Military Law Forum

[Backload]

Can anyone clarify if the Statement of Intent is binding? I assume Army uses it to weed out folks who have taken other jobs or are pursuing other options, but I'd like a little certainty as to when I'm signing my life over. Appreciate any insights.

Also, does anyone know if we get location assignments prior to training/incurring a service commitment?

Non-binding. You still have to pass medical and security clearance. Once that is done you'll talk over assignment locations then be offered one and then sign on the dotted line.

[jagnut]

Prior service 0L here....Beginning LS this fall and extremely interested in becoming a JAG officer. Any advice for incoming law students to become more competitive? Also, is it possible to transition from 3L to active duty following the summer bar exams?? Curious how to make that transition without having to take a job that I plan on leaving a few months later. Any advice would be much appreciated!

I'd start with reading every page of this forum. This is the best source of information out there -period- although it takes some patience to sift through and find exactly what you are looking for. The honorable Patrick Bateman posted a lot of gold over the years. It also very much depends on which branch you'd like to pursue. I am prior service AF, and was hired by AF JAG as a 1L, so that's really all I can speak to. If you have no interest in Air Force, or going the GLP/OYCP AFROTC route, then no need to read further. But if an aspiring AF JAG happens upon this, I'll summarize my process since I feel like I owe a lot to this forum.

1) Don't be overweight. If you are- use the summer to slim down. 2) Don't have a bad prior service record. Being prior service is a double edged sword. It can help, but only if your record is clean. For the AF, I had to furnish all EPRs and thankfully they were clean. If you have any minor black marks be ready to explain them. 3) Most people will just say focus on your studies, but since your first potential interview is still about a year away (if you pursue AF)- it actually wouldn't hurt to try and gain some leadership experience over the summer or at your job now. You will likely be asked examples of when you were a leader, and how you handled situations. It's a little awkward when you don't have leadership experience and makes it hard for the interviewer to write a glowing recommendation. 4) Start to figure out 5-7 people you could get a LoR from- track down old supervisors and old commanders if you can. I probably wouldn't reach out to them just yet- but you'll eventually need 5 letters so it doesn't hurt to keep a list. If you are prior service and none of your LoR's are from military folk, that would look odd. 5) Once the semester starts, forget about JAG and focus on your classes. You can join some clubs that interest you or that relate to criminal justice, but your grades and writing sample will be more important.

If you want to pursue AF JAG, then apply January of 1L year for the Graduate Law Program. Even though the GLP and OYCP are more selective then regular accessions, applying and showing legitimate interest as a 1L can only help you down the road. Also, the earlier you apply, the less law school accomplishments they can expect from you. The usual advice is do everything crim and court related as possible, but when you interview January of 1L, those questions are easy because you will have no experience. The application is online and opens sometime in the fall. Find it and open it up to see all the requirements, but you can do much of that work over winter break. 6) Around October/November things heat up with classes, but start to collect your LoRs and transcripts. I waited too late for a few things and had to do some begging and pleading in early Jan to hit the deadline- don't be that guy. 7) Also around that time reach out to the local ROTC detachment and schedule an interview with the CC. He/she will have to agree to accept you if you are selected and they will give their recommendation. It's important- be humble. 8.) Figure out the exact deadline for the application and get everything submitted on time. For advice on the personal statement- the JAG wants officers first and lawyers second- express that sentiment, assuming you mean it. They evaluate each candidate using the "whole person" concept. That makes advice hard to give- just be well rounded. Hopefully you are generally likable. 9) After you submit the package online, you will either receive a phone call from the nearest base (or the one you chose) or you will reach out to them to schedule an interview with the SJAG. Expect a long, in-depth interview, but nothing crazy. They will use that interview to write a report/recommendation. Then you wait about 6-8 weeks to find out if you were selected. 2 years ago they selected 7 GLP and 11 OYCP across the country. I don't know how many applied.

If you go through the GLP/OYCP, you will get orders once you get (passing) bar results back and as long as medical goes smoothly, you shouldn't need another "real" job. If you are lucky you can sneak into the Fall JASOC (tech school) but more likely you'll go to the March one, but many receive AD orders in the fall and work several months before TDYing to JASOC. If you are hired as a 3L, I believe you will likely go active duty at COT in January/Feb that next year, so you'll only need a job to the extent you need to survive until then. Again, this is Air Force. I've heard the Army has longer waiting time.

Good luck!

[Patrick Bateman]

For any recent AF COT graduates - do any of you have the most recent COT uniform checklist handy? I am helping a co-worker knock out his uniform purchases a head of time and a search of the AU site shows a couple different versions of the checklist.

From what I have found, this one looks the most on point:

http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/ ... cklist.pdf

If there is a more recent copy, please shoot me an email at Illini.JAG@gmail.com

[macgruber]

For those in the Army JAG who may know,

Is Korea a possible first assignment for Army JAGs?

[Standish]

For those in the Army JAG who may know,

Is Korea a possible first assignment for Army JAGs?

Yes. Someone posted on Reddit here: https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/ ... h=2ef59eea asking about whether he should go to Korea for his first JAG assignment.

[macgruber]

Thanks alot Standish. Very helpful.

[Roclandsfinest23]

Is there a list that we can look at for AD Army locations? Or does that change year to year based on needs of the various bases?

Wanted to just take a look at the options that we were going to be presented with. I would assume its similar to what I had to fill out for the 2L internship

[Standish]

Is there a list that we can look at for AD Army locations? Or does that change year to year based on needs of the various bases?

Wanted to just take a look at the options that we were going to be presented with. I would assume its similar to what I had to fill out for the 2L internship

I would guess it changes from year to year. Someone on Reddit posted the options from the most recent year: https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/ ... h=816043c7

[Roclandsfinest23]

Is there a list that we can look at for AD Army locations? Or does that change year to year based on needs of the various bases?

Wanted to just take a look at the options that we were going to be presented with. I would assume its similar to what I had to fill out for the 2L internship

I would guess it changes from year to year. Someone on Reddit posted the options from the most recent year: https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/ ... h=816043c7

Very helpful! Thanks

[Anonymous User]

There is really almost no point in attempting to forecast what is available. The list posted on Reddit lists just about every possible destination in the Army - which is pretty typical of the way the Army assigns all officers to their first duty location.

I would guess with the way that JAG rotates their personnel, that the list will remain the just about the same year after year - what will change based on the year is the likelihood of getting a given assignment.

[Roclandsfinest23]

There is really almost no point in attempting to forecast what is available. The list posted on Reddit lists just about every possible destination in the Army - which is pretty typical of the way the Army assigns all officers to their first duty location.

I would guess with the way that JAG rotates their personnel, that the list will remain the just about the same year after year - what will change based on the year is the likelihood of getting a given assignment.

Agreed. Just looking for something to read other than these barbri outlines for the bar lol

[theorangewon]

Anyone have info about USMC summer internships or Navy JAG? Want to know what I need to be doing to prepare to apply for an internship with them.

[JackSparrow123]

Both Air Force and Army JAG select here. Anyone heard back from Air Force JAG about medical interviews yet? I know the practicing attorneys get to go first but was wondering if any current law students had already gone through the medical interview.

[Anonymous User]

I was offered Army JAG 2017, but because of existing obligations, I had to decline (had accepted a 2-year position before Army offer came in). The recruiter then offered to move me to 2018, to which I said yes and asked that he send me some sort of written confirmation of the change. I sent back the requisite spreadsheets and such, but never heard anything else.
He is non-responsive to multiple emails, does not answer his phone, and his voicemail is full. Last week I received an email about getting ready to schedule for OPAT, but it seems like it was intended for 2017 accessions.

Any advice? I have begun applying to 2018 D.Ct. clerkships in case this falls through for me, but other than that I am concerned about being left high and dry.

[Anonymous User]

Above poster - It seems like your recruiter is being non-responsive to lots of folks. Maybe contact JARO directly? Army does allow you to defer your commission, so you should be good.

Based on earlier posts, it sounds like the Army has already contacted those that were selected last month. Is this right? I haven't heard anything since submitting the statement of intent several weeks ago.

[Anonymous User]

I'm an Army select as well, and have yet to hear back from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

[pzpzhops2]

Both Air Force and Army JAG select here. Anyone heard back from Air Force JAG about medical interviews yet? I know the practicing attorneys get to go first but was wondering if any current law students had already gone through the medical interview.

As far as the initial interview with the Air Force recruiter, you are supposed to contact him to schedule an interview.

[thxrho]

I'm an Army select as well, and have yet to hear back from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

I'm a practicing attorney and Army AD select. Practicing attorneys were given the option to attempt to join the May 2017 JAOBC, provided they could meet all of the deadlines in an expedited fashion. Emails related to this are the only communication I've had from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

Anon, are you a 3L? If so, it seems they are working to fill the May JAOBC class before they move on to current students.

[frankbeans]

Thxrho, yes, I'm a current 3L.

[Anonymous User]

I'm an Army select as well, and have yet to hear back from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

I'm a practicing attorney and Army AD select. Practicing attorneys were given the option to attempt to join the May 2017 JAOBC, provided they could meet all of the deadlines in an expedited fashion. Emails related to this are the only communication I've had from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

Anon, are you a 3L? If so, it seems they are working to fill the May JAOBC class before they move on to current students.

I'm an Army Alternate Reserve Select, practicing attorney and I haven't received anything since SOI. I assume because I'm an alternate I didn't get the May JAOBC emails.

[Anonymous User]

I'm an Army select as well, and have yet to hear back from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

I'm a practicing attorney and Army AD select. Practicing attorneys were given the option to attempt to join the May 2017 JAOBC, provided they could meet all of the deadlines in an expedited fashion. Emails related to this are the only communication I've had from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

Anon, are you a 3L? If so, it seems they are working to fill the May JAOBC class before they move on to current students.

I'm an Army Alternate Reserve Select, practicing attorney and I haven't received anything since SOI. I assume because I'm an alternate I didn't get the May JAOBC emails.

I am a practicing attorney and an Army Reserve Select. I have not heard anything since submitting my letter of intent.

[JackSparrow123]

Both Air Force and Army JAG select here. Anyone heard back from Air Force JAG about medical interviews yet? I know the practicing attorneys get to go first but was wondering if any current law students had already gone through the medical interview.

As far as the initial interview with the Air Force recruiter, you are supposed to contact him to schedule an interview.

I have already tried to contact the recruiter, but he has not responded to my requests yet.

[pzpzhops2]

Both Air Force and Army JAG select here. Anyone heard back from Air Force JAG about medical interviews yet? I know the practicing attorneys get to go first but was wondering if any current law students had already gone through the medical interview.

As far as the initial interview with the Air Force recruiter, you are supposed to contact him to schedule an interview.

I have already tried to contact the recruiter, but he has not responded to my requests yet.

It is my understanding that he recently switched offices, could have been lost in the shuffle. Maybe give it another shot with the updated contact information if you haven't already.

[ML0576]

I'm an Army select as well, and have yet to hear back from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

I'm a practicing attorney and Army AD select. Practicing attorneys were given the option to attempt to join the May 2017 JAOBC, provided they could meet all of the deadlines in an expedited fashion. Emails related to this are the only communication I've had from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

Anon, are you a 3L? If so, it seems they are working to fill the May JAOBC class before they move on to current students.

I'm an Army Alternate Reserve Select, practicing attorney and I haven't received anything since SOI. I assume because I'm an alternate I didn't get the May JAOBC emails.

I am a practicing attorney and an Army Reserve Select. I have not heard anything since submitting my letter of intent.

Me neither. I think we are supposed to get more information in the next 2-3 weeks. Is it on the table that we could go to training in May? The offer letter and SOI seemed to suggest that the earliest we could head to training was October, right?

[professorvoltron]

I'm an Army select as well, and have yet to hear back from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

I'm a practicing attorney and Army AD select. Practicing attorneys were given the option to attempt to join the May 2017 JAOBC, provided they could meet all of the deadlines in an expedited fashion. Emails related to this are the only communication I've had from JARO since submitting my Statement of Intent.

Anon, are you a 3L? If so, it seems they are working to fill the May JAOBC class before they move on to current students.

I'm an Army Alternate Reserve Select, practicing attorney and I haven't received anything since SOI. I assume because I'm an alternate I didn't get the May JAOBC emails.

I am a practicing attorney and an Army Reserve Select. I have not heard anything since submitting my letter of intent.

Me neither. I think we are supposed to get more information in the next 2-3 weeks. Is it on the table that we could go to training in May? The offer letter and SOI seemed to suggest that the earliest we could head to training was October, right?

From what I understand, if you can get your ducks in a row early (like DODMERB, Security Clearance, Bar Exam) then you can likely proceed to the earlier class. However, if you are Army Reserve, then Army can take 3-6 months in assigning you to your reserve unit. That is as best as I know.