Nelson Robles: A JAG-Trained Attorney Standing Up for Fort Benning Soldiers
The wrong word in an interrogation room, or an unfavorable vote from a court-martial panel, can reshape everything a soldier at Fort Benning has worked to build. Infantry trainees moving through One Station Unit Training, Rangers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, and the cadre who run the Maneuver Center of Excellence all share the same exposure: a single case, handled poorly, can strip away rank, pay, and a future in uniform.
Nelson Robles helped build Corrao & Robles Law around the idea that soldiers deserve a lawyer who has actually worn the uniform. He’s spent years serving as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer in the U.S. Army and now applies that background to defending soldiers and veterans tied to Fort Benning in courts-martial, administrative hearings, and the federal matters that sometimes follow.
Why a JAG Officer Makes a Difference at Fort Benning
Nelson Robles picked up his military legal knowledge from the inside, spending years as an active-duty Army JAG Major immersed in the same investigative and disciplinary machinery that now operates at Fort Benning. He’s completed the Judge Advocate Officer Course, the Military Trial Advocacy Course, and the Complex Victim Unit Course, and his record includes the Army Commendation Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. That depth of exposure translates into sharper case preparation and a poised command of the courtroom.
Standing With Fort Benning Soldiers Through Every Phase of a Case
As the Army’s home for infantry and armor training — and the base for the Maneuver Center of Excellence, the Airborne and Ranger Schools, and elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment — Fort Benning processes an enormous number of military justice actions every year. Attorney Robles takes on Fort Benning-connected soldiers and veterans across a wide range of legal needs, among them:
A guilty verdict at a general court-martial can bring a dishonorable discharge, complete loss of pay, and a lengthy prison term; special and summary courts-martial impose their own serious penalties. Attorney Robles becomes involved as early as the Article 32 hearing, staying on through trial and, when circumstances call for it, into an appeal before the Army Court of Criminal Appeals or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Army CID agents typically start building a file long before a soldier ever hears the word “investigation.” Answering questions without counsel present is a gamble that rarely pays off. Attorney Robles pushes to get involved early, before anything said in an interview room becomes impossible to walk back.
Commanders frequently pitch Article 15 as the easy way out of a disciplinary problem. That’s not always accurate. A finding under Article 15 can mean a demotion, docked pay, extra duty, and a black mark that resurfaces at the next promotion or reenlistment review. Attorney Robles helps soldiers decide between accepting NJP and demanding trial by court-martial, then builds the mitigation case that gives the best shot at a favorable result.
Military prosecutors devote significant resources to Article 120 cases, and being accused alone can damage a career long before any verdict is reached. Attorney Robles digs into the facts independently and builds a defense around the actual record, rather than the assumptions an allegation invites.
A courtroom isn’t the only place a Fort Benning soldier’s career can be put at risk. Attorney Robles also assists with:
- Boards of inquiry and administrative separation proceedings
- Challenges to reenlistment bars
- DOHA hearings and security clearance revocations
- Petitions to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR)
- Rebuttals to NCO and officer evaluation reports
- Responses to General Officer Memoranda of Reprimand (GOMOR)
- Defense against AWOL and desertion allegations
- Appeals of denied VA disability claims
- USERRA disputes involving civilian employment rights
Why Waiting Rarely Works in a Soldier’s Favor
Fort Benning’s training cycles and deployment rotations don’t slow down for a pending legal matter. Witnesses move on to new assignments, physical evidence goes stale, and the response windows for an Article 15, a clearance appeal, or an ABCMR filing tend to be tight. Let one of those deadlines pass, and an option that once existed may be gone for good.
This same logic applies beyond the gate. A soldier facing state or federal criminal exposure connected to their time at Fort Benning benefits from bringing in a lawyer before ever answering a law enforcement question — ideally before prosecutors have had the chance to lock in their version of events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Representing Soldiers Across the Fort Benning Region
Attorney Robles represents service members, veterans, and their families with connections to Fort Benning and the surrounding Chattahoochee Valley, including Columbus, Cusseta, Fortson, Midland, and Phenix City, Alabama, as well as soldiers who have gone on to serve at other installations.
