I realize two posts on the same day is a bit unusual given it’s been months since our last post; however, I keep running into people in the AF that recognize me as the Lowly Maggot, so I figure it’s about time I put up a couple posts about life as a JAG in the AF.
I have been assured one of the greatest assignments in the AF is as an Area Defense Counsel (ADC). The ADC is the base’s defense attorney. We are here to help Airmen of any rank when they get into trouble with their command. Sometimes they’re guilty as the day is long, and sometimes they are being railroaded… Either way, it is our job to help find a way to represent their best interests.
For example, when a young Airmen comes to me and tells me he doesn’t want to fight the charges and just wants to accept his punishment, it becomes my job to help him and help the commander understand who this person really is and how a punishment will effect them. It’s also a matter of demonstrating this young Airman just made a mistake, or had a moment of terrible judgment. If I’m doing my job, I help the commander or jury see the person they are judging and that almost always provides some additional level of justice.
I have been on the job for almost a month, and I’m loving it. I have my own office, which provides a new-found level of autonomy and responsibility. Of course a lawyer is always responsible to ensure they are competently representing their client, but in the ADC position, it is also your responsibility to ensure you are running an effective office and maintaining the respect the office deserves by those on base. The other blessing and curse of the ADC office is that we are completely independent from any commander at the base level. We respond to a JAG chain-of-command back in Washington DC. That means we aren’t pressured to convince our clients into a position because we fear reprisal from base level commanders. Our command independence also means we can easily be lost in the shuffle unless we are vocal and respected.
Being a JAG has been an outstanding experience. I’ve been in for about 2.5 years now, and it’s been awesome. I will try to be better about adding more posts in the future discussing what my career choice is all about.
