Futo Inu, here's the poop from the JAG website. Good luck. Larry
U.S. ARMY RESERVE COMPONENTS JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S CORPS
FACT SHEET
Judge Advocates have provided professional legal service to the Army for over 200 years. Since that time the Corps has grown dramatically to meet the Army's increased need for legal expertise. Today, approximately 1500 attorneys serve on active duty while more than 2,800 Judge Advocates find rewarding part-time careers as members of the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard. Service as a Reserve Component Judge Advocate is available to all qualified attorneys. Those who are selected have the opportunity to practice in areas as diverse as the field of law itself. For example, JAGC officers prosecute, defend, and judge courts-martial, negotiate and review government contracts, act as counsel at administrative hearings, and provide legal advice in such specialized areas as international, regulatory, labor, patent, and tax law, while effectively maintaining their civilian careers.
APPOINTMENT ELIGIBILITY AND GRADE - In general, applicants must meet the following qualifications:
(1) Be at least 21 years old and able to complete 20 years of creditable service prior to reaching age 60. In addition, for appointment as a first lieutenant, be less than 33, and for appointment to captain, be less than 39 (waivers for those exceeding age limitations are available in exceptional cases).
(2) Be a graduate of an ABA-approved law school.
(3) Be a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state or federal court.
(4) Be of good moral character and possess leadership qualities.
(5) Be physically fit.
Grade of rank at the time of appointment is determined by the number of years of constructive service credit to which an individual is entitled. As a general rule, an approved applicant receives three years credit from graduation from law school plus any prior active or reserve commissioned service. Any time period is counted only once (i.e., three years of commissioned service while attending law school entitles a person to only three years constructive service credit, not six years). Once the total credit is calculated, the entry grade is awarded as follows:
3 or more but less than 7 years First Lieutenant
7 or more but less than 14 years Captain
14 or more but less than 21 years Major
PAY AND BENEFITS - Basic pay varies depending on grade, length of service, and degree of participation. Reserve officers are eligible for numerous federal benefits including full-time Servicemen's Group Life Insurance; limited access to post exchanges, commissaries, theaters and available transient billets; space-available travel on military aircraft within the continental United States, if on reserve duty; authorized survivor benefits; and generous retirement benefits. When performing active duty or active duty for training, reservists may use military recreation, entertainment and other post facilities, and receive limited medical and dental care.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS - The JAGC Reserve Program is multifaceted, with the degree of participation determined largely by the individual. Officers are originally assigned to a Troop Program Unit (TPU). Follow on assignments may include service as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA). TPU officers attend monthly drills and perform two weeks of annual training a year. Upon mobilization, they deploy with their unit and provide legal services commensurate with their duty positions.
IMA officers are assigned to active duty agencies or installations where they perform two weeks of on-the-job training each year. During the remainder of the year, they do legal assistance, take correspondence courses, or do project work at their own convenience in order to earn points towards retirement. Upon mobilization, these officers go to their assigned positions and augment the legal services provided by that office. Officers may also transfer from one unit to another or between units and IMA positions depending upon the availability of vacancies. This flexibility permits the Reserve Judge Advocate to tailor his or her participation to meet personal and professional needs. Newly appointed officers will usually serve in TPU assignments.
SCHOOLING - New officers are required to complete the Judge Advocate Officer's Basic Course within 12 months of commissioning as a condition of appointment. Once enrolled in the Basic Course, new officers must complete Phase I in 12 months. This course consists of two phases: Phase I is a three-week resident course in general military subjects at Fort Lee, Virginia. Phase II, military law, may be completed in residence at Charlottesville, Virginia or by correspondence. In addition to the basic course, various other legal and military courses are available to the reservist and may be taken either by correspondence or in residence at The Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
SERVICE OBLIGATION - In general, new appointees incur a statutory service obligation of eight years. Individuals who have previous military service do not incur an additional obligation as a result of a new appointment.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Eligibility for retirement pay and other benefits is granted to members who have completed 20 years of qualifying federal military service. With a few exceptions, the extent of these benefits is the same for both the reservist and the service member who retires from active duty. The major difference in the two retirement programs is that the reservist does not begin receiving most of the retirement benefits, including pay, until reaching age 60. The amount of monthly retirement income depends upon the grade and total number of qualifying points earned during the course of the individual's career. Along with the pension, the retired reservist is entitled to shop in military exchanges and commissaries, use most post facilities, travel space-available on military aircraft worldwide, and utilize some medical facilities.
U.S. ARMY RESERVE COMPONENT INFORMATION - Further information, application forms, and instructions may be obtained by calling 1-866-ARMYJAG, or writing:
Judge Advocate Recruiting Office
1777 North Kent Street, Suite 5200
Rosslyn, VA 22209
