Military Law Forum

[Moves like JAGger]

Can anyone who's been through COT advise whether "The Hawk" is required reading for COT? I see it listed as required reading for other officer schools (OTS/BOT). http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/ ... k_2013.pdf

Would it be beneficial to memorize everything prior to COT? I'm leaving in a week for 14-02 COT. Anyone else here doing the same?

JAGer,

I will be at COT 14-02 as well. I am an non-prior service Reserve JAG officer. I have not seen anything suggesting The Hawk is required for COT. The COT website says the "OTS Manual 36-2604 provides all the necessary guidance to prepare you for the challenging training days ahead." I've given OTS Manual a quick read through in advance, but my understanding is that you are expected to digest the manual over the first few days of COT.

That being said, I will be printing and looking through The Hawk as it looks like it has a decent amount of background info that could be helpful.

Where are you coming from for COT? I'm driving down from Pittsburgh.

Thanks for the reply! Glad to hear I'm not the only one from TLS in the 14-02 class. I haven't seen any activity about it on the OTS forum.

I haven't decided whether I'm flying or driving from my location here in NY/CT. A road trip seems really appealing but so does the convenience of taking a commercial flight. Another consideration is the cost. I know that 3 days on the road will cost probably 3x more than flying, but I realize that we get reimbursed. I'm just not sure when

I hope to arrive the night before so I can unwind, grab a meal and maybe link up with some fellow classmates.

In any event, I look forward to meeting you. And here's to enjoying our last few days as private citizens

[howell]

I don't know of anyone in our COT class who read the Hawk ahead of time. They did try to make us memorize parts of it, and some of the things in there are themes and/or material you will see throughout COT, so it wouldn't hurt to read through it once or twice just to get familiar with it.

As far as driving/flying, certainly consider whether you will be staying for JASOC right after. You will be able to get a lot more use out of your car than at COT there. There will be people to get rides with at COT, and there are only a few times you'll really want/need to drive anywhere during your time there.

Overall, rest up before going, keep a positive attitude, know that you'll get through it, and work with your flight to get through any tough times. Also, never volunteer for anything.

[spleenworship]

I realize the answer is probably "no" but... now that I've been selected, is there any benefit in contacting/making friends with/talking to the USAF ROTC detachment on main campus? Or would this just confuse them/waste their time and mine?

[NAOBERJU]

I think this has been asked theoretically before regarding the sequester, but for those selected for Army JAG, what are we supposed to do in between the time we graduate/pass the bar and the time JAOBC starts? It looks like it could be anywhere between five months and almost a year of wait time. Is any place going to hire for five months?

I took a clerkship with the District Attorney's Office. It has provided great experience. I'm handling trials on my own already. On a sidenote, ask to go to an earlier class. Originally, last years selects were split into four classes, with the last class being Jan 2015. I had a friend who was initially scheduled to be in the Jan 2015 class. She was unhappy about it and requested to be moved up. They moved her to the October class. They then moved her to the June class and now she is heading out in a week because she was bumped up again to the Jan 2014 class. I was scheduled for the June class. I did not request anything and I am still in the June class. If I knew that it would have made such a difference, I would have requested an earlier date.

Good Luck!

[Esquire]

I realize the answer is probably "no" but... now that I've been selected, is there any benefit in contacting/making friends with/talking to the USAF ROTC detachment on main campus? Or would this just confuse them/waste their time and mine?

Yes, there is. Get in shape, learn about the Air Force.

[spleenworship]

I realize the answer is probably "no" but... now that I've been selected, is there any benefit in contacting/making friends with/talking to the USAF ROTC detachment on main campus? Or would this just confuse them/waste their time and mine?

Yes, there is. Get in shape, learn about the Air Force.

So, like, call them up and ask to talk to the commander or the XO and just explain my situation (once the packet finally arrives in the mail)?

[armyhooah]

I realize the answer is probably "no" but... now that I've been selected, is there any benefit in contacting/making friends with/talking to the USAF ROTC detachment on main campus? Or would this just confuse them/waste their time and mine?

Yes, there is. Get in shape, learn about the Air Force.

So, like, call them up and ask to talk to the commander or the XO and just explain my situation (once the packet finally arrives in the mail)?

I don't think there's any need to wait on your welcome packet. You know you're in and that you'll be going sometime. I think Esquire simply meant it would be a good idea to go ahead and meet people and get involved in Air Force life as soon as you can. Just swing by the ROTC office or e-mail the contact person and introduce yourself. No need to ask for the commanding officer or anything serious, IMO.

[HEAT3PEAT]

Anyone have any info on the summer internship program? Are they waiting for funding to find out how many people they will select or is it about interns not getting paid at all ?

[so ambivalent]

i got selected for army jag active duty a few weeks ago but have not received anything like an email or an info packet about how much time i have to make my decision and who to notify and what steps to take now. my interviewing officer just called and emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know i was accepted and said i'd get a package in the mail. is anyone else waiting on those or know when we have to decide by and what the process is from here?

[armyhooah]

i got selected for army jag active duty a few weeks ago but have not received anything like an email or an info packet about how much time i have to make my decision and who to notify and what steps to take now. my interviewing officer just called and emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know i was accepted and said i'd get a package in the mail. is anyone else waiting on those or know when we have to decide by and what the process is from here?

Are you a 3L? If you have yet to pass the bar, the soonest they'd place you in a class is by October, so the 195th JAOBC. The 193rd is starting in about a week, so I would imagine they are really busy putting things for that and the 194th class together (the one starting in June).

I read somewhere on JARO that the packets will not be mailed out until late January. I would wait till mid-February or so to hear anything if you are still in law school currently.

[BF0343]

i got selected for army jag active duty a few weeks ago but have not received anything like an email or an info packet about how much time i have to make my decision and who to notify and what steps to take now. my interviewing officer just called and emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know i was accepted and said i'd get a package in the mail. is anyone else waiting on those or know when we have to decide by and what the process is from here?

I was selected as well. As far as I know, we'll receive information packets via regular mail later this month.

[MarineLaw]

Would a "business basics" and income taxation classes be wise to take as a future JA? I know a lot of JAs have to deal with family finance issues, but is it sufficient to justify these classes? Base tax centers? Also , I don't have a business background but I feel like any sort of law might benefit from having a baseline business savvy.

[Esquire]

Would a "business basics" and income taxation classes be wise to take as a future JA? I know a lot of JAs have to deal with family finance issues, but is it sufficient to justify these classes? Base tax centers? Also , I don't have a business background but I feel like any sort of law might benefit from having a baseline business savvy.

Take the law school classes you want to take. You'll get plenty of instruction and reference material when you're a JA.

[LSATmakesMeNeurotic]

Anyone have any info on the summer internship program? Are they waiting for funding to find out how many people they will select or is it about interns not getting paid at all ?

They just posted this on the facebook page:

** WARNO ** WARNO **
RE: 2014 U.S. Army JAG Corps Summer Internship Program

Due to continued uncertainties with the Federal budget, we are not currently able to make final selections for the 2014 U.S. Army JAG Corps Summer Internship Program until congressional appropriations are finalized. We are hopeful that we will be able to make our selection and send out the offers by the end of this month, JAN 2014. Please stand by. We will publish the results as soon as we are able.

[Patrick Bateman]

Would a "business basics" and income taxation classes be wise to take as a future JA? I know a lot of JAs have to deal with family finance issues, but is it sufficient to justify these classes? Base tax centers? Also , I don't have a business background but I feel like any sort of law might benefit from having a baseline business savvy.

Agreed with Esquire.

I'm not sure if you are using JA in the Army sense or just generally but from an Air Force perspective, I would not go out of my way to take any business law/tax classes just for the sake of being a JAG.

Most of the "finance" issues I dealt with while suffering through legal assistance would involve a junior enlisted troop who bought a fully loaded Mustang through one of the shady dealerships outside the base at 14% interest. For the more complex topics, like bankruptcy, short sales, and the like, we had plenty of instruction. My office brought in local civilian practitioners that specialized in that area for our weekly training in addition to Webcasts from AFJAGS.

Further, you will not be doing legal assistance all the time. For the Air Force, legal assistance is just a portion of your work week, and once you leave base legal around the 4 year mark, you will stop doing it all together (until you return as a Deputy SJA).

[Second_Law]

Have any Air Force DA selects been able to get in touch with the POC at JAX? I was an October select, and I've left a couple voice mails and emails but haven't heard anything yet. I'm sure he's very busy, and I'm a 3L, so it's not like I could go to COT right away or anything. I just wanted to make sure I haven't missed any deadlines or anything.

[Fed_Atty]

Not AF, but the military is a big organization. They won't forget about you, but they also will not likely be as responsive as you would like.

[spleenworship]

Have any Air Force DA selects been able to get in touch with the POC at JAX? I was an October select, and I've left a couple voice mails and emails but haven't heard anything yet. I'm sure he's very busy, and I'm a 3L, so it's not like I could go to COT right away or anything. I just wanted to make sure I haven't missed any deadlines or anything.

A friend of mine is an October select and he just had his interview call. Seems like things are going pretty slow.

[womeninblack]

Have any Air Force DA selects been able to get in touch with the POC at JAX? I was an October select, and I've left a couple voice mails and emails but haven't heard anything yet. I'm sure he's very busy, and I'm a 3L, so it's not like I could go to COT right away or anything. I just wanted to make sure I haven't missed any deadlines or anything.

A friend of mine is an October select and he just had his interview call. Seems like things are going pretty slow.

I'm a 3L October select, and I'm scheduled to go to MEPS this week.
By interview call, do you mean the initial call to the POC at JAX?

[spleenworship]

Have any Air Force DA selects been able to get in touch with the POC at JAX? I was an October select, and I've left a couple voice mails and emails but haven't heard anything yet. I'm sure he's very busy, and I'm a 3L, so it's not like I could go to COT right away or anything. I just wanted to make sure I haven't missed any deadlines or anything.

A friend of mine is an October select and he just had his interview call. Seems like things are going pretty slow.

I'm a 3L October select, and I'm scheduled to go to MEPS this week.
By interview call, do you mean the initial call to the POC at JAX?

Yes.

[howell]

It looks like the AF will be going to an electronic submission system. The first DAP board with the new system will be the April one. It should be available in about a week.

[trayball23]

I was selected Navy JAG and I am looking around for a bar exam to take. Any idea what Bar exam would give the most latitude in regards to reciprocity/ admittance in other states? Just looking to keep my options open and take a bar with as little state law as possible. Thanks.

[Fed_Atty]

Not exactly on point, but I would consider when the bar results are released. Typically, the Navy has a Justice class starting in October and in January. If you results come out on or before October 1, you have a much better chance of attending the October class, otherwise you have to wait around for a few more months.

[womeninblack]

I was selected Navy JAG and I am looking around for a bar exam to take. Any idea what Bar exam would give the most latitude in regards to reciprocity/ admittance in other states? Just looking to keep my options open and take a bar with as little state law as possible. Thanks.

If you're looking for a bar exam with as little state law as possible, you may want to consider taking the bar exam in a state that uses the uniform bar exam. I think that most states that use the UBE have reciprocity with each other.

[spleenworship]

Contacted AF ROTC. They've never dealt with someone like me before, but they were happy to give me an old copy of their 101 intro class (they told me to pay attention to uniforms, as they claim COT did not appear to properly instruct their students in this area), and said if I got a physical done at student health I could work out with them. However, they also said their workouts were primarily for morale boosting, and I should run on my own regularly to avoid embarrassing myself at COT.