JAG offers cross training to officers

  • Published
  • By Maj. Christopher Schumann
  • 35th Fighter Wing Legal Office
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps will be accepting applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program beginning January 1, 2010 through March 1, 2010. 

"Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and commanders appreciate legal advisors with a variety of military experiences," said Lieutenant Colonel Mark Patterson, 35th Fighter Wing Staff Judge Advocate. "These two programs help ensure that the JAG Corps includes officers whose military experience complements their legal training." 

According to Colonel Patterson, judge advocates help thousands of military members, dependents, retirees and overseas civilians with their personal legal matters every day. Air Force judge advocates also serve as prosecutors and defense counsel in federal courts-martial trials throughout the world every day. 

In addition to legal assistance and trial advocacy, JAG officers routinely participate in nearly every aspect of the Air Force mission to include developing and acquiring weapons systems, ensuring availability of airspace and ranges where those systems are tested and operated. Jag also consults with commanders about how those systems are employed in combat, and assisting commanders in the day-to-day running of military installations around the world. 

"Every facet of every Air Force mission is bound by elements of the law," Lt Col Patterson said.

The FLEP is a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers. The FLEP is an assignment action, and participants receive full pay, allowances, and tuition. FLEP applicants must have between two and six years active duty service, and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the day they begin law school. The FLEP is subject to tuition limitations, and positions may be limited due to overall funding availability. The Air Force Institute of Technology tuition limit for fiscal year 2010 is expected to be set at approximately $16,000 per year. 

The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers. ELP participants do not receive pay and allowances, but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes. 

Applications for fiscal year 10 FLEP and ELP will be accepted from January 1, 2010 through March 1, 2010. Both the FLEP and ELP programs require attendance at an American Bar Association accredited law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law in the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, or a federal court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates. 

To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must have completed all application forms, applied to at least one ABA accredited law school, received their Law School Admissions Test results, and completed a Staff Judge Advocate interview by February 15, 2010. Completed applications will be forwarded by the interviewing legal office and are due to Air Force Judge Advocate Office of Professional Development by March 1, 2010. Officers must also provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. Selection for both programs is competitive.

Applications meet a selection board in early March, and selections are made based on a review of the application package using a "whole person" concept. Air Force Instruction 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3, discuss the FLEP and ELP. For more information and application materials, visit http://www.jagusaf.hq.af.mil/, or contact Maj. Chris Schumann at the base legal office at 226-4022.