My friend is having a problem and wont go to the IG. Can you still help her?
It is always better for the IG if we can speak directly to the one with the problem. Some people are very reluctant to come forward for fear of reprisal. A third party can relate a concern to the IG and we will still work to resolve it, but the IG is limited in the responses back to third parties of corrective actions taken. Individuals may visit the IG and request anonymity, and the IG will honor this request. AR 20-1 has some rules about anonymity: When a person requests anonymity, the IG will take more extensive measures to protect the persons identity. The persons name will not be used as a file identifier or as a means to retrieve a file. The request for anonymity will be prominently stated, and the use of the persons name will be minimized in any file or record created by the IG. This is most easily done by referring to the person as complainant, witness, or similar title instead of by name.
