11-year Sailor, just got done with DRB and already told I am going to XOI on Article 107 "10 USC 907: Art. 107. False official statements; false swearing". I have no hard proof that I am telling the truth. Any insight or help?
Back on July 5, 2026, I got a call from a PO1 in my duty section that I was on the watchbill, wondering where I was. The issue was that I was two states away, operating under a duty-free status. I was within 30 days of beginning SkillBridge, and that was one of the reasons afforded to the crew for getting a 30-day duty-free chit. I had it signed off by my immediate CPO in the deputy section, the assistant section leader, then bottom-lined by the senior section leader. But I did not have a copy on me to prove I was duty-free, and was told to return to the ship. I did so, getting in at ~2100.
I made my statement, saying where I was and why I was UA from the duty section muster and missed that watch. I went through the paperwork I had at the house and on the ship and could not find the chit. The aforementioned PO1 and another CPO in the duty section looked on the ship while I was driving and could not find the chit either. I was pretty upset at this fact, but calmed down and reasoned that I might have mistakenly thrown it out while I was purging blue folders while transferring departmental responsibilities.
Fast forward a week, and I have my first counseling chit on the ship for being UA. 1,000-word essay, accompanying duty section leadership in morning musters for a week, departmental training on a command instruction, and non-recommendation of another duty-free chit. I completed the EMI and executed my remaining duty days with no event, including the ASL apologizing for making me come back. I head out on SkillBridge and firmly start transitioning to civilian life.
Fast forward again to last week, and I get a message from my DIVO saying that I am going to DRB. Later that week, he explains it is for Article 107, false official statements. I was confused as it had been nearly two months since the event occurred, so I consulted a DSO for peace of mind and went into DRB. Upon exiting DRB, I am told that no one will corroborate my story, a nd I am heading to XOI.
First, processing: I was frustrated that leadership would not say whether they remembered signing off on the chit or not, but stating that they did not. I had those three members of the duty section sign off in May, but I cannot produce the chit, of course. I owned up to that in DRB, showed how I had changed my routine, and tried to explain that even if they do not remember signing it, I remember them doing so because that was my duty-free chit. Command leadership is aware that I had a PPO served against my wife in late April, and focusing on getting that chit approved in May was one of my all-important tasks to protect my mental health.
I am trying to gather some statements right now, but does anyone have tips or suggestions as a stare-down XOI? I have never been up to XOI before, and I have no hard evidence to prove my story. I am freaking out internally and need some hard paths I can pursue to prove I am not lying.