Military Law Forum

[Acronin689]

Don't know if this has been answered already but I'll ask it anyway, Are you allowed to apply for DC with more than one branch at a time?

[JCFindley]

Don't know if this has been answered already but I'll ask it anyway, Are you allowed to apply for DC with more than one branch at a time?

If you mean you want to work in DC and you don't care what service it is so long as it is DC good luck with that.

Military service, at least in the O ranks, doesn't work like that. You want to serve it is to serve and you will go wherever the service needs you. You have SOME input but that doesn't happen until you are done with your initial training and even then, the needs of the service comes first.

[Acronin689]

What I mean is, can you apply to the Navy and Army both or is it one place and the branch that picks you wants you? I'm a 0L and have very little knowledge of this so I apologize for my ignorance.

[shock259]

Yeah, you'll go wherever you they put you.

If you just meant whether you can apply to all of the services at the same time, then the answer is yes. Most/many applicants apply to multiple services. An offer from one of them is not binding.

[Acronin689]

Is it on you to do that individually to each service or do you make one JAG application and it goes to all of them?

[shock259]

You will apply to each individually, and each branch has a number of different programs that you can apply to at different points in your law school career. The different applications are distinct, but similar. The selection criteria are also very similar.

For more info, check out the website of the respective services you are interested in. With the exception of the Marines, all of the JAG websites are very informative. This thread also has great info on the branches.

[Acronin689]

Yeah, this is a great thread. I'm slowly working my way through it. I'm sure my answer was buried in here somewhere. Thanks for the help!

[Esquire]

Yeah, you'll go wherever you they put you. DC tours don't happen (at least in the Navy) until further into your career.

My buddy who is a Navy JAG is in DC. He just started recently. Also, for the Army, DC tours can happen early in your career.

[shock259]

Thanks for the correction. Edited out my info to avoid any confusion.

[Patrick Bateman]

Yeah, you'll go wherever you they put you. DC tours don't happen (at least in the Navy) until further into your career.

My buddy who is a Navy JAG is in DC. He just started recently. Also, for the Army, DC tours can happen early in your career.

Of course junior Navy JAGs can be assigned to DC - I'm pretty sure we are all well versed with the prince of the Washington Navy Yard, Daniel Kaffee, LTJG, JAGC, USN. He successfully plea bargained 44 cases in 9 months.

[laxbrah420]

Yeah, you'll go wherever you they put you. DC tours don't happen (at least in the Navy) until further into your career.

My buddy who is a Navy JAG is in DC. He just started recently. Also, for the Army, DC tours can happen early in your career.

Is this your buddy?


(from the Offender Report)

[howell]

After the bar is over, I'll take a look at consolidating and condensing the info that has been presented on this thread. I'm not sure what format would be best, but it is a great source of info. I've been through this thread multiple times, and I seem to pick up something new every time. Something like a wiki would probably be appropriate - something that allows for continuous updating.

[msanders44]

Sorry if this is already answered but adding to what was asked a couple questions ago, I would think that the branches wouldn't like it if you were applying to all of them. So I guess my question is does it look bad to the branches you are applying to if you are applying to more than one?

[target]

After the bar is over, I'll take a look at consolidating and condensing the info that has been presented on this thread. I'm not sure what format would be best, but it is a great source of info. I've been through this thread multiple times, and I seem to pick up something new every time. Something like a wiki would probably be appropriate - something that allows for continuous updating.

I think a comprehensive post like one of those how to do well in law school would do wonder. And you can ask a mod to add in the OP.

[howell]

Sorry if this is already answered but adding to what was asked a couple questions ago, I would think that the branches wouldn't like it if you were applying to all of them. So I guess my question is does it look bad to the branches you are applying to if you are applying to more than one?

There are other perspectives on this earlier in the thread, but the consensus seemed to be that it doesn't hurt and probably helps, and that goes along with what I have seen too. I think all of my interviewers asked about what other branches I was applying to, and they all encouraged it, especially in light of the difficulty of getting in any one branch. I have never encountered any story of anyone saying, "Oh, you interned for the Army, you're SOL for the Air Force."

It also makes sense that it would be a positive. It shows a commitment to public/military service, it gives you experience with the military (there are great similarities in life in all of the branches), and it gives you a chance to get officers (of any branch) to recommend your work.

I looked up the backgrounds of most of the Air Force 2L interns last summer, and most of them had a variety of prior government and military service - in all branches.

[Esquire]

After the bar is over, I'll take a look at consolidating and condensing the info that has been presented on this thread. I'm not sure what format would be best, but it is a great source of info. I've been through this thread multiple times, and I seem to pick up something new every time. Something like a wiki would probably be appropriate - something that allows for continuous updating.

Ken would pay you if you did such a thing. I'd PM him about it.

[SchopenhauerFTW]

After the bar is over, I'll take a look at consolidating and condensing the info that has been presented on this thread. I'm not sure what format would be best, but it is a great source of info. I've been through this thread multiple times, and I seem to pick up something new every time. Something like a wiki would probably be appropriate - something that allows for continuous updating.

Join forces with JCFindley, since he started this thread: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=187630

[Rotor]

After the bar is over, I'll take a look at consolidating and condensing the info that has been presented on this thread. I'm not sure what format would be best, but it is a great source of info. I've been through this thread multiple times, and I seem to pick up something new every time. Something like a wiki would probably be appropriate - something that allows for continuous updating.

Join forces with JCFindley, since he started this thread: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=187630

I'm not saying don't work with JCF, but I actually see the need for two threads--one for law students who are interested in becoming JAGs and another for military members who are interested in becoming law students. There certainly is some overlap--and it is likely that this thread contains a lot of both. JCF's thread is less about JAG and more about vets becoming students. There is another GI Bill thread out there that has some info, but much is likely out of date with the changes in the program last year.

[JCFindley]

After the bar is over, I'll take a look at consolidating and condensing the info that has been presented on this thread. I'm not sure what format would be best, but it is a great source of info. I've been through this thread multiple times, and I seem to pick up something new every time. Something like a wiki would probably be appropriate - something that allows for continuous updating.

Join forces with JCFindley, since he started this thread: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=187630

I'm not saying don't work with JCF, but I actually see the need for two threads--one for law students who are interested in becoming JAGs and another for military members who are interested in becoming law students. There certainly is some overlap--and it is likely that this thread contains a lot of both. JCF's thread is less about JAG and more about vets becoming students. There is another GI Bill thread out there that has some info, but much is likely out of date with the changes in the program last year.

I agree, and you are welcome to add it on mine but separate is probably better since they are vastly different subjects. I comment on this one on general military stuff but know NOTHING JAG specific.

[Patrick Bateman]

Sorry if this is already answered but adding to what was asked a couple questions ago, I would think that the branches wouldn't like it if you were applying to all of them. So I guess my question is does it look bad to the branches you are applying to if you are applying to more than one?

There are other perspectives on this earlier in the thread, but the consensus seemed to be that it doesn't hurt and probably helps, and that goes along with what I have seen too. I think all of my interviewers asked about what other branches I was applying to, and they all encouraged it, especially in light of the difficulty of getting in any one branch. I have never encountered any story of anyone saying, "Oh, you interned for the Army, you're SOL for the Air Force."

It also makes sense that it would be a positive. It shows a commitment to public/military service, it gives you experience with the military (there are great similarities in life in all of the branches), and it gives you a chance to get officers (of any branch) to recommend your work.

I looked up the backgrounds of most of the Air Force 2L interns last summer, and most of them had a variety of prior government and military service - in all branches.

Overall, I agree with Howell here. Desire to serve is desire to serve - applying across the board can show that desire. And in a practical sense, those of us in JAG right now do see how competitive it is and would not it against an applicant for hedging his/her bets.

I can see applying to all the services also being a negative. All the branches take great pride in their specific contribution to the greater fight. While the desire to serve as an officer is noble, I can think of those SJAs and selection boards that want an applicant that wants to be an Air Force/Army/Navy/Marine Officer. I know I got the "why Air Force?" question when I had my interview and that was a question I spent a significant amount of time researching - I had to spend that time because at the beginning of my internship, I really did not know the answer to that question. I read every book I could find, talked to any AD O or E that had a few minutes, and the like to find out if I truly wanted to join the Air Force, not just earn a pair of generic bars.

Were I the SJA conducting an interview, the tie is going to the applicant that truly wants to be in the Air Force, not the applicant that will be happy serving somewhere. That all said, realistically, if I got an answer like "the Air Force is my number one choice but I am trying to be realistic in light of how competitive it is, so I also have applications in with the Army and Navy," I would not have a problem with that.

Howell - how was it you were able to look up the background of the Air Force 2L interns?

[Rotor]

After the bar is over, I'll take a look at consolidating and condensing the info that has been presented on this thread. I'm not sure what format would be best, but it is a great source of info. I've been through this thread multiple times, and I seem to pick up something new every time. Something like a wiki would probably be appropriate - something that allows for continuous updating.

Join forces with JCFindley, since he started this thread: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=187630

I'm not saying don't work with JCF, but I actually see the need for two threads--one for law students who are interested in becoming JAGs and another for military members who are interested in becoming law students. There certainly is some overlap--and it is likely that this thread contains a lot of both. JCF's thread is less about JAG and more about vets becoming students. There is another GI Bill thread out there that has some info, but much is likely out of date with the changes in the program last year.

I agree, and you are welcome to add it on mine but separate is probably better since they are vastly different subjects. I comment on this one on general military stuff but know NOTHING JAG specific.

I'm in the same boat--only I have quite a few JAG friends and can talk a bit about what it is like in service but not how to get selected. And it'll be a while before I can really do anything. Bar in a week and a half, then trip/move/start work. But I will try to chime in when I can.

[howell]

Howell - how was it you were able to look up the background of the Air Force 2L interns?

They sent several emails to the entire group without using the BCC feature, so I could see the email address of every 2L intern. Most people had email addresses like john.smith@lawschool.edu, so most people were easy to track down online. Also, LinkedIn provided a lot of information. I couldn't find everyone, but maybe 20 out of 25.

[Patrick Bateman]

*

[Kobe_Teeth]

Have acceptance rates budged at all? Still in single digits? Low or high single digits?

[target]

Have acceptance rates budged at all? Still in single digits? Low or high single digits?

Don't think so, at least for AF and Navy. Both are still in single digit.