U.S. Navy JAG Corps The Official blog of the U.S. Navy JAG Corps

Navy JAG Corps senior officers and civilians seeking to deepen their understanding of national security and foreign relations policy are eligible to apply to be Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI Fellows at no cost to themselves or their assigned command. Recent Navy JAG Corps Seminar XXI Fellows include Capt. Rock DeTolve (current Fellow), Capt. Patrick Gibbons (Class of …

The Fiscal Year 2019 Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) selection board met in February to consider 15 highly qualified applicants and selected Legalman 1st Class Matthew B. Burns, Strategic Communications Wing One (SCW-1) the second legalman selectee in the program’s five-year history. “My career has allowed me to see several attorneys argue in court,” said Burns. “Sometimes for …

By Lt. Cmdr. Garrett S. Snow, U.S. 2nd Fleet  In early 2018, a new National Defense Strategy was released highlighting a shift in focus from regional threats to great power competition. Seeing the need to adopt this new focus, CNO announced the reestablishment of U.S. 2nd Fleet, calling it a “dynamic response to a dynamic security environment” and adding, “That’s why today, …

Lt. Ben Maddox selected to participate in the prestigious program From Navy JAG Corps Public Affairs The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program has announced that Lt. Ben Maddox — a member of the Navy JAG community — has been selected as one of the 60 Scholars chosen for the program’s fifth annual class. PLS serves as a catalyst for a …

By Lt. Kaylan E. Kaatz, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington This past month, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) hosted a commissioning ceremony for Lt. j.g. Melisa Wink, welcoming her as the newest member of the RLSO NDW and Navy JAG Corps wardroom. Wink, a 2018 honors graduate of George Mason University School of Law, …

From Region Legal Service Office Northwest A rare naval tradition was observed onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the First Navy Jack was hoisted up the signal yardarm, indicating a General Court-Martial was being held at sea. With all the gallery chairs filled, it was standing room only for the hundreds of Sailors and Officers witnessing the …

From Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps Public Affairs The 2019 tax season is underway, and, once again, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is open to eligible Navy personnel, dependents, and retirees at select locations around the globe. VITA links active-duty and retired service members and their dependents, as well as deployed civilians, to free self-service tax software via Military OneSource. “VITA …

By Petty Officer 2nd Class William McCann, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet  YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) — Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer announced the 2018 Sailor of the Year during a ceremony held at the Chief Petty Officer’s Club in Yokosuka, Japan Jan 17th. This year’s competition featured 9 Sailors competing for the prestigious award. “We focus on our …

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Free-File Options What can the Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC) VITA program do for me? The NLSC’s VITA program hosts self-service VITA tax centers at select Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) locations that assist 10 U.S.C. § 1044-eligible filers, including active-duty and retired Service Members, their dependents, and deployed civilians to electronically file their …

By Cmdr. Eric Pederson, Navy Reserve Law Program The Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps recently welcomed its first enlisted selectee under the Direct Commissioning Officer Program (DCOP). Blazing a trail for other enlisted Sailors, former Senior Chief Logistics Specialist Jimi Wyatt recently completed the Direct Commission Officer’s Indoctrination Course (DCIOC) and is beginning his first formal training in military law at …