fantastic and some are not. Military defense attorneys are usually extremely busy, and you may not be able to get the attention your case deserves. When your career or life is on the line, you deserve personal attention. If your defense counsel is inexperienced or inattentive, there is no reason to stake your future on someone you are not 100% confident with. You will not get a do-over. If you do have defense counsel that you trust, you can absolutely hire a private attorney to work with that defense counsel in your defense. You have the right to hire an experienced private attorney while still getting the independent advice of your appointed counsel. The best thing you can do if you are facing disciplinary action is to be represented by an attorney you trust and who will work hard to defend your rights.
