You have a strong handle on how the first four years will generally go.ShortTimeLurker wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 4:33 pmI've been lurking this thread for years and I'm finally a rising 3L getting ready to apply to the JAG Corps. I could use some guidance on picking a branch. Shoutout to ya'll for the knowledge, especially Patrick.
I interned with both the Air Force and Army JAG Corps. I want to join to get national security law (operations law) experience and then move to something like the DOD Office of General Counsel's International Affairs Division. (Or any similar agency that advises on national security law.)
I know that the Air Force makes everyone a generalist - prosecuting cases, legal assistance, and miscellaneous administrative law issues. I like that because I like the idea of some practice diversity, and I enjoy trial advocacy a lot. As I understand it, when they notice you're good at something they start throwing more of that at you. I have been advised to be patient for those opportunities and seek assignments at bases with a heavier operational focus, like Hurlburt.
In the Army, I know that you usually start by doing legal assistance for the first year and nothing else. After that you do what you're told, but I hear the Army has more need of national security law practice and has a few NSL-dedicated shops, including in the Pentagon. I'll also admit jump school is a teenage fantasy of mine. But I'm worried about getting stuck in jobs I don't like.
Any thoughts?
You will likely get to dip your toe into the International Law/Ops Law world sooner at one of the SOWs - 1 SOW at Hurlburt is great for one of your first two assignments. There are also the smaller SOWs at RAF Mildenhall and Kadena AB, which usually have a senior O-3 or junior O-4 as the SJA, which can be an outstanding opportunity. I would also gun for the International Law LLM at that senior O-3 level, which will have some form of ops centric follow-on assignment (though that can also mean teaching the subject at the JAG School or USAFA).
You can also explore staff assignments in JAO, the operations law directorate, which covers everything from cyber to space, as well as AFSOC HQ, and some COCOM options.
We only have one jump billet - as noted by the poster above, Fayetteville on the Army side is your best path to that badge.
Good luck!