Military Law Forum

[psalom625]

Has any guidance been issued on how the OSTC will be staffed in the Army?

[Anonymous User]

Has any guidance been issued on how the OSTC will be staffed in the Army?

I don't know about internally or official guidance, but I do know those of us currently in the pipeline for DCC were advised if we had felony prosecution experience we could request an OSTC assignment and send our resume alongside our assignment worksheet.

[psalom625]

Has any guidance been issued on how the OSTC will be staffed in the Army?

I don't know about internally or official guidance, but I do know those of us currently in the pipeline for DCC were advised if we had felony prosecution experience we could request an OSTC assignment and send our resume alongside our assignment worksheet.

Ahh damn. Guess my internship with the DA's Office won't cut it.

[Anonymous User]

Been an AF JAG for 3 years now.

Do not apply for this job if you don’t want to work sex assault cases, sexual harassment cases, and child pornography (yes they will make you look at the images/videos as the prosecutor) cases as that’s almost exclusively what you’ll do for the first four years.

Just be cognizant of these things when applying.

[Bop]

Has any guidance been issued on how the OSTC will be staffed in the Army?

I don't know about internally or official guidance, but I do know those of us currently in the pipeline for DCC were advised if we had felony prosecution experience we could request an OSTC assignment and send our resume alongside our assignment worksheet.

Ahh damn. Guess my internship with the DA's Office won't cut it.

If it's something that you want to do, you have nothing to lose by putting your name out there and expressing interest. The powers that be don't know what you want to do unless you tell them and word travels FAST around the JAG Corps. Plant those seeds so they can grow down the line.

As to the staffing question above, generally, there are still tons of unknowns with OSTC. A few highlights of what we do know:

1. It'll be a long assignment; somewhere between 18 months and 3 years. Right now it is sounding like it'll be closer to that 3 year number.

2. They are phasing in Active Duty over the next 3 years so that everyone doesn't PCS out of OSTC at the same time. They will be filling the remaining slots with reservists in the short term.

3. While OSTC is still getting its feet off the ground, it looks like they are eyeing people with prior justice experience (either prior MJ jobs while in JAG, or prior criminal experience). CPT assignments have not been released yet, so we don't know for sure. We also have no way of knowing whether that will be a long term trend or not.

[Anonymous User]

Has any guidance been issued on how the OSTC will be staffed in the Army?

I don't know about internally or official guidance, but I do know those of us currently in the pipeline for DCC were advised if we had felony prosecution experience we could request an OSTC assignment and send our resume alongside our assignment worksheet.

Ahh damn. Guess my internship with the DA's Office won't cut it.

1. It'll be a long assignment; somewhere between 18 months and 3 years. Right now it is sounding like it'll be closer to that 3 year number.

So a lot of the answers, including what qualities they're looking for (experienced is definitely one of them) are here in this memo

https://dacipad.whs.mil/images/Public/0 ... b-x2et1oYq

But specifically to your point about time it says three years minimum. And can then be extended. Potentially indefinitely from the way I read it.

[Anonymous User]

I'm interested to see the effect that OSTC has on manpower requirements in the JAG Corps in general. Recruiting numbers are down, not sure about retention at the O-3/O-4 level but I would guess it correlates with recruitment. While I do not know to the extent mobilizations will be offered to RC/NG personnel within the OSTC directly, word is that there will be a significant increase in the amount of MOBs available next year to backfill the active duty personnel who get PCS'd to the OSTC. It will be an interesting time for the community.

[soccerplaer]

Long time lurker, a first time poster.

I will be applying to the AF July Boards for the first time.

I am currently a 2L at a school ranked in the 100's-130's.
I have a 3.35 gpa, top 45%. (terrible first semester but since have trended upward).
I am on the school's Mock Trial team.
I will try out for our school moot court team next fall and another mock trial team in the spring.

I have interned at USAO, DA, and a premier firm downtown.
I will intern with the AG and Court of Civil Appeal this summer.
I am hoping to extern with a Federal Judge in the fall.

I am not on a journal, but I have been published (also hoping my internships with judges will help).

URM NKJD Former All-American College Athlete

I wanted to get some feedback from folks on this thread. besides getting my grades up, what else can I do to make myself competitive?

[Anonymous User]

I am interested in the Navy JAG Student Program. In August of 2020 I was placed on anxiety medication after the covid reports of so many suicides through my mother’s encouragement and my confusion, potentially believing that taking the medication (lexapro then a month later escitalopram) would be safer. In May of 2021 I determined it was useless, as I had no change. I stopped taking it but never went to the doctor for documentation until July 2022, where I explained and had the doctor document that I had been fine and not taken/needed the medication since May 2021. On the Navy website, it says that anxiety is non-waiverable. Is this accurate? Is this the case for all branches? If accepted into the student program when will I attend MEPS? Will this disqualify me?

https://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/caree ... s_2018.pdf

[Patrick Bateman]

Long time lurker, a first time poster.

I will be applying to the AF July Boards for the first time.

I am currently a 2L at a school ranked in the 100's-130's.
I have a 3.35 gpa, top 45%. (terrible first semester but since have trended upward).
I am on the school's Mock Trial team.
I will try out for our school moot court team next fall and another mock trial team in the spring.

I have interned at USAO, DA, and a premier firm downtown.
I will intern with the AG and Court of Civil Appeal this summer.
I am hoping to extern with a Federal Judge in the fall.

I am not on a journal, but I have been published (also hoping my internships with judges will help).

URM NKJD Former All-American College Athlete

I wanted to get some feedback from folks on this thread. besides getting my grades up, what else can I do to make myself competitive?

There is not really much to offer given all this. You have some strong elements and with a few weaker elements as an applicant. You are working in the right direction on all the stuff you can control.

Read up on the posts over the the years on the SJA interview.

[Anonymous User]

On the Navy website, it says that anxiety is non-waiverable. Is this accurate? Is this the case for all branches? If accepted into the student program when will I attend MEPS? Will this disqualify me?

https://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/caree ... s_2018.pdf

Are you sure the Navy regulation says that anxiety is non-waiverable? It says that "History of psychiatric disorders such as mood, personality, conduct, or behavior disorder" is generally considered waiverable. The regulation does talk about about non-waiverable psychiatric disorders, which includes "eating disorders" like "anorexia." Is it possible you misread that as anxiety?

Medical qualification for all branches has a two step process.
- In step one, a DOD-level entity (some services use MEPS, others use DODMBERB) will read all your medical records and give you a physical. They'll compare what they found to this 60-page medical regulation that applies DOD-wide https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Docu ... 3_vol1.PDF (separate from the Navy-specific regulation you linked above). If nothing from your physical or your medical records matches any of the conditions in the regulation, you're medically "qualified" and you don't need to do step two.
- If something in your physical or your medical records did match the regulation, then you become medically "disqualified." That's a misleading term because it doesn't stop you from joining. It just means you move to step two.
- Remember that the medical regulation is designed for 17-year-old teenagers enlisting for the first time, not mid-20s law students and early 30s lawyers applying for a JAG commission. And simple things can be disqualifying: for instance, "Asymmetry of pupil size greater than 2 mm." (Anxiety disorders are sometimes disqualifying and sometimes not. Read the regulation for details.) Someone at one of the branches told me that almost 19/20 of their JAG selects gets "disqualified," but that doesn't stop them from continuing to step two. If you are disqualified, don't panic.
- In step two, you apply to your service branch for a "waiver" of your disqualification. This is where you show your service branch that whatever medical issue you have or had doesn't affect you that much or at all. For instance, could the medical issue cause you trouble if you're deployed to a faraway place with no hospitals or medical care? Will any treatment/management require time away from your military duties? Will the medical issue impact your service in other ways, by (for instance) requiring dietary restrictions or a medical device (like a pacemaker)? Will the medical issue impact your ability to meet the physical fitness standards? Will your medical issue put others at risk (i.e., is it contagious)? Will military service aggravate the issue in a way that civilian life wouldn't? For an anxiety disorder, the answer to many of these questions is obviously "no."
- Each service branch makes its own waiver decision, so the same medical condition might get waived by one branch but not another. But all the branches look for essentially the same thing--should this medical issue preclude this applicant from joining?
- Waiver decisions can vary based on recruitment: if a branch is meeting or exceeding its recruitment goals, the branch can afford to be more selective about the medical qualifications of its applicants. But right now, recruitment is at a 50-year low https://about.bgov.com/news/us-military ... -50-years/, so the waiver authorities can't afford to be picky.
- If your branch approves your waiver request, you can join--even though you've been "disqualified" at step one. If your branch denies your waiver request, you can't join that branch, but you can still apply to another branch's JAG Corps and if selected for a commission, request a medical waiver from that branch.

[Jrt]

On the Navy website, it says that anxiety is non-waiverable. Is this accurate? Is this the case for all branches? If accepted into the student program when will I attend MEPS? Will this disqualify me?

https://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/caree ... s_2018.pdf

Are you sure the Navy regulation says that anxiety is non-waiverable? It says that "History of psychiatric disorders such as mood, personality, conduct, or behavior disorder" is generally considered waiverable. The regulation does talk about about non-waiverable psychiatric disorders, which includes "eating disorders" like "anorexia." Is it possible you misread that as anxiety?

Medical qualification for all branches has a two step process.
- In step one, a DOD-level entity (some services use MEPS, others use DODMBERB) will read all your medical records and give you a physical. They'll compare what they found to this 60-page medical regulation that applies DOD-wide https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Docu ... 3_vol1.PDF (separate from the Navy-specific regulation you linked above). If nothing from your physical or your medical records matches any of the conditions in the regulation, you're medically "qualified" and you don't need to do step two.
- If something in your physical or your medical records did match the regulation, then you become medically "disqualified." That's a misleading term because it doesn't stop you from joining. It just means you move to step two.
- Remember that the medical regulation is designed for 17-year-old teenagers enlisting for the first time, not mid-20s law students and early 30s lawyers applying for a JAG commission. And simple things can be disqualifying: for instance, "Asymmetry of pupil size greater than 2 mm." (Anxiety disorders are sometimes disqualifying and sometimes not. Read the regulation for details.) Someone at one of the branches told me that almost 19/20 of their JAG selects gets "disqualified," but that doesn't stop them from continuing to step two. If you are disqualified, don't panic.
- In step two, you apply to your service branch for a "waiver" of your disqualification. This is where you show your service branch that whatever medical issue you have or had doesn't affect you that much or at all. For instance, could the medical issue cause you trouble if you're deployed to a faraway place with no hospitals or medical care? Will any treatment/management require time away from your military duties? Will the medical issue impact your service in other ways, by (for instance) requiring dietary restrictions or a medical device (like a pacemaker)? Will the medical issue impact your ability to meet the physical fitness standards? Will your medical issue put others at risk (i.e., is it contagious)? Will military service aggravate the issue in a way that civilian life wouldn't? For an anxiety disorder, the answer to many of these questions is obviously "no."
- Each service branch makes its own waiver decision, so the same medical condition might get waived by one branch but not another. But all the branches look for essentially the same thing--should this medical issue preclude this applicant from joining?
- Waiver decisions can vary based on recruitment: if a branch is meeting or exceeding its recruitment goals, the branch can afford to be more selective about the medical qualifications of its applicants. But right now, recruitment is at a 50-year low https://about.bgov.com/news/us-military ... -50-years/, so the waiver authorities can't afford to be picky.
- If your branch approves your waiver request, you can join--even though you've been "disqualified" at step one. If your branch denies your waiver request, you can't join that branch, but you can still apply to another branch's JAG Corps and if selected for a commission, request a medical waiver from that branch.

Thank you very much for this guidance. It was my fault, I use the words anxiety and panic disorder interchangeably sometimes which is wrong on my part. The link had stated “panic disorder” as disqualifying. Regardless, your information was very inspiring and insightful. I want you to know this response means a lot to me and the path I hope to pursue. Thank you.

[Anonymous User]

Done some searching, but figured I would just post here for specific and less-dated advice.

I am interested in joining the JAG Reserves/NG(?) through direct commission, which presumably means only the Army or Air Force is a possibility.

For background, I am a recent graduate of a T-6 school, and I will be clerking through 2024, so I have some time to prepare. Graduated magna cum laude, if that helps at all, but I don't expect that it does. I spent my 1L summer at a government internship and a biglaw firm and 2L summer in biglaw.

Ideally, I'd like to try and balance doing biglaw with the reserves, with a move into a government position after a few years. I will be working in DC (which is also where my wife will be working), which I suspect is somewhat more friendly to reservists carrying out their duties. In the best case scenario, I would do the 16+ week training post-clerkship, but before joining my law firm, although I am aware the military has their own schedules and you just have to roll with it.

My main questions are:
1. Is this remotely feasible, or should I try and work for a few years in biglaw before trying -- or just give up on the idea at all? I will be 31 in 2024, which is why I believe I may need to push the issue before age waivers become a concern.

2. I do have medical concerns. I've always been interested in giving back to the country, but spent a significant part of my 20s recovering from various football-related injuries (torn ACL, dislocated shoulder, etc). Would getting a waiver for these be a major impediment as a direct commission JAG? I believe I can easily pass the physical fitness standards right now - I graded myself at about a 540 on the ACFT (if anyone thinks another MOS would be a good idea over JAG specifically, I'm not opposed to exploring other opportunities in the reserves).

3. Is trying to balance biglaw and JAG responsibilities just a poor idea in general? I believe I have an excellent reputation at my 2L summer firm, and they would probably be amenable to negotiating a reduced hour requirement/comparably reduced bonus, but if anyone has any recent knowledge or advice about getting one of these types of arrangements, I would love to know.

4. Anything else I should be aware of?

[ubersaurusrex]

First, the Air Force generally does not hire new attorneys directly into the reserves. You can start applying, but I wouldn't expect to be strongly considered until at least several years into practice. I believe that the Army is less picky about that.

You only need to commission before you turn 39 in the Air Force, so you still have plenty of time to get some experience under your belt. You'll go through a medical exam once selected and we really can't give you a probability on how likely they would need or grant a waiver. I think your firm culture will have a large impact on how they view your reserve status. See if they have a veterans diversity committee or if there are other JAGs in the firm you could talk to.

Done some searching, but figured I would just post here for specific and less-dated advice.

I am interested in joining the JAG Reserves/NG(?) through direct commission, which presumably means only the Army or Air Force is a possibility.

For background, I am a recent graduate of a T-6 school, and I will be clerking through 2024, so I have some time to prepare. Graduated magna cum laude, if that helps at all, but I don't expect that it does. I spent my 1L summer at a government internship and a biglaw firm and 2L summer in biglaw.

Ideally, I'd like to try and balance doing biglaw with the reserves, with a move into a government position after a few years. I will be working in DC (which is also where my wife will be working), which I suspect is somewhat more friendly to reservists carrying out their duties. In the best case scenario, I would do the 16+ week training post-clerkship, but before joining my law firm, although I am aware the military has their own schedules and you just have to roll with it.

My main questions are:
1. Is this remotely feasible, or should I try and work for a few years in biglaw before trying -- or just give up on the idea at all? I will be 31 in 2024, which is why I believe I may need to push the issue before age waivers become a concern.

2. I do have medical concerns. I've always been interested in giving back to the country, but spent a significant part of my 20s recovering from various football-related injuries (torn ACL, dislocated shoulder, etc). Would getting a waiver for these be a major impediment as a direct commission JAG? I believe I can easily pass the physical fitness standards right now - I graded myself at about a 540 on the ACFT (if anyone thinks another MOS would be a good idea over JAG specifically, I'm not opposed to exploring other opportunities in the reserves).

3. Is trying to balance biglaw and JAG responsibilities just a poor idea in general? I believe I have an excellent reputation at my 2L summer firm, and they would probably be amenable to negotiating a reduced hour requirement/comparably reduced bonus, but if anyone has any recent knowledge or advice about getting one of these types of arrangements, I would love to know.

4. Anything else I should be aware of?

[Anonymous User]

First, the Air Force generally does not hire new attorneys directly into the reserves. You can start applying, but I wouldn't expect to be strongly considered until at least several years into practice. I believe that the Army is less picky about that.

You only need to commission before you turn 39 in the Air Force, so you still have plenty of time to get some experience under your belt. You'll go through a medical exam once selected and we really can't give you a probability on how likely they would need or grant a waiver. I think your firm culture will have a large impact on how they view your reserve status. See if they have a veterans diversity committee or if there are other JAGs in the firm you could talk to.

Yeah I figured Air Force was going to be quite difficult, ah well. It is good to know that I do have a bit of time. Does clerking for 2 years still make you a new attorney to the military? It's fine if that's the case, and very understandable that they want real trial experience, just interested in the answer.

[ubersaurusrex]

Yeah I figured Air Force was going to be quite difficult, ah well. It is good to know that I do have a bit of time. Does clerking for 2 years still make you a new attorney to the military? It's fine if that's the case, and very understandable that they want real trial experience, just interested in the answer.

2 years clerking is a good start, but it really just depends. I will say that the Air Force generally likes seeing people apply multiple times even after they've been rejected once. It shows that you're actually interested in the position and not just looking for any job. So no harm in applying after the clerkship and again another year later

[Anonymous User]

Yeah I figured Air Force was going to be quite difficult, ah well. It is good to know that I do have a bit of time. Does clerking for 2 years still make you a new attorney to the military? It's fine if that's the case, and very understandable that they want real trial experience, just interested in the answer.

2 years clerking is a good start, but it really just depends. I will say that the Air Force generally likes seeing people apply multiple times even after they've been rejected once. It shows that you're actually interested in the position and not just looking for any job. So no harm in applying after the clerkship and again another year later

Thanks! I'll take a swing at it anyway, with Army JAG, probably at the start of 2024, and just see how the process shakes out.

[Anonymous User]

Hello all,

Is anyone else’s Army JAG application for the spring board still saying “under completeness review”

Just want to make sure this is accepted and presented to the board in time.

[Anonymous User]

Just cleared medical for Army Jag Reserves (was selected Nov/Dec 2022). I was wondering if any other applicants on here know if they are currently slotting for August 2023, or if it’s on January 2024 or beyond. Also if anyone knows, do recruits typically start drilling monthly prior to going off to OCS and Charlottesville (and if so, is it an ASAP things, or just some months prior to shipping out) Just seeing if I have to rearrange some weekend trips I planned this summer. Appreciate any info!

[Anonymous User]

Just cleared medical for Army Jag Reserves (was selected Nov/Dec 2022). I was wondering if any other applicants on here know if they are currently slotting for August 2023, or if it’s on January 2024 or beyond. Also if anyone knows, do recruits typically start drilling monthly prior to going off to OCS and Charlottesville (and if so, is it an ASAP things, or just some months prior to shipping out) Just seeing if I have to rearrange some weekend trips I planned this summer. Appreciate any info!

It depends on whether you are a barred attorney? Those of us starting in Jan 2024 are the ones who are taking the bar in July 2023. I think if you are already barred you can reach out and see if you can go early. I remember asking if I could go in august and they were pretty much on board until they realized my bar exam is July 2023 and accordingly wouldn’t be licensed in time.

[Anonymous User]

Already barred for some years now. I'm preferring to go in January 2024 just for work and life purposes, so wasn't sure if they try to make you go asap, or if there was some wiggle room as to choosing between different slot times. I've heard after medical clearance things tend to move quickly, so just trying to have a plan in place.

[Khamisi16]

Already barred for some years now. I'm preferring to go in January 2024 just for work and life purposes, so wasn't sure if they try to make you go asap, or if there was some wiggle room as to choosing between different slot times. I've heard after medical clearance things tend to move quickly, so just trying to have a plan in place.

okay well I would reach out and let them know you want to start Jan 2024, otherwise they may just slate you for august.

[Khamisi16]

Anyone hear back from Navy JAG Student Program Application? The application closed March 6, 2023.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any info on becoming a Special Assistant United State's Attorney (SAUSA) as a JAG? Is it only on certain bases? Only for certain branches? Is it something you can apply for once you're a JAG?
It seems like the perfect step to eventually becoming a ASUA.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any info on becoming a Special Assistant United State's Attorney (SAUSA) as a JAG? Is it only on certain bases? Only for certain branches? Is it something you can apply for once you're a JAG?
It seems like the perfect step to eventually becoming a ASUA.

I've been a JAG and am currently an AUSA in a large east coast office. My view of JAG-SAUSAs changed quite a bit when my perspective did.

As a JAG, I saw those positions as something to reach for, and thought they would be a good stepping stone to a career in DOJ.

As an AUSA, I think that you're far better off dedicating time to working felony UCMJ cases instead of petty misdemeanor civilian violations.

Being a JAG shows that you're interested in public service; felony case experience will showcase your abilities more than handling some dependent who drove 5mph over the limit.