Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore is quickly becoming a hub for innovation and creative ways to train the over 6,000 Sailors assigned in the area.
A joint effort by NAS Lemoore staff judge advocate (SJA), Region Legal Service Office Southwest Detachment (DET) Lemoore, Naval Justice School (NJS) DET San Diego, and Commander, Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CSFWP) staff yielded a novel Legal Officer Course Mobile Training Team (MTT) evolution. The MTT provided an opportunity to explore a curriculum that fits the need of the high-paced environment that is NAS Lemoore.
Lt. Leslie Stephenson, NJS Instructor, developed a one week course that precisely concentrated on the absolute essentials to arm area legal officers, legal chief petty officers and both civilian and enlisted legal clerks with ready and relevant training on intricacies of the military justice process.
“Lemoore based squadrons operate in a high-flying offense environment; one day from shore, the next from the sea, or a remote DET - our pace is fast and we must look at creative ways to arm the fleet with tools,” said Chief Warrant Officer Kelvin Gumbs, CSFWP legal officer. “This training was a perfect example of leveraging relationships forged with support units while looking at creative ways to provide critically important training to the fleet.” Participants from various fleet squadrons, Naval Health Clinics in Lemoore and Fallon, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Lemoore, and Navy Munitions DET Lemoore participated in an instructor led curriculum covering topics that included Investigations, Non-Judicial Punishment, Administrative Separations, and Legal Assistance, among others. “This MTT was a unique opportunity for NJS to support the fleet,” said Stephenson. “We recognize that many units may not be able to get a seat in the full length course taught in two weeks in San Diego, Calif., or Norfolk, Va., but they are approaching a deployment or mobilization date. Although the full course is still preferred by NJS, the MTT allowed us to reach these critical units and provide their Legal Officers with the basic training to support their commanders as they approach legal issues.” The Legal Officer MTT was also made possible due to local area judge advocates lending their time and expertise while co-sharing the responsibility of instructor. This approach brought different perspectives on the various topics taught, informed by each judge advocate’s pervious and current billets supporting the fleet. “This was an exciting opportunity for NAS Lemoore,” said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Tucker, NAS Lemoore SJA. “Having the opportunity to co-instruct with NJS provided great training for us, as well as another forum for local judge advocates to communicate with local legal officers and clerks, which also forms a stronger level of coordination between us and the tenant commands.” NAS Lemoore is bustling with tremendous energy and initiatives to support the fleet. This Legal Officer MTT demonstrates how support entities work together to support the warfighter.