Jan. 12, 2018

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay JAGs Flourish Performing Cutting Edge Legal Work

Permanent-party judge advocates are assigned to support Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba ("NSGB") for 18-to-30 month tours. Navy and Marine Corps judge advocates who do so trace a history of over a hal...

Dec. 21, 2017

Military Commissions Defense Organization

In July 2016, I volunteered for a three year recall to active duty to serve at the Military Commissions Defense Organization (MCDO). When I volunteered I had very little understanding of exactly what MCDO did other than it ...

Sept. 29, 2017

RLSO SE Selects a Deserving Sailor for Meritorious Advancement

Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) trial office quickly reported for an unscheduled meeting wherein Legalman 2nd Class Keia Greenwood was promoted to petty officer first class by Capt. Patrick Gibbons, commanding officer of RLSO SE on Aug. 3.  Greenwood was selected for advancement under the Meritorious Advancement Program.  

Sept. 7, 2017

Navy JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program Application Tips

We asked some of the Sailors selected for the JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) to share their top tips for success. The JAG Corps IPP is open to active-duty enlisted personnel and Navy full-time support personnel, in any rating or mili...

March 16, 2017

Judge Advocates Compete at WMD Winter Workshop and Teach WMD and the Law

Lt. Cmdr. Graham Winegeart, Region Legal Service Office Southeast and Lt. Ryan Sylvester, Fleet Cyber Command, recently attended the annual National Defense University (NDU) Center for the ...

Jan. 23, 2017

JAG and CMC Visit the Military Commissions Defense Organization

Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III and Command Master Chief Jondell Ritchie visited the Military Commissions Defense Organization (MCDO) in Arlington, Va. on J...

Jan. 10, 2017

Summer at the Stockton Center

When he established the Naval War College, Admiral Luce referred to international law as an "indispensable branch of the great study of war." Today, Admiral Luce would be happy to know that the Stockton Center for the Study of In...

Dec. 2, 2016

John C. Stennis Hosts Visiting JAGs

PACIFIC OCEAN – When USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) got underway from Naval Base Kitsap – Bremerton, Nov. 22, the legal department had four extra personnel, judge advocates from shore commands. The fo...

Nov. 29, 2016

10 Tips to Maximize the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

For many younger public service professionals, whose futures are eclipsed by massive amounts of student debt, a ray of hope out of this indebtedness is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). PSLF forgives the balance remaining on student loans for those who have made 120 qualifying monthly (ten years) payments while working full-time (at least 30 hours per week) in public service, which includes military service.

June 30, 2016

Region Legal Service Office Midwest Hosts Lake County State’s Attorney

GREAT LAKES, Illinois (April 29, 2016) Members of Region Legal Service Office Midwest (RLSO MW) pose for a photograph with attorneys from the Lake County, Ill. State’s Attorney’s Office during a visit to Naval Station Great Lakes. This visit was part...

June 14, 2016

Legalman Selected for JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Fiscal Year 2016 Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) selection board met in February 2016 and selected Legalman 1st Class Sharon Soileau, the first legalman selectee in the program’s three year history. The Navy JAG Corps IPP Selection Board met in February to consider 20 highly qualified applicants.

June 7, 2016

FAPAC Military Meritorious Service Award

The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) awarded Lt. James Yoon the FAPAC Military Meritorious Service Award, at its 31st National Leadership Training Program in Orlando, Fla., on May 11, 2016.

May 3, 2016

Navy Announces FY17 JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program

The Navy is seeking Sailors for the fiscal year 2017 JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) and announced the deadline for package submission is Dec. 2. The JAG Corps IPP is open to qu...

April 28, 2016

Navy Legalmen Selected as Enlisted Navy Legislative Fellows

In 2014, the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs opened the Navy Legislative Fellows (LEGIS) program to enlisted applicants. Chief Legalman Ronald Ratliff, a native of Elizabethton, Tenn., was selected as the first enlisted Navy legislative fellow to ...

April 12, 2016

JAG Lieutenant Credits NJROTC for Navy Success

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (February 8, 2016) – Retired Chief Dental Technician Greg Fayfar, Navy Science Instructor (NSI) of the East Aurora (Ill.) High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC), pins lieutenant bars on the collar of newly ...

March 8, 2016

FY-16 Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program

The Fiscal Year 2016 Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board met on 9 February 2016 to consider 20 highly qualified applicants. The board used the "whole person" concept to identify those applicants with the greatest potential for successful service as a Navy Judge Advocate. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming to the JAG Corps this year's impressive selectee:

Jan. 25, 2016

U.S., Brazilian, and Chilean Judge Advocates Participate in UNITAS 2015

Lt. Philip Rohlfing served as staff judge advocate for the Combined Task Force during UNITAS Atlantic....

Jan. 19, 2016

Service to School

Lt. j.g. Joshua Fiveson spends his free time helping lead Service to School, a non-profit that provides free, peer-to-peer admissions counseling to active, inactive, and retired U.S. military service members. As one of the organization’s directors, F...

Oct. 15, 2015

How China Shot Down Its Own A2/AD Lawfare Strategy

Last month, President Obama made political history by becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Arctic, where he discussed American interests in that region and the need for nations around the world to collectively address the challenges of climate change.  During that same week, another momentous event of a different sort occurred nearby:  five warships from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) transited through U.S. territorial seas off the coast of Alaska, near the Aleutian Islands. 

July 14, 2015

JTF-GTMO Legalmen awarded commendation

The Assistant Command Fitness Leaders (ACFLs) for Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) recently received commendation from Rear Adm. Kyle Cozard, commander, JTF-GTMO and Capt. Mark Winter, chie...

June 23, 2015

USS Emory S. Land Judge Advocate Engages with Royal Malaysian Navy Legal Officer

Lt. Ryan J. Sylvester, Command Judge Advocate from submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) visits with Legal Officer Lt Cmdr. Mohd Shamsuni of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in one of the RMN...

June 9, 2015

U.S., Brazil JAG Subject Matter Expert Exchange

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard judge advocates travelled to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil for a subject matter expert exchange (SMEE), focusing on operational and international law, with Brazilian navy judge advocates on March 30.

March 6, 2015

JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program Results

The Fiscal Year 2015 Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board met on Feb. 10, 2015 and considered 15 highly qualified applicants.

July 1, 2014

Navy Lawyer Completes Summer Immersion Portion of Program for Emerging Leaders

U.S. Navy Lt. Ryan J. Sylvester, judge advocate assigned to Defense Service Office North, recently completed the Summer Immersion portion of the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction’s (WMD Center) Program for Emerging Leaders (PEL) at National Defense University (NDU). He was selected for this program as part of the seventh PEL class of 25 members, which has representatives from across the services and the U.S. Government.

April 29, 2014

Judge Advocate General's Corps In-Service Procurement Program

 The FY-14 Judge Advocate General's Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board met on January 30th, 2014 and considered 11 highly qualified applicants. Due to unique circumstances this year, two exceptional applicants will commission through this program.

Feb. 18, 2014

Navy Lawyer Expands Horizons at Sea Practicing Operational Law

From leaving the turmoil of a war-torn nation following the break-up of the Soviet Union, to now teaching thousands of Navy and Marine Corps operators in the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) the law of armed conflict,  Lt. Givi Tibaneli, a Navy judge advocate, is on an eight-month deployment practicing a unique and specialized form of his profession.

Jan. 23, 2014

International & Operational Law

The Office of the Judge Advocate General International and Operational Law Division (Code 10) provides legal services in diverse areas involvi...

Aug. 21, 2013

Taking a Break

Legalman 2nd Class Nadine Williams always had dreams of becoming a lawyer.

April 25, 2013

Rota Welcomes Newest U.S. Citizens During Ceremony

 Naval Station Rota Spain welcomed seven new United States citizens as they took the oath of allegiance to the United States during a Naturalization ceremony held in the Region Legal Service Office courtroom of the Community Service Building March 13.

Feb. 21, 2013

Network Strives to Help Military Spouse Lawyers Pursue Legal Careers in Spite of Frequent Moves

The process of obtaining a license to practice law is challenging and often stressful. The course of action typically involves lengthy applications and intense studying, which ...

Feb. 12, 2013

Well, JAG, What Do You Think?

Lt. James D. Carson stands in front of a Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) onboard the USS Gettysburg (CG-64). Carson is acting as the legal advisor for a Combined Task Group and its supporting forces during Joint Warrior 12-2....

Jan. 24, 2013

China Lake JAG helps Sailors on USS Nimitz

The staff judge advocate for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division and the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake recently spent a week aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) helping its Sailors take care of legal matters before deploying.

Oct. 16, 2012

Cyber Law: Challenges, Law, Billets

How to legally conduct military operations in cyber space has proven to be an enormous challenge. Even the most fundamental issue of law - what body of law applies to cyber space operations – has been debated.  Despite the ongoing dialogue among legal scholars and policy makers on the applicable legal structure to apply, cyber threats to U.S. national security or interests continue to mount. 

Sept. 27, 2012

Advancing the Rule of Law Worldwide – DIILS at 20 Years

It’s 0700 on a steamy Monday, and the sun is rising above Lake Kivu in eastern Congo.  Fishermen in dugout canoes ply the lake’s waters in pursuit of the first catch of the day.  The merchants of Bukavu, the capital of the picturesque South Kivu province, ready their wares to be sold on the streets of the city center.  A team of U.S. Navy judge advocates assembles their gear for another day with the Congolese Army. 

Sept. 13, 2012

Naval War College Professor Supports Legal Training To Congo

U.S. Naval War College professor Capt. Kevin Brew returned from a mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where he led a three-person judge advocate general officer team to train the DRC military on core legal topics such as ethics and ...

July 24, 2012

A Focus on Legal Representation Outside the Courtroom

Although providing courts-martial representation is commonly seen as the primary role of legal defense departments, defense counsel spend a great deal of their time on administrative sep...

May 31, 2012

The U.S. Legal Mission in Iraq: The First and Last Chapter

On April 9, 2003, as the world watched ecstatic Iraqis tear down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad’s Firdos Square, I got word that my flight into Baghdad was set for that night.   At that time I was serving as the staff judge advocate for a Special Operations Task Force that was supporting the initial phases of Operation Iraqi

May 24, 2012

RLSO EURAFSWA Does Its Part for Operation Unified Protector

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile to support Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn. Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical comman...

May 1, 2012

From the Well to the Helm in Six Weeks

Lt. Carina Podgorski reports on board Clyde Submarine Base in Faslane, Scotland, for a briefing shortly before taking part in Joint Warrior 11-2. This exercise includes Sailors from more than a dozen countries working together for deployment certific...

April 17, 2012

ROLFSOs: One Individual Augmentation, Five Different Experiences

We wrap-up our five-part Rule of Law Field Support Officer series with a message from the Commander, Rule of Law Field Support Mission Afghanistan, Rear Adm. James W. Crawford III, followed by our final post by Lt. Jennifer Myers.

April 12, 2012

ROLFSOs: One Individual Augmentation, Five Different Experiences

My deployment to Afghanistan was the adventure of a lifetime.  I was assigned as a Rule of Law Field Support Officer (ROLFSO) to Kandahar Provincial Police Headquarters (PHQ) in Kandahar City.  As a ROLFSO at Kandahar PHQ, my role was particularly focused on the Afghan National Police (ANP) and the investigative portion of Afghan law enforcement.

March 26, 2012

Navy JAG Mentors Afghan Law Students

In my short time as a Navy judge advocate, I have had many interesting experiences on land and at sea. One of my most rewarding experiences has been mentoring a group of young Afghan law students as they prepared for the Phili...

March 22, 2012

ROLFSOs: One Individual Augmentation, Five Different Experiences

Throughout March and April, we will share stories from five Navy judge advocates who have served as Rule of Law Field Support Officers (ROLFSOs).  We kick-off the series with an introduction to the Rule of Law mission in Afghanistan by Army Brig. Gen. Mark S. Martins. Following the introduction we have our first post provided by Lt. Kyle Fralick, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

Nov. 22, 2011

Have you considered serving as a Navy legalman?

The JAG Corps is actively seeking applications from Sailors desiring conversion to the legalman rating. Opportunity is limited, so interested Sailors must act quickly. You must be on active duty, serving in paygrades E-3 through E-5, and have less ...

March 30, 2011

Information Operations and Intelligence Law – Code 18

Washington — OJAG’s Code 18 was established in October 2009 in response to the critical need for a JAG community of experts in information operations, intelligence law, and cyber law and policy. Its establishment complimented the Navy’s unveiling of the Information Dominance Corps, OPNAV N2/N6, and the stand up of Fleet Cyber Command/10th Fleet. In support of the CNO’s conviction that the Navy will be at the forefront of managing information flows across the cyberspace warfighting domain in the next conflict, Code 18 establishes OJAG as a crucial player in this effort.

May 2, 2008

Legalman Joins MCPON Staff

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SW/FMF)(MCPON) Joe Campa, Jr. recently selected LN1(SW/AW) Cindy Rodriguez to join his staff for a four year tour.