Military Law Forum

[Roclandsfinest23]

Got a call and missed it

[Elle.Woods]

If we didn't get the call for army jag at this point, does that mean we weren't professionally recommended for active duty?

Good question. I hope the answer is "no" (I'm still waiting on a call myself), and I'll note three things while I'm here:

1. Army doesn't traditionally call; at least that's what my read of this forum shows.
2. There's only been one non-Anon post about calls, and it was generic ("FYI AF calls coming out today") - no one using their own name has confirmed any call.
3. Even if Army is calling, and they are calling today, there were 179 folks on last years' AD primary selection list (i.e. in addition to alternates) and it may take JARO staff some time to make all of the calls.

I'm also suspicious that any calls for Army have gone out - I have been told in the past that no one outside of the board sees the list before it is published. Also, If it helps, the year I got selected I did not receive a call - further the Army is on holiday schedule this week, so if calls actually are going out, it is hit and miss which recruiters are actually in the office to make the calls.

hhhmmmm well has anyone else gotten an AF or Army call today that isn't anon?

I got a call from AF this morning confirming that I was selected.

[Anonymous User]

If we didn't get the call for army jag at this point, does that mean we weren't professionally recommended for active duty?

Good question. I hope the answer is "no" (I'm still waiting on a call myself), and I'll note three things while I'm here:

1. Army doesn't traditionally call; at least that's what my read of this forum shows.
2. There's only been one non-Anon post about calls, and it was generic ("FYI AF calls coming out today") - no one using their own name has confirmed any call.
3. Even if Army is calling, and they are calling today, there were 179 folks on last years' AD primary selection list (i.e. in addition to alternates) and it may take JARO staff some time to make all of the calls.

I'm also suspicious that any calls for Army have gone out - I have been told in the past that no one outside of the board sees the list before it is published. Also, If it helps, the year I got selected I did not receive a call - further the Army is on holiday schedule this week, so if calls actually are going out, it is hit and miss which recruiters are actually in the office to make the calls.

hhhmmmm well has anyone else gotten an AF or Army call today that isn't anon?

I got a call from AF this morning confirming that I was selected.

Was the call from Andrews? First letter of last name? And did they provide to you your assignment?

[Elle.Woods]

If we didn't get the call for army jag at this point, does that mean we weren't professionally recommended for active duty?

Good question. I hope the answer is "no" (I'm still waiting on a call myself), and I'll note three things while I'm here:

1. Army doesn't traditionally call; at least that's what my read of this forum shows.
2. There's only been one non-Anon post about calls, and it was generic ("FYI AF calls coming out today") - no one using their own name has confirmed any call.
3. Even if Army is calling, and they are calling today, there were 179 folks on last years' AD primary selection list (i.e. in addition to alternates) and it may take JARO staff some time to make all of the calls.

I'm also suspicious that any calls for Army have gone out - I have been told in the past that no one outside of the board sees the list before it is published. Also, If it helps, the year I got selected I did not receive a call - further the Army is on holiday schedule this week, so if calls actually are going out, it is hit and miss which recruiters are actually in the office to make the calls.

hhhmmmm well has anyone else gotten an AF or Army call today that isn't anon?

I got a call from AF this morning confirming that I was selected.

Was the call from Andrews? First letter of last name? And did they provide to you your assignment?

The call was from the SJA that interviewed me, and I wasn't given any information other than I will be receiving a package of information. I am a 3L, so I will not be able to go to COT and JASOC until October 2017 at the earliest. Finally, I am not sure whose last name you're referring to.

[aussie828]

I just received a call from my Army interviewer. I was selected as an alternate for active duty. I informed her that I was already selected for the Air Force, so I'm not taking anyone else's slot. Still waiting for the MEPS call, though.

[Anonymous User]

Picked up for reserves. Does anyone have any advice about this?

I heard there are a TON of downsides. 1. You're basically precluded from all private sector hiring because of drill for at least 2 weeks out of the year. 2. Switching to active duty is pretty much impossible. 3. Retirement benefits are on a different timeline. 4. No veteran's preference unless you get a certain number of AD hours.

Is there any reason to commission with the reserves? I'm just hesitant to preclude myself from the entire private sector for a 2 week part time job with no hopes of advancement to AD.

[Anonymous User]

Picked up for reserves. Does anyone have any advice about this?

I heard there are a TON of downsides. 1. You're basically precluded from all private sector hiring because of drill for at least 2 weeks out of the year. 2. Switching to active duty is pretty much impossible. 3. Retirement benefits are on a different timeline. 4. No veteran's preference unless you get a certain number of AD hours.

Is there any reason to commission with the reserves? I'm just hesitant to preclude myself from the entire private sector for a 2 week part time job with no hopes of advancement to AD.

Did you get a call or is the list posted somewhere?

Also, yeah, a lot of your concerns about reserve life are correct. If your goal is active duty, it's probably not the way to go. Reserves are best for government employees, frankly.

[wg6524]

Picked up for reserves. Does anyone have any advice about this?

I heard there are a TON of downsides. 1. You're basically precluded from all private sector hiring because of drill for at least 2 weeks out of the year. 2. Switching to active duty is pretty much impossible. 3. Retirement benefits are on a different timeline. 4. No veteran's preference unless you get a certain number of AD hours.

Is there any reason to commission with the reserves? I'm just hesitant to preclude myself from the entire private sector for a 2 week part time job with no hopes of advancement to AD.

Did you get a call or is the list posted somewhere?

Also, yeah, a lot of your concerns about reserve life are correct. If your goal is active duty, it's probably not the way to go. Reserves are best for government employees, frankly.

I agree with #2, 3, & 4. However, I think the "precluded from all private sector hiring" is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Yes, it's tougher to balance the civilian and military careers, but it IS ABSOLUTELY DOABLE if you want it bad enough. You just have to want both and be willing to give up some of the freedom that choosing one or the other would naturally give you (i.e. you don't get to have every weekend off and yes you may be asked to do things in a non-pay status between battle assemblies. Yes it's frustrating. I know first hand. But it can be balanced. Sometimes the Reserves gives and the Civilian employment takes and other times its the other way around. I've been a Battery Commander during Law School and it's not a cake walk. You do something almost every day if not every other day for the Reserves. It's a conscious choice, not a "i'm here for the free beer and Applebees discount" type of reserves these days. Government employers are more understanding than civilian for sure; however, I have run across at least two civilian employers since choosing to go military that have said that they would honor every reserve commitment I had and help me balance it. Annual training can be split up (the two weeks a year) It's not hard. Communication is the key.

[Anonymous User]

Would they call after 5 pm EST?

[Anonymous User]

Picked up for reserves. Does anyone have any advice about this?

I heard there are a TON of downsides. 1. You're basically precluded from all private sector hiring because of drill for at least 2 weeks out of the year. 2. Switching to active duty is pretty much impossible. 3. Retirement benefits are on a different timeline. 4. No veteran's preference unless you get a certain number of AD hours.

Is there any reason to commission with the reserves? I'm just hesitant to preclude myself from the entire private sector for a 2 week part time job with no hopes of advancement to AD.

Did you get a call or is the list posted somewhere?

Also, yeah, a lot of your concerns about reserve life are correct. If your goal is active duty, it's probably not the way to go. Reserves are best for government employees, frankly.

I agree with #2, 3, & 4. However, I think the "precluded from all private sector hiring" is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Yes, it's tougher to balance the civilian and military careers, but it IS ABSOLUTELY DOABLE if you want it bad enough. You just have to want both and be willing to give up some of the freedom that choosing one or the other would naturally give you (i.e. you don't get to have every weekend off and yes you may be asked to do things in a non-pay status between battle assemblies. Yes it's frustrating. I know first hand. But it can be balanced. Sometimes the Reserves gives and the Civilian employment takes and other times its the other way around. I've been a Battery Commander during Law School and it's not a cake walk. You do something almost every day if not every other day for the Reserves. It's a conscious choice, not a "i'm here for the free beer and Applebees discount" type of reserves these days. Government employers are more understanding than civilian for sure; however, I have run across at least two civilian employers since choosing to go military that have said that they would honor every reserve commitment I had and help me balance it. Annual training can be split up (the two weeks a year) It's not hard. Communication is the key.

How are the exit options down the line as a reservist? Are reservists as competitive as AD JAGs for positions in the DOJ or working with military contractors (like with Boeing)?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else get a call for Army AD alternate and planning on riding it out? It looked through this thread and it seems like there were a few people pulled out last year and the year before. Anyone have more info on how it works?

[Roclandsfinest23]

Got accepted for Army Active Duty!!

[Patrick Bateman]

Picked up for reserves. Does anyone have any advice about this?

I heard there are a TON of downsides. 1. You're basically precluded from all private sector hiring because of drill for at least 2 weeks out of the year. 2. Switching to active duty is pretty much impossible. 3. Retirement benefits are on a different timeline. 4. No veteran's preference unless you get a certain number of AD hours.

Is there any reason to commission with the reserves? I'm just hesitant to preclude myself from the entire private sector for a 2 week part time job with no hopes of advancement to AD.

Did you get a call or is the list posted somewhere?

Also, yeah, a lot of your concerns about reserve life are correct. If your goal is active duty, it's probably not the way to go. Reserves are best for government employees, frankly.

I agree with #2, 3, & 4. However, I think the "precluded from all private sector hiring" is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Yes, it's tougher to balance the civilian and military careers, but it IS ABSOLUTELY DOABLE if you want it bad enough. You just have to want both and be willing to give up some of the freedom that choosing one or the other would naturally give you (i.e. you don't get to have every weekend off and yes you may be asked to do things in a non-pay status between battle assemblies. Yes it's frustrating. I know first hand. But it can be balanced. Sometimes the Reserves gives and the Civilian employment takes and other times its the other way around. I've been a Battery Commander during Law School and it's not a cake walk. You do something almost every day if not every other day for the Reserves. It's a conscious choice, not a "i'm here for the free beer and Applebees discount" type of reserves these days. Government employers are more understanding than civilian for sure; however, I have run across at least two civilian employers since choosing to go military that have said that they would honor every reserve commitment I had and help me balance it. Annual training can be split up (the two weeks a year) It's not hard. Communication is the key.

How are the exit options down the line as a reservist? Are reservists as competitive as AD JAGs for positions in the DOJ or working with military contractors (like with Boeing)?

Exit options are 100% based on the skill set you can bring to the table for a potential employer. JAGs are not marketable simply because they put on a uniform - sometimes it can help indirectly (former military might prefer hiring military, all other things being equal). There is no real hiring preference for 99% of the Fed attorney jobs (which are excepted service, not competitive service, so the points are essentially meaningless).

The JAGs that get hired to DOJ/USAO do so because they have significant experience doing (relatively) complex cases in front of a jury equivalent and often in a first chair capacity. As I have posted on previously, trial experience is a real commodity and it is what makes JAG military justice practitioners appealing for Feds and some white collar practices.

I have to believe the same would be for the Big 4 contractors - the former JAGs getting these jobs are usually highly experienced in military contracting, acquisitions, and procurement. It's not being a JAG that gets them the job, its the fact that serving as a JAG gave them the experience they needed to be marketable.

It usually takes JAGs on AD 6-10 years to develop a sufficient skill set to be effective at marketing themselves in these specialties (at least when it comes to military justice, IMHO). Unless you end up on extended orders, it is doubtful you will get this depth of experience as a reservist.

[TheSpanishMain]

Second all of that. (Not a JAG, but have been on both reserve and active duty.) You can get a lot of useful, marketable experience as a reservist, but usually only when you're actually mobilized for an extended period of time. If all you ever do as a reservist is your standard two weeks a year, one weekend a month, it's probably not going to open many doors.

[Anonymous User]

Picked up for reserves. Does anyone have any advice about this?

I heard there are a TON of downsides. 1. You're basically precluded from all private sector hiring because of drill for at least 2 weeks out of the year. 2. Switching to active duty is pretty much impossible. 3. Retirement benefits are on a different timeline. 4. No veteran's preference unless you get a certain number of AD hours.

Is there any reason to commission with the reserves? I'm just hesitant to preclude myself from the entire private sector for a 2 week part time job with no hopes of advancement to AD.

Did you get a call or is the list posted somewhere?

Also, yeah, a lot of your concerns about reserve life are correct. If your goal is active duty, it's probably not the way to go. Reserves are best for government employees, frankly.

I agree with #2, 3, & 4. However, I think the "precluded from all private sector hiring" is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Yes, it's tougher to balance the civilian and military careers, but it IS ABSOLUTELY DOABLE if you want it bad enough. You just have to want both and be willing to give up some of the freedom that choosing one or the other would naturally give you (i.e. you don't get to have every weekend off and yes you may be asked to do things in a non-pay status between battle assemblies. Yes it's frustrating. I know first hand. But it can be balanced. Sometimes the Reserves gives and the Civilian employment takes and other times its the other way around. I've been a Battery Commander during Law School and it's not a cake walk. You do something almost every day if not every other day for the Reserves. It's a conscious choice, not a "i'm here for the free beer and Applebees discount" type of reserves these days. Government employers are more understanding than civilian for sure; however, I have run across at least two civilian employers since choosing to go military that have said that they would honor every reserve commitment I had and help me balance it. Annual training can be split up (the two weeks a year) It's not hard. Communication is the key.

How are the exit options down the line as a reservist? Are reservists as competitive as AD JAGs for positions in the DOJ or working with military contractors (like with Boeing)?

Exit options are 100% based on the skill set you can bring to the table for a potential employer. JAGs are not marketable simply because they put on a uniform - sometimes it can help indirectly (former military might prefer hiring military, all other things being equal). There is no real hiring preference for 99% of the Fed attorney jobs (which are excepted service, not competitive service, so the points are essentially meaningless).

The JAGs that get hired to DOJ/USAO do so because they have significant experience doing (relatively) complex cases in front of a jury equivalent and often in a first chair capacity. As I have posted on previously, trial experience is a real commodity and it is what makes JAG military justice practitioners appealing for Feds and some white collar practices.

I have to believe the same would be for the Big 4 contractors - the former JAGs getting these jobs are usually highly experienced in military contracting, acquisitions, and procurement. It's not being a JAG that gets them the job, its the fact that serving as a JAG gave them the experience they needed to be marketable.

It usually takes JAGs on AD 6-10 years to develop a sufficient skill set to be effective at marketing themselves in these specialties (at least when it comes to military justice, IMHO). Unless you end up on extended orders, it is doubtful you will get this depth of experience as a reservist.

Wow. The more I hear about JAG reserves, the more I feel like it's a dead-end job (ignoring the whole love of country, oorah, etc.), unless you're underemployed/unemployed, in which case you can volunteer for a ton of stuff and get good experience.

Still want to be an officer though. Should I just try for the Army Quartermaster Corps instead?

[Anonymous User]

Got accepted for Army Active Duty!!

CONGRATS!! Do you know Sgt. Deez??

[w7ldcard]

FYI AF calls are coming out today

You get the call? If so, Congrats. I know we were both waiting in Oct board.

I got Oct board. Classmate got Dec board !

[TheSpanishMain]

Wow. The more I hear about JAG reserves, the more I feel like it's a dead-end job (ignoring the whole love of country, oorah, etc.), unless you're underemployed/unemployed, in which case you can volunteer for a ton of stuff and get good experience.

Still want to be an officer though. Should I just try for the Army Quartermaster Corps instead?

This is overstating it, I think. It's not a dead end job, but it's not intended to be your primary gig or means of career advancement. I did a lot of cool things as a reservist (not a JAG) but I was also a federal employee in my civilian life, so I had the flexibility to jump on cool opportunities as they arose. I went to some cool TDY courses, commanded a company in Iraq, and spent a year and a half on the staff of a major command. I had a lot of the same experiences someone who went straight active would have had. But again, I had the flexibility with my civilian gig to do that. I think wg6524 is right that it's possible to make it work with a private sector career, but it's definitely much harder. If you look at the bios of a lot of senior reserve officers, at least in the DC area, a ton of them work in the public sector in their civilian lives.

Also, just an aside, the Army Quartermaster Corps thought is kind of random. Why the QM Corps? Why did you go to law school if being a military officer is more important than being a lawyer? Why not just apply to the next JAG board? Just a thought.

[Roclandsfinest23]

List is up. Congrats everyone

[thxrho]

Got ARMY AD!!


Results are online at JARO. Congrats everyone! 282 primary; 82 alternates

[TheSpanishMain]

Congrats everyone who got in. I only applied to the Reserve board, but likely won't be taking it. But if anyone has questions about the USAR life, feel free to PM me.

[Anonymous User]

So I made it on as an alternate... What does that mean??

[Standish]

Accepted for Army Active Duty! Didn't get a phone call--only saw the list when it was posted this morning.

[Fletch.F.Fletch]

Accepted for Army Active Duty, got a call from my interviewer this morning. Anyone know the timeline for what's next? I'm a currently practicing attorney if that helps, and I have no physical infirmities other than needing to wear contacts.

[Anonymous User]

Just talked to my FSO about the alternate list - from my understanding, the Army typically picks up a lot from the alternate list - in fact the past few years they've picked up almost everyone - anyone know if this is accurate?