News 2017

Sailors Challenging Reality and Educating Against Myths

May 5th, 2017

Legalman 2nd Class Ronald Forster, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan volunteered as the producer and official master of ceremonies of Sailors Challenging Reality and Educating Against Myths (SCREAM), a Sexual Assault Awareness program featuring volunteer Sailors performing skits intended to educate Sailors about sexual assault April 18-19. Legalman 2nd Class Ronald Forster, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan volunteered as the producer and official master of ceremonies of Sailors Challenging Reality and Educating …

RLSO EURAFSWA Hosts Mock Trial

May 2nd, 2017

Lt. Robert McRight, victim legal counsel, and Lt. Katharine Shumway, defense attorney, spearheaded a mock trial hosted in the Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (RLSO EURAFSWA) courtroom for 34 high school and middle school students from the Naples, Italy area on April 25.  Students from both the local Department of Defense high school and various local home school programs litigated a first degree murder trial acting as …

Humanitarian law in the fight against ISIS

April 28th, 2017

"Tactical training helps these men win the fight, but there is another side to war that they have never experienced,” said  Lt. Cmdr. Erin M. Baxter-Haynes, U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps. “LOAC sets the rules of conduct and expectations for military forces at war. The fighters from these tribes have primarily been on the receiving end of poor treatment from hostile forces, so this isn’t anything they would …

JAG and LN Reservists attend the Military Law Training Symposium West

April 25th, 2017

April 1, 2017 marked the 124pril 1, 2017 marked the 124th birthday of Navy chief petty officers. That same day, approximately 75 legalmen, 140 Reserve judge advocates (JAs) and 15 new Reserve JA accessions took part in the annual Military Law Training Symposium (MLTS) West in San Diego, Calif. The symposium kicked off on March 31 and wrapped up on April 2. birthday of Navy chief petty officers. …

Judge Advocate Takes an Icy Plunge for a Good Cause

April 14th, 2017

Lt. John Doyle, judge advocate assigned to Region Legal Service Office Northwest, left behind the gray skies of the Pacific Northwest for the icy waters of Lake Michigan on March 5, 2017. Every year, people like Doyle brave the near-freezing (and sometimes frozen) waters of Lake Michigan in an effort to raise money for Special Olympics Chicago. Lt. John Doyle, judge advocate assigned to Region Legal Service Office Northwest, left behind the …

NMCCA Hears Oral Argument at GMU

April 11th, 2017

The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) heard oral argument in U.S. v. Harris at George Mason University's (GMU) Antonin Scalia Law School on April 6. The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) heard oral argument in U.S. v. Harris at George Mason University's (GMU) Antonin Scalia Law School on April 6.

The The NMCCA is the intermediate appellate court for criminal convictions in the U.S. Navy and …

Enriching Experiences in Japan

April 7th, 2017

“What didn’t I learn?” That’s how Lt. Rachael Baker responded when asked what she gained from attending an orientation program at the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Feb. 28 to March 3. “What didn’t I learn?” That’s how Lt. Rachael Baker responded when asked what she gained from attending an orientation program at the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Feb. 28 to March 3.

Baker currently serves as …

Helping a Neighbor in Need

Helping a Neighbor in Need

April 7th, 2017

Last month, while leaving a restaurant on a cold afternoon in Waukegan, Ill., two JAG community members – Lt. Daniel Moore and LT. Daniel Phipps – noticed a woman in distress.They did what their sense of duty called them to do, what felt right – they did what their training equipped them to do. They immediately approached her and offered their assistance.

Moore and Phipps are first tour judge …

Senior Chief Legalman Robert Nail Retires After a 20 Year Career

April 6th, 2017

 Senior Chief Legalman Robert Nail (Surface Warfare/Aviation Warfare) retired at a ceremony held at Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Ill., after 20 years of service, 16 as a legalman, in the United States Navy on December 9, 2016. Nail had served as the senior enlisted leader for Region Legal Service Office Midwest (RLSO MW) since January 2013. Many of those who worked with him on base, including all RLSO MW …

Retirement Ceremony in Honor of Senior Chief Legalman Shannon W. Miller

April 4th, 2017

U.S. Navy Senior Chief Legalman Shannon W. Miller looked out at the gathering of friends, family, and colleagues and reminisced about his time in the Navy aboard USS Midway (CV-41) during his retirements ceremony in San Diego, Calif., Feb. 24, 2017. U.S. Navy Senior Chief Legalman Shannon W. Miller looked out at the gathering of friends, family, and colleagues and reminisced about his time in the Navy aboard USS Midway (CV-41) during …

Chief Selected for JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program

March 31st, 2017

The Fiscal Year 2017 Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) selection board met in February to consider 21 highly qualified applicants and selected Chief Electronics Technician Nuclear Josh Kinning. The Fiscal Year 2017 Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) selection board met in February to consider 21 highly qualified applicants and selected Chief Electronics Technician Nuclear Josh Kinning.

 The board used the “whole person” concept to identify …

DOJ Visits Naval Air Station Pensacola

March 30th, 2017

When they received word that Acting Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Thomas E. Wheeler would soon visit Naval Air Station Pensacola, the team at Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) sprang into action. When they received word that Acting Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Thomas E. Wheeler would soon visit Naval Air Station Pensacola, the team at Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) sprang into action.

Lt. Caitlin Howitt, staff …

RLSO Japan Hosts JCLA Mock Trial

March 28th, 2017

Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan hosted a Japanese Community Legal Association (JCLA)  mock-trial for Japanese students from Chuo University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies at the RLSO Japan Headquarters, Yokosuka, Japan on March 20, 2017. Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan hosted a Japanese Community Legal Association (JCLA)  mock-trial for Japanese students from Chuo University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies at the RLSO Japan Headquarters, Yokosuka, Japan on …

Naturalization and Immigration Day

March 24th, 2017

Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, SW Asia (RLSO EURAFSWA)  partnered with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the State Department (DOS) to hold a naturalization and immigration day in Naples, Italy on March 17.  partnered with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the State Department (DOS) to hold a naturalization and immigration day in Naples, Italy on March 17.

The day started with USCIS and DOS …

Judge Advocates Compete at WMD Winter Workshop and Teach WMD and the Law

March 16th, 2017

WMD Winter Workshop

Lt. Cmdr. Graham Winegeart, Region Legal Service Office Southeast and Lt. Ryan Sylvester, Fleet Cyber Command, recently attended the annual Lt. Cmdr. Graham Winegeart, Region Legal Service Office Southeast and Lt. Ryan Sylvester, Fleet Cyber Command, recently attended the annual National Defense University (NDU) Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction winter workshop in their capacity as members of the winter workshop in their capacity …

RLSO SE FTJAs Out to Sea Aboard USS New York (LPD 21)

March 14th, 2017

Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) first tour judge advocates – Lt. Katie Gorski, Lt. Alyssa Williams, Lt. Bobby Walsh and Lt. John Kelley – had the opportunity to go underway with the amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21) January 10-24, 2017. Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) first tour judge advocates – Lt. Katie Gorski, Lt. Alyssa Williams, Lt. Bobby Walsh and Lt. John Kelley …

IG Inspection Coordinators

March 3rd, 2017

Deputy Judge Advocate General Rear Adm. John Hannink -- alongside Capt. Gary Sharp, chief of staff of Naval Legal Services Command (NLSC) -- recently recognized three Sailors for their outstanding support during the Naval Inspector General inspection that took place in December 2016. Lt. Cmdr. Chris Swain, Lt. John White and Chief Legalman Karetta Bobbitt helped facilitate the routine inspection of NLSC, which was productive and yielded recommendations that will improve operations. Deputy Judge Advocate General …

Knowledge Management is Named a Best Practice

February 17th, 2017

The phrase “best practice” frequently is used by Navy and government leaders – and by executives in virtually every industry sector. But, what does it actually mean? Best practices are defined, quite simply, as techniques that have proven more effective than others. They are the result of what the Chief of Naval Operations calls “high-velocity learning” culture – an environment that encourages discovery and embraces new solutions. To paraphrase Thomas …

Legalman Named Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Shore Sailor of the Year

February 10th, 2017

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet (C3F) named Legalman 1st Class Kashetah Bedford the 2016 Shore Sailor of the Year. The award was announced during a ceremony held at the C3F headquarters building in San Diego, Jan. 24. Bedford, from Franklinton, La., attached to C3F as the fleet legal office leading petty officer, leads 11 Sailors spanning five diverse work centers and four different ratings. She is responsible for the organization and …

Navy JAG Community Reservists Gather for Leadership Meeting

February 9th, 2017

The 2017 Navy Reserve Law Program (RLP) Commanding Officer, Reserve Component Command (RCC) Staff Judge Advocate and Senior Leadership Training Symposium took place Jan. 27-29 in Newport, R.I.
 
The annual learning event convened the heads of the RLP’s three lines of operation, RCC staff judge advocates, 29 commanding officers, senior enlisted leaders and other senior leaders from around the globe. The RLP’s lines of operation are military justice; command services …