Military Law Forum

[Yointer]

Marine OCS FTW.

TITCR

Is anyone else in the application process to go PLC-L this summer?

[MTal]

Marine OCS FTW.

TITCR

Is anyone else in the application process to go PLC-L this summer?

Hey, you post on Marineocs, haha.

[ArkansasFan]

ArkansasFan that wouldn't be a bad way to go. I appled for an AFROTC schloarship many years ago and I wanted to fly and be a JAG. You could do that back then. I don't think you can now.

You know I've thought about this more lately, but being a 30 year old 0-1 would be kind of odd wouldn't it?

[brownshoe]

ArkansasFan that wouldn't be a bad way to go. I appled for an AFROTC schloarship many years ago and I wanted to fly and be a JAG. You could do that back then. I don't think you can now.

You know I've thought about this more lately, but being a 30 year old 0-1 would be kind of odd wouldn't it?

No. There are plenty of prior enlisted junior officers out there. There are also plenty of people that worked for a few years before realizing how boring there life was before seeking a commission! The bottom line is, no one cares how old you are, just that you can do your job.

[Patrick Bateman]

ArkansasFan that wouldn't be a bad way to go. I appled for an AFROTC schloarship many years ago and I wanted to fly and be a JAG. You could do that back then. I don't think you can now.

You know I've thought about this more lately, but being a 30 year old 0-1 would be kind of odd wouldn't it?

I agree 100% with Brownshoe in this regard. I actually worked with an AF OSI agent who was an SMSgt (E-8) before getting his commission.

You also be an 0-2 once you are in the JAG pipeline and put on 0-3 after 6 months.

[nickc321]

Anyone know the new phone number for the national AF JAG recruiting office? 800-JAG-USAF is out of service when I call it.

I swear that number was working a week ago. I will track down someone at JAX and figure out what the deal is.


Unrelated but still important:

We got word today that the USAF JAG loan repayment program is further along the pipeline, projected to start paying out in the last quarter of fiscal year 2010. So, August 2010, give or take. It looks like it will be annual payments that will max out at $65K. No idea how much a JAG is entitled to each year. It does not sound like an additional service commitment comes with the money but I cannot say for certain. Most important for those in my position, it will be retroactive for Captains who have been in grade 3 or less years.

Please keep us updated on this. I've already been accepted by the AF and am up for this Army board. If selected by the Army, the loan repayment was a big consideration as to which branch I would ultimately end up in so this may equalize the playing field a little if it is retroactive.

[ArkansasFan]

ArkansasFan that wouldn't be a bad way to go. I appled for an AFROTC schloarship many years ago and I wanted to fly and be a JAG. You could do that back then. I don't think you can now.

You know I've thought about this more lately, but being a 30 year old 0-1 would be kind of odd wouldn't it?

No. There are plenty of prior enlisted junior officers out there. There are also plenty of people that worked for a few years before realizing how boring there life was before seeking a commission! The bottom line is, no one cares how old you are, just that you can do your job.

Good to know. Thanks.

[texaslawyer]

ArkansasFan,

Prior enlisted make the best officers for a number of reasons. I think the most important reason is maturity and familarity with military procedures and systems. As a JAG, you would go in at an O2 or O3 level, and move up very quickly. If you want to be a litigator this would be a great place to start. You would get thrown into the briar patch very quickly. From what I've seen, military law can get very ugly, particularily in criminal matters. Like we Texans say, "Back your ears and dive in !" It's not a bad place to start.

[ArkansasFan]

ArkansasFan,

Prior enlisted make the best officers for a number of reasons. I think the most important reason is maturity and familarity with military procedures and systems. As a JAG, you would go in at an O2 or O3 level, and move up very quickly. If you want to be a litigator this would be a great place to start. You would get thrown into the briar patch very quickly. From what I've seen, military law can get very ugly, particularily in criminal matters. Like we Texans say, "Back your ears and dive in !" It's not a bad place to start.

Thanks. Obviously, I'm interested in law, or I wouldn't be here, and through research I've found out that JAGs start at O2 for about six months before becoming an O3. Right now, I'm actually kicking around the idea of enrolling in a much less time consuming (and cheaper) master's degree program and engaging in AFROTC after which we all know I'd be an O1. I'm not sure how I got to this, but it seems interesting. I realize this isn't the forum for this, but I thought I'd kick it out there with the abundance of like-minded military types out there.

[Rotor]

Happy Veterans' Day to all who have/do/will serve[d]!

[CyLaw]

Happy Veterans' Day to all who have/do/will serve[d]!

Happy Veterans Day also. Did you hear that UVA just accepted someone via email with a Happy Veteran's Day notice. They are stationed overseas at the moment.

That is just a super appropriate way to do it, I think.

[jjleague]

You have to be citizen to be an Officer but not enlisted. Once you become a citizen then you came apply to become an Officer. Each branch has their own route, usually OCS.

[Rotor]

Happy Veterans' Day to all who have/do/will serve[d]!

Happy Veterans Day also. Did you hear that UVA just accepted someone via email with a Happy Veteran's Day notice. They are stationed overseas at the moment.

That is just a super appropriate way to do it, I think.

That's awesome!! Dean Trujillo seemed very classy through my cycle last year. This is yet another example. (except for that bit where he didn't accept me, he's OK in my book )

[texaslawyer]

HAPPY VETERANS DAY !

[Kalas]

The Field Screening Officer was saying 8% get picked up. He told everybody "When you don't get selected, make sure you apply again."

That's not very reassuring at all. I don't want to get stuck in a cycle of reapplications and hope for something that may never happen ie. the ultra low selection rate.

[texaslawyer]

Military law is what it is. I believe it's a wonderful place to start. However, Marine JAGs may have to command an infantry unit, amhib, etc. Time was you could fly and practice law in the Corps, but no longer. Graham-Rudman crucified that program dead and buried. Frequently the Marine Corps is referred to as The Crotch. The reason is it's a nasty subject. Another favorite Marine saying, "Life is one big shit sandwich and from time to time we all have to take a bite".

UUURAHHHH!!!!!!! IT'S a Marine thing !

[amped]

Anyone have any idea when the 2L Summer Internship results for Army/AF will be released?

Also, anyone have any idea how the new loan repayment programs for the Army (and AF I think) will interact with the CCRA (or whatever its called, the federal loan legislation). Will the service repayment thing kick in and then the federal repayment on top of that? I've found it rather difficult to get a layman's explanation on this.

[wesleybs]

Amped: Found another forum where a person from last year or the year before got his rejection in early December.

[cake]

Amped: Found another forum where a person from last year or the year before got his rejection in early December.

I called them yesterday to confirm. Decisions usually come out in December.

[J-Rod]

yeah, they'll wanna get them out before the down time for Christmas/new years

[Patrick Bateman]

Update on the AF JAG loan repayment:

Good news. It appears everything has come together and the program, while not offically annoucned, will be a go for the last fiscal quarter of 2010. $65K, paid in three annual installments. The only less than ideal thing is that it will be considered W-2 income, so it will be taxed. It should amount to roughly $17,500 after taxes accounding to my source. JAG will work directly with the loan company for the payments; in other words, we never actually get a check or anything.

I'm extra excited as it looks like I will be deployed when the first payment goes out, so I may be able to land all of that tax free.

[BHL]

PB, is there a link to the new loan repayment program? In a quick google search, I didn't find anything outside of a few articles on Army's version.

[Patrick Bateman]

PB, is there a link to the new loan repayment program? In a quick google search, I didn't find anything outside of a few articles on Army's version.

Negative. As I mentioned in the post, it is still unofficial, in the sense that HQ USAF or TJAG has not unveiled it. That said, it successfully navigated all the bureaucratic channels and was passed on to my leadership, from their leadership, as a done deal.

As soon as I get something I am able to pass on for public consumption, I will.

[Kalas]

Patrick, thanks for your contribution to this thread. What's your take on the JA interviewer encouraging you to reapply? Are they just blowing smoke? In my case he encouraged me to reapply if I wasn't selected and he offered to help in his capacity as the JA interviewer with my application.

[Patrick Bateman]

Patrick, thanks for your contribution to this thread. What's your take on the JA interviewer encouraging you to reapply? Are they just blowing smoke? In my case he encouraged me to reapply if I wasn't selected and he offered to help in his capacity as the JA interviewer with my application.

By interviewer, you mean the SJA?

Barely anyone gets picked up by their first board. It's almost guaranteed you won't if you are coming in as a pure civilian, without any military/government experience. Reapplying is absolutely necessary and I would take up the SJA up on whatever help he/she is offering. Most SJAs are incredibly busy so it may say a lot about you if he/she is willing to go above and beyond.

We did a poll among the Captains in my office (a big base legal office) a while back and only one Direct Appointee got through on his first board. Everyone else had to reapply at least once. And this was back when the economy was good.