News

Sailors in Singapore Take Creative Approach to SAPR Training Through Pure Praxis

February 5th, 2016

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Sailors and Department of Defense (DoD) personnel assigned to Navy Region Singapore took a creative approach to learning about Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Dec. 11, through their observations and interaction with the Pure Praxis performing arts group.

Pure Praxis is a socially adaptive performance group that emphasizes scenario-based audience participation as part of their presentations on SAPR and other social issues. The scenarios compel audience …

2015 Legalman of the Year and Naval Legal Service Command Sailor of the Year

January 29th, 2016

 The 2015 Legalman of the Year and Naval Legal Service Command Sailor of the Year were announced during a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, Jan. 29.  The 2015 Legalman of the Year and Naval Legal Service Command Sailor of the Year were announced during a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, Jan. 29.

Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Calvin Gordon, from Saint Petersburg, Fla., was named the 2015 Legalman of …

U.S., Brazilian, and Chilean Judge Advocates Participate in UNITAS 2015

January 25th, 2016

Three judge advocates traveled to Valparaiso, Chile and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to support U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet UNITAS Atlantic and UNITAS Pacific exercises this fall.

Lt. Elan Ghazal, deputy fleet judge advocate at U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, acted as the staff judge advocate for the Multi-National Force Commander and combined exercise control group in Chile and Brazil. Lt. Dave Welch, staff judge advocate at …

NECC celebrates MLK Day

January 22nd, 2016

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) celebrated the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in Virginia Beach, Jan. 14. Pastor Joseph Fleming, who currently serves as the Chair of the Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial Commemoration Service, served as the guest speaker and echoed the civil rights leaders’ timeless thoughts that “the world works better together than apart.” VIRGINIA BEACH, …

Sasebo Career Fair

January 21st, 2016

Lt. Joseph Horton, legal assistance attorney at Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan's Branch Office in Sasebo, Japan, recently joined several professional representatives at the 2015 E.J. King High School Career Day in Sasebo, Japan. Lt. Joseph Horton, legal assistance attorney at Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan's Branch Office in Sasebo, Japan, recently joined several professional representatives at the 2015 E.J. King High School Career Day in Sasebo, Japan. …

Service to School

January 19th, 2016

Lt. j.g. Joshua Fiveson spends his free time helping lead Service to School, a non-profit that provides free, peer-to-peer admissions counseling to active, inactive, and retired U.S. military service members. As one of the organization’s directors, Fiveson recently planned and led the group's national “Admission Accomplished” conference in Washington, D.C., which featured retired U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, as a keynote speaker.

Drawing attendees from across the nation, the event hosted top universities …

RLSO MIDLANT Hosts Retiree Will Workshop

January 12th, 2016

Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic (RLSO MIDLANT) hosted a will workshop for local area retirees on December 4, 2015.  During this event, RLSO MIDLANT attorneys conducted estate planning intakes for 53 retirees and their spouses.  Two weeks later, RLSO MIDLANT attorneys and staff executed over 50 sets of estate planning documents for these retirees just in time for the holiday season.

RLSO MIDLANT understands the challenges that retirees …

Basketball Tournament Brings Toys for Tots

January 5th, 2016

Each of the four teams in the basketball tournament wanted to win, but they all agreed that the day was about the kids.  Everyone at the gym could see it in the boxes of toys piled in the court’s corner.

“We’re excited about how much support we’ve gotten, and we hope this grows even bigger next year,” said Marine Corps Col. Daniel Lecce, assistant judge advocate general for military law. …

Navy JAG Corps Continues to Build A Diverse and Highly Qualified Team

December 8th, 2015

Recruiting the right team is the foundation of a successful future for our Corps. Building a JAG Corps that is rich in integrity, quality, and diversity is only possible through sustained involvement with law students and leaders in the legal community. Your superb efforts make the Navy JAG Corps an employer of choice, as evidenced by the results of the most recent accession selection board.

This board professionally recommended 48 …

NLSC Junior Officer of the Quarter and Sailor of the Quarter

December 8th, 2015

It is my distinct pleasure to recognize outstanding judge advocates and Legalmen for professional excellence and dedication to service. The following individuals have been selected as the Naval Legal Service Command Junior Officer of the Quarter and Sailor of the Quarter for the period of July through September 2015:

Junior Officer of the Quarter: Congratulations to Lt. Kate E. Tanner, assigned to Region Legal Service Office Northwest, Bremerton, Washington. During …

Impacting Diversity with Tradition

November 5th, 2015

In 2009, Lt. Tashinda Glover organized a breakfast at Spelman College to kick-off the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead's tour of Spelman and Morehouse Colleges.

During my short time in the U.S. Navy, I have come to know that tradition is essential to our organization. When I think of organizations that value tradition as much as the Navy, I think of Spelman College, my alma mater. This historically …

Tuskegee Airman Visits Naval Justice School

November 3rd, 2015

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Enoch Woodhouse II, a Tuskegee airman, visited the Naval Justice School (NJS), Oct. 21, and spoke about his personal experiences of segregation during World War II.

Woodhouse spoke to 200 enlisted and officer students and faculty. In attendance were Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III, the 43rd Judge Advocate General of the Navy; and Capt. Shannon Kopplin, commanding officer of Naval …

Why US FON Operations in the South China Sea Make Sense

November 2nd, 2015

The U.S. Navy’s Freedom of Navigation Program is an important expression of international law.

By Cmdr. Jonathan G. Odom The U.S. Freedom of Navigation (FON) Program has recently drawn significant attention in the United States and the international community. During this period of focused attention, some observers have questioned the legality of U.S. FONOPs. This author has previously outlined the legality and legitimacy of the U.S. FON Program, including FONOPs …

Sailors Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

October 22nd, 2015

SANTA RITA, Guam (Sept. 30, 2015) - The heritage committee onboard the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) held a celebration for Hispanic heritage month on the ship’s mess decks, Sept. 30.

During the event members of the heritage committee, as well as Sailors of Hispanic descent, spoke about Hispanics throughout history that have made important contributions to our nation.

"The turn out for the event we hosted …

How China Shot Down Its Own A2/AD Lawfare Strategy

How China Shot Down Its Own A2/AD Lawfare Strategy

October 15th, 2015

Last month, President Obama made political history by becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Arctic, where he discussed American interests in that region and the need for nations around the world to collectively address the challenges of climate change.  During that same week, another momentous event of a different sort occurred nearby:  five warships from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) transited through U.S. territorial seas off the …

Legalman promoted to honorary chief petty officer at NSW pinning ceremony

October 14th, 2015

SAN DIEGO - Aundra Howard sat in the first of 12 long rows of folding chairs, his Navy uniform meticulously pressed, family members sitting on his left and right. Among the hundreds of Sailors and family members filling the Naval Special Warfare Special Boat Team 12 Combat Craft Maintenance Facility building at Naval Air Station North Island, Howard was inconspicuous: a tall, young man who outwardly appeared not unlike many …

SEAFAIR 2015 – A ceremony at sea, welcoming immigrants who serve

October 9th, 2015

“Welcome,” “welcome,” was a greeting repeated again and again on July 29, 2015 to the eight newly naturalized service members aboard the USS Boxer (LHD-4).  Welcome, our brothers and sisters in arms, now brothers and sisters in earnest.  Welcome you, who became Soldiers and Sailors in a time of war, fighting for a country that was not yet your own.

This would be a day that these service members, and …

Lt. Cmdr. Hunter M. Abell Receives WSBA Courageous Award

October 1st, 2015

U.S. Navy officer honored for serving overseas and promoting international relationships

SEATTLE, WA [Sept. 23, 2015] — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) presented Seattle attorney Lieutenant Commander Hunter M. Abell with its 2015 Courageous Award. The award is in recognition of his overseas service in support of global counterterrorism efforts and his domestic work to foster relations between military attorneys from the U.S. and Canada. WSBA President Anthony Gipe …

DSO West Holds Change of Command

September 24th, 2015

Defense Service Office (DSO) West held a change of command ceremony aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California, on September 18, 2015. Defense Service Office (DSO) West held a change of command ceremony aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California, on September 18, 2015.

Rear Adm. John G. Hannink, Commander of Naval Legal Service Command as well as Deputy Judge Advocate General, presided over the ceremony …

Judge Advocate Receives Two National level Diversity Awards

September 22nd, 2015

Lt. Cmdr. Erika Gehlen,  Lt. Cmdr. Erika Gehlen, JAG Corps Accessions Detailer, received meritorious service awards for her military service from two, national level diversity organizations.

The National Organization of Mexican American Rights (NOMAR) honored Gehlen with the NOMAR DoD Meritorious Service Award as a Hispanic American military member who epitomizes the qualities and core values of the Navy while displaying exceptional support for betterment of the Hispanic community in …