If you are under investigation by CID, NCIS, AFOSI/OSI, CGIS, or your command, one of the hardest questions is also one of the simplest:
How long is this going to take?
There is no single deadline that applies to every military criminal investigation. A relatively straightforward matter may move quickly. A case involving multiple witnesses, phones and digital forensics, medical or laboratory evidence, financial records, serious felony allegations, multiple jurisdictions, or parallel civilian law enforcement may take substantially longer.
And silence does not necessarily mean the investigation is over.
While you are waiting, investigators may still be interviewing witnesses, reviewing digital evidence, obtaining records, conducting forensic analysis, coordinating with prosecutors, or developing additional leads.
If you are the subject or suspect of an investigation, the better question is not only:
“When will this end?”
It is also:
“What is happening while I wait—and what should I be doing now?”
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There Is No Universal Military Investigation Timeline
There is no Department of Defense rule saying that every CID, NCIS, AFOSI, or CGIS investigation must be completed within 30, 60, 90, or even 180 days.
Military criminal investigations are evidence-driven.
Department of Defense policy requires Defense Criminal Investigative Organizations to conduct independent, objective investigations and produce fact-based investigative reports. It also protects those investigations from improper interference by commanders outside the investigative organization.
Army CID similarly describes its mission as developing the full facts of alleged felony offenses and providing investigative information to the appropriate military or federal decision-makers.
That process may be relatively simple in one case and extremely complicated in another.
So be skeptical of blanket statements such as:
“CID investigations always take six months.”
or
“If you haven’t heard anything in 90 days, the case must be over.”
There is no reliable universal rule like that.
If you recently learned that you are under investigation, our Military Investigation Lawyer page explains what can happen before charges are filed.
What Makes a Military Investigation Take Longer?
Several factors can dramatically affect how quickly an investigation moves.
The Number of Witnesses
An investigation involving two people and one limited event may require only a handful of interviews.
A more complicated case may involve:
- a complainant;
- the accused service member;
- eyewitnesses;
- supervisors;
- friends or family members;
- medical personnel;
- experts;
- people who received contemporaneous disclosures;
- coworkers;
- former unit members; or
- witnesses who have PCS’d, deployed, separated, or moved overseas.
Each interview can generate additional information.
That information can identify new witnesses, new documents, or new issues investigators want to pursue.
Investigators may also re-interview witnesses after reviewing other evidence.
For example, NCIS’s official sexual-assault investigation materials describe a process that may involve interviews, crime-scene examination, evidence collection, electronic-media analysis, suspect interviews, and follow-up investigative activity.
Phones, Computers, and Digital Evidence
Digital evidence can significantly extend an investigation.
A case may involve:
- cell phones;
- computers;
- tablets;
- text messages;
- direct messages;
- emails;
- photographs;
- videos;
- social media;
- cloud accounts;
- deleted information;
- location data;
- application data;
- financial information; or
- metadata.
Taking possession of a device is only the beginning.
Investigators may need to complete a forensic extraction, analyze large amounts of data, obtain additional legal authorization, compare digital evidence with witness accounts, and pursue new leads generated by what they find.
AFOSI maintains specialized digital-forensic and technical capabilities for use in criminal and national-security investigations.
If investigators want your phone, have already seized it, or are asking you to provide a passcode or consent to search, the legal issues can become important very quickly.
Forensic and Laboratory Testing
Some investigations depend on evidence that cannot be evaluated immediately.
Examples may include:
- DNA analysis;
- toxicology;
- drug-testing evidence;
- fingerprints;
- firearm evidence;
- medical examinations;
- document analysis;
- digital forensics; or
- other specialized laboratory testing.
Investigators may leave a case open while waiting for results.
Those results can also create new investigative leads, resulting in additional interviews or evidence collection.
The Seriousness and Complexity of the Allegations
A relatively straightforward allegation and a complicated felony investigation are unlikely to take the same amount of time.
NCIS identifies serious felony offenses such as homicide, rape, sexual assault, child abuse, robbery, significant larceny, and aggravated assault among its criminal-investigation responsibilities.
AFOSI investigates serious offenses including homicide, sexual offenses, assault, drugs, fraud, cyber matters, espionage, terrorism, and other threats to Air Force and Space Force interests.
Army CID investigates felony crime, procurement fraud, cybercrime, violent offenses, counter-narcotics matters, war crimes, terrorism, and other serious allegations involving Army interests.
More complicated allegations generally require more evidence, more coordination, and more analysis before the investigative record is complete.
Multiple Installations, Agencies, or Jurisdictions
A case may become more complicated when it involves:
- witnesses stationed at different installations;
- deployed personnel;
- service members who have transferred units;
- civilian witnesses;
- another military branch;
- local police;
- federal law enforcement;
- overseas authorities; or
- conduct occurring in more than one jurisdiction.
Coordination takes time.
The investigation may also involve information-sharing, jurisdictional questions, or parallel investigative activity by another organization.
Does the Investigative Agency Affect the Timeline?
It can.
CID, NCIS, AFOSI/OSI, and CGIS operate under different service structures and investigate different populations, but all may handle complex felony-level cases.
Army CID Investigations
Army CID is the Army’s federal criminal investigative organization for serious criminal matters involving Army interests.
A CID investigation may involve witness interviews, physical evidence, records, digital evidence, forensic material, and coordination with military or federal prosecutors.
There is no one timeline that applies to every CID case.
If CID has contacted you or identified you as a subject or suspect, visit our CID Investigation Lawyer for Soldiers Under Investigation page.
NCIS Investigations
NCIS investigates major criminal matters involving Department of the Navy interests, including Sailors, Marines, and affiliated personnel.
Investigative work may include:
- witness interviews;
- suspect interviews;
- physical evidence;
- crime-scene examination;
- electronic evidence;
- forensic analysis; and
- coordination with other law-enforcement organizations.
NCIS operates throughout the United States and overseas, so investigations involving multiple installations or jurisdictions may require additional coordination.
If NCIS is investigating you, visit our NCIS Investigation Lawyer for Sailors and Marines page.
AFOSI / OSI Investigations
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations handles felony criminal investigations, fraud, counterintelligence, cyber matters, and national-security threats involving the Air Force and Space Force.
Depending on the allegation, AFOSI may use specialized forensic, computer, technical, polygraph, behavioral-science, or counterintelligence capabilities.
A case involving extensive digital evidence, classified information, fraud, cyber activity, or national-security issues may therefore require substantially more investigative work than a straightforward misconduct allegation.
If OSI has contacted you, visit our AFOSI / OSI Investigation Lawyer for Airmen and Guardians page.
Coast Guard CGIS Investigations
The Coast Guard Investigative Service conducts independent criminal investigations involving Coast Guard personnel, operations, assets, and integrity.
CGIS agents may investigate actual, alleged, or suspected criminal activity and coordinate with other law-enforcement organizations when appropriate.
As with CID, NCIS, and AFOSI, the amount of time required depends on the facts, witnesses, evidence, and complexity of the particular investigation.
If CGIS has contacted you, visit our Coast Guard CGIS Investigation Lawyer page.
Administrative Military Investigations Have Different Timelines
A criminal investigation by CID, NCIS, AFOSI, or CGIS should not be confused with an administrative or command investigation.
Administrative processes may have their own suspense dates and service-specific procedures.
Army AR 15-6 Investigations
The Army substantially revised AR 15-6 in June 2025.
Under the current regulation, an investigating officer is generally expected to complete the investigation by the suspense date assigned by the appointing authority or request additional time.
That means AR 15-6 does not impose one universal completion period for every investigation.
If you are facing an Army administrative investigation, visit our AR 15-6 Investigation Lawyer page.
Command-Directed Investigations
Other military branches use their own command-investigation procedures.
The Navy and Marine Corps rely heavily on the Manual of the Judge Advocate General for administrative investigations, while the Department of the Air Force maintains separate procedures for Commander-Directed Investigations.
The important point is that a command investigation is not the same thing as a criminal investigation, and the timelines should not be treated as interchangeable.
Why Has My Military Investigation Been Open for So Long?
A lengthy investigation does not automatically mean the government has a strong case.
It also does not necessarily mean the government has a weak one.
Length alone tells you very little about the quality of the evidence.
An investigation may remain open because agents are:
- waiting for digital-forensic results;
- locating witnesses;
- obtaining records;
- waiting for laboratory analysis;
- coordinating with another jurisdiction;
- analyzing financial records;
- pursuing newly discovered leads;
- conducting follow-up interviews;
- obtaining legal process;
- consulting with prosecutors; or
- completing the investigative report.
There may also be long periods when the subject hears almost nothing.
That silence can be extremely difficult when your career, assignment, promotion, clearance, or reputation may feel frozen in uncertainty.
But silence is not proof that the investigation has been closed.
Does a Long Investigation Mean Charges Are Coming?
No.
An investigation can remain open for a long time and ultimately result in:
- no criminal charges;
- administrative action;
- Article 15 or other NJP;
- a reprimand;
- administrative separation;
- referral of court-martial charges;
- additional investigation; or
- another disposition appropriate to the case.
The investigative organization develops the facts.
Other military decision-makers may then decide what those facts mean legally and administratively.
That distinction matters.
“CID finished investigating” does not necessarily mean “your case is over.”
What Happens After Investigators Finish?
Once the investigative work is substantially complete, the matter may move into one or more different systems.
UCMJ Charging Decisions
Evidence may be reviewed for possible UCMJ charges and court-martial proceedings.
For certain covered offenses, Special Trial Counsel may exercise important charging and disposition authority.
If your investigation appears to be moving toward prosecution, our Court-Martial Lawyers can begin preparing for the next stage.
Article 15, GOMOR, or Administrative Action
An investigation that does not lead to a court-martial can still create serious career consequences.
The same investigative record may be used in decisions involving:
- Article 15 or NJP;
- a GOMOR or other reprimand;
- adverse evaluations;
- promotion;
- retention;
- administrative separation;
- a Board of Inquiry; or
- other personnel actions.
Our Military Administrative Actions Lawyers handle these downstream career matters.
Security Clearance Consequences
Military investigative information may also create a separate security-clearance issue.
Department of Defense investigative policy permits certain law-enforcement information to be used for security-clearance eligibility, special-access suitability, insider-threat, and other administrative determinations.
That means a criminal conviction is not necessarily required before an investigation begins affecting a clearance.
NSLF also represents service members and federal personnel in security clearance matters.
Titling and Investigative Records
A closed criminal investigation may still leave behind an investigative record.
Military law-enforcement titling and indexing are administrative processes separate from a criminal conviction.
If the investigation is over but the investigative record continues to affect your background, career, or future opportunities, visit our Military Titling Removal page.
How Do You Know When a Military Investigation Is Actually Closed?
This can be more difficult than people expect.
Do not assume the investigation is closed simply because:
- investigators stopped calling;
- several weeks have passed;
- no one has interviewed you recently;
- your command stopped discussing the allegation;
- another witness said the investigation was finished;
- you PCS’d;
- the complainant stopped contacting people; or
- no charges have been filed.
There may be a difference between:
investigative activity slowing down,
agents finishing the primary evidence collection,
the formal investigative file closing,
and
the command or prosecutor making a final disposition decision.
Those events may occur at different times.
If your case appears to be sitting in this uncertain stage, read Under Military Investigation but Not Charged: What Should You Do?.
Can a Lawyer Force CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS to Finish Faster?
Generally, civilian defense counsel cannot simply order a Defense Criminal Investigative Organization to finish or close a lawful investigation by a particular date.
Federal policy intentionally protects the independence of military criminal investigative organizations.
The value of early representation is therefore not simply trying to make the government’s clock move faster.
It is making sure your defense is not standing still while the government’s investigation moves forward.
What Can a Military Defense Lawyer Do While the Investigation Is Still Open?
Depending on the facts, early representation may involve:
- identifying the allegations being investigated;
- determining which agency has jurisdiction;
- clarifying whether you are a witness, subject, or suspect;
- advising you before any interview;
- protecting your Article 31 rights;
- identifying favorable witnesses;
- preserving relevant evidence;
- reviewing timelines and contemporaneous records;
- analyzing digital evidence;
- identifying inconsistencies in the allegation;
- evaluating possible search-and-seizure issues;
- preparing for foreseeable command action;
- identifying security-clearance exposure;
- anticipating titling and indexing consequences; and
- preparing for potential UCMJ charges before they are preferred.
If investigators want to interview you, read Should You Talk to Military Investigators? before assuming that an immediate statement is your only option.
If you have been advised of your rights or asked to sign a waiver, visit our Article 31 Rights Lawyer page.
The Investigation Timeline Is Not Dead Time
Waiting can create the impression that nothing can be done until the government makes the next move.
That is often the wrong way to think about the case.
While investigators are building their file:
- memories can fade;
- witnesses can PCS or deploy;
- messages can disappear through routine device changes;
- accounts can be deleted;
- documents can become harder to find; and
- months of uncertainty can pressure a service member into making an unnecessary statement simply to “get this over with.”
Pre-charge representation is not about interfering with an investigation.
It is about making informed decisions while the government is still developing its case.
Our Pre-Charge Military Defense Lawyers represent service members before UCMJ charges are filed.
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Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future results.
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Why National Security Law Firm
When You Are Waiting on the Government, Experience From Every Side Matters
A military investigation can last long enough that uncertainty itself begins affecting your career and your life.
You may not know:
- what investigators have;
- which witnesses have been interviewed;
- whether prosecutors are involved;
- whether command action is coming;
- whether your clearance is at risk;
- whether the matter will become a court-martial; or
- whether the criminal investigation will end but the record will remain.
National Security Law Firm is built for exactly this kind of multi-layered problem.
Our military and federal team includes attorneys who have seen serious government cases from nearly every side of the system.
Former Military Judges
NSLF’s military team includes former military judges who have evaluated UCMJ cases from the decision-maker’s seat.
That perspective matters because an investigation eventually becomes more than a collection of witness statements and evidence.
Someone may have to decide:
What evidence is reliable?
Which inconsistencies actually matter?
What can be proven?
What is legally significant?
How credible are the competing accounts?
Former judicial experience brings a different perspective from prosecution or defense alone.
Former Prosecutors and Military Defense Counsel
Carl Marrone has served as an Army Judge Advocate, military prosecutor, military defense counsel, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, civilian prosecutor, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserve JAG Corps.
Duane “DAK” Kees served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, the district’s chief federal prosecutor, following presidential nomination and Senate confirmation. Before that, he served more than eight years on active duty as an Army JAG, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, investigated military offenses and war crimes, and served as both a military prosecutor and defense counsel.
That means our lawyers understand both fundamental questions:
How does the government build the case?
and
How does the defense identify the weaknesses in it?
Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, and Commander Advisers
Military investigations do not necessarily end at an investigator’s desk.
Commanders and senior leaders may ultimately decide what to do with the information.
NSLF’s team includes senior military officers and attorneys who have advised those decision-makers.
Alyssa Adams is an Army Reserve Colonel who commands a Legal Operations Detachment of more than 45 legal professionals and has spent more than two decades advising commanders and senior DoD leaders on military justice, administrative investigations, personnel actions, and national-security matters.
Christopher Rittenhouse served as an Army JAG advising commanders on investigations, military justice, administrative actions, and personnel matters. His background also includes civilian prosecution and service as Special Victims’ Counsel.
Sara Tracy served 21 years in the Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, with senior legal leadership experience supporting Army Special Operations and XVIII Airborne Corps.
Why does that matter?
Because an investigation can move from:
investigator
to
commander
to
career action.
Our team understands each stage.
Federal and National-Security Experience
Some military investigations involve issues far beyond ordinary misconduct.
They can involve:
- classified information;
- cyber evidence;
- intelligence matters;
- fraud;
- federal law enforcement;
- Special Operations;
- sensitive access; or
- security clearances.
Matthew Kalayjian served as an Attorney-Advisor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, worked on FISA matters involving the FBI and Intelligence Community, and represented the United States before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
His background also includes service as a Navy JAG, military prosecutor, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Surface Warfare Officer.
DAK’s experience leading a United States Attorney’s Office adds another senior federal prosecutorial perspective.
For complicated military investigations, that breadth can matter.
One Client. More Than One Set of Eyes.
A military investigation can create:
criminal exposure.
administrative exposure.
security-clearance exposure.
promotion and retention problems.
titling and indexing.
future military-record issues.
Those are not unrelated concerns.
They may all grow from the same allegation.
NSLF’s collaborative structure allows attorneys with military, prosecutorial, defense, judicial, command, federal, national-security, clearance, and records experience to identify problems that may not be obvious from one professional perspective.
The government may spend months building its case. Your defense should not spend those months standing still.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a CID investigation take?
There is no universal deadline for every Army CID investigation. The timeline depends on the nature of the allegation, number of witnesses, digital evidence, forensic testing, jurisdictional issues, and new investigative leads.
How long does an NCIS investigation take?
There is no single timetable for every NCIS investigation. Complex matters may involve multiple interviews, electronic evidence, crime-scene analysis, forensic testing, and coordination with other law-enforcement agencies.
How long does an OSI investigation take?
AFOSI investigations vary considerably depending on the allegations and evidence. Matters involving digital forensics, fraud, counterintelligence, classified information, or complex technical evidence may take longer.
Does a long military investigation mean I will be charged?
No. The duration of an investigation alone does not establish whether charges will be filed. A case may result in UCMJ charges, administrative action, further investigation, or no criminal prosecution.
Does silence from investigators mean my case is closed?
Not necessarily. Investigators may be reviewing evidence, waiting for forensic results, coordinating with prosecutors, obtaining records, or completing investigative reports without contacting you.
Can my commander make CID finish the investigation?
Military criminal investigative organizations have significant investigative independence. A commander generally cannot simply order CID, NCIS, AFOSI, or CGIS to close a lawful investigation.
Can an open investigation affect my security clearance?
Potentially. Investigative information may create separate personnel-security concerns even before a case results in formal charges or a conviction.
What should I do while I am waiting?
Preserve potentially relevant evidence. Do not destroy or alter records. Do not pressure witnesses or contact a complainant in a manner that could be interpreted as interference or retaliation. Understand your rights before giving statements, and consider obtaining advice about both the current investigation and possible downstream career consequences.
What Does Military Investigation Representation Cost?
National Security Law Firm offers flat-fee representation for many military investigation matters. Fees generally range from approximately $1,000 to $3,500, depending on the nature of the investigation, complexity of the evidence, urgency, and scope of the representation.
The consultation is free and carries no obligation to hire the firm. An attorney can review what is happening, explain whether representation at the current stage may be useful, and identify the applicable fee before you decide how to proceed.
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Your Investigation May Take Time. Your Defense Does Not Have to Wait.
If CID, NCIS, AFOSI/OSI, CGIS, or another military organization is investigating you, you may not be able to control how quickly the government completes its work.
But you can control whether you spend that time simply waiting—or understanding your rights, preserving favorable evidence, preparing for the next stage, and protecting your career.
National Security Law Firm represents service members nationwide and overseas in military criminal investigations, UCMJ matters, administrative career actions, security-clearance issues, and military-record consequences.
The government may already be working on its case. Start working on yours.
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Official Resources
Manual for Courts-Martial, United States — 2024 Edition. The official Manual contains the Rules for Courts-Martial and Military Rules of Evidence governing preliminary inquiries, rights warnings, statements, searches, seizures, and later court-martial proceedings. Read the official 2024 Manual for Courts-Martial
Joint Service Committee on Military Justice — Current Publications and Updates. Because the MCM can be amended after a complete edition is published, the Joint Service Committee maintains the current edition and subsequent updates. Review current MCM publications and amendments
Article 31, UCMJ — Compulsory Self-Incrimination Prohibited. Article 31 establishes military rights protections governing compelled self-incrimination and questioning of accused or suspected service members. Read Article 31, UCMJ
DoDI 5505.03 — Initiation of Investigations by Defense Criminal Investigative Organizations. This instruction addresses the initiation and independence of Defense criminal investigations, relationships with command investigations, investigative reports, and use of investigative information. Read the official investigative instruction
Current Titling and Indexing Instruction — Change Effective July 9, 2026. This instruction governs titling and indexing by military law-enforcement activities, including the credible-information standard and procedures for seeking relief. Read the current titling and indexing instruction
Navy Defense Service Office — Article 31 and Statement Guidance. The Navy’s official Defense Service Office provides practical guidance regarding Article 31 rights, speaking with investigators, consulting counsel, and waiving rights. Read the Navy Defense Service Office guidance
Army Criminal Investigation Division. Army CID is the Army’s independent federal law-enforcement organization responsible for felony criminal investigations and related investigative missions. Visit the official Army CID mission page
Attorney Reviewed By: Katherine O’Brien
Last Reviewed and Updated: September 1, 2026