AMU Lifestyle Military Veterans

Snapshot: JAG Corps and Military Law

By Constance St. Germain
VP & Dean, School of Public Service and Health at American Public University

The Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps is the legal branch of U.S. military. Attorneys who are assigned to the JAG Corps are officers who are typically referred to as “Judge Advocates” and serve in a variety of capacities as legal advisors to the command. There are two ways to become a JAG officer – either by direct commission or through the military’s Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) for officers already on active duty. All JAG officers are attorneys licensed to practice by their respective state bar, and must be in good standing. When attorneys become members of the JAG Corps they undergo specialized training at their branch’s military law center as follows:

• The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (Army) located in Charlottesville, Virginia

• The Naval Justice School (includes the Marines and Coast Guard) located in Newport, Rhode Island

• The Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School located in Montgomery, Alabama

Unlike civilian law, the military is governed by the legal code known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice or UCMJ. It applies to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and all members of the U.S. military. Typically, violations of the UCMJ are handled by the local command, while violations of state and federal law are handled by the respective authorities. The UCMJ closely parallels federal law, but also covers crimes found in the civilian world such as murder, rape, robbery in addition to purely military crimes like malingering, drunk on duty, and aiding the enemy.

In addition, JAG officers are given a lot of professional responsibility and hands-on experience in their positions in comparison to their civilian attorney counterparts whom may initially start out only doing research for senior partners at their firm. The military also exposes their attorneys to a variety of opportunities as part of their military training such as weapons training and airborne school. This applies whether JAGs are preparing wills, litigating cases, or advising the command on matters of administrative law. It’s this multidimensional experience that allows them to leverage their knowledge and skills in a variety of civilian roles once their tour of duty is over.

About the Author:

Constance St. Germain, Esq. is currently the Vice President and Dean, School of Public Service & Health at American Public University System. She is a former Major in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and is admitted to practice law in Vermont, Virginia, and Maryland.

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