Navy JAG Corps Judge Advocate General's Corps

Yeoman First Class (Surface Warfare) Jonathan A. Swager, assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), was selected for the Secretary of the Navy Secretariat Staff Senior Sailor of the Quarter for the 2nd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2021 (FY-21). Yeoman First Class (Surface Warfare) Jonathan A. Swager, assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), was selected for the Secretary of the Navy Secretariat Staff Senior …

Service members, military retirees, and their families are sadly not immune from consumer and financial fraud and are often directly targeted. High mobility, a steady government paycheck with publicly available information on salaries, BAH, etc., by rank and location, and other factors contribute to bad actors seeking to take advantage of service members and their families. According to the Federal Trade Commission, military members reported higher median loses from consumer …

Washington, D.C.  –  

As Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) – which is commemorated each April throughout the Department of Defense – draws to a close, the Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps continues working tirelessly on behalf of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.  Its Victims’ Legal Counsel (VLC) program has provided assistance and advocacy to more than 6,100 people since its inception, fulfilling a critical legal need. …

Washington, D.C.  –  

Two Sailors from the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) community earned promotions through the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) in February.

Legalman 1^st Class Tyler M. Belz and Legalman 1^st Class  Abigail G. Morgan – formerly 2^nd Class Petty Officers – were both promoted to the next paygrade.

“This program is intended to give commands greater authority to better shape our Navy by developing …

Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Harbin – a judge advocate currently serving as a joint legal observer and trainer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – was awarded the 2021 Richard R. Baxter Military Prize by the American Society of International Law (ASIL) Lieber Society on the Law of Armed Conflict. His writing topic was “Targeting Submarine Cables.”

The Lieber Society serves as ASIL’s focal point for the study …

After a long and illustrious career spanning more than 30 years – including several deployments and assignments all over the world – Capt. Gregory P. Noone retired from the Navy Reserve as a judge advocate on Feb. 1, 2021.

Described as “one of a kind,” colleagues say the mere mention of Noone’s name will render a smile of recognition and admiration from countless members the active component and Reserve JAG …

Leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps Judge Advocate General (JAG) communities honored the achievements and service of the top enlisted Sailors and Marines during a virtual recognition ceremony on March, 22nd. Leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps Judge Advocate General (JAG) communities honored the achievements and service of the top enlisted Sailors and Marines during a virtual recognition ceremony on March, 22nd.

Navy Legalman 1st Class Bryan Fox …

Lt. Aaron Spencer – a judge advocate currently assigned to the Ethics Branch of the Administrative Law Division (Code 13) at the Office of the Judge Advocate General – has been named one of the 2021 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the LGBT Bar Association.

Each year, the National LGBT Bar Association, an affiliate of the American Bar Association, recognizes LGBTQ+ legal professionals – practicing lawyers, law professors, corporate …

Washington  –  

The Internal Revenue Service began accepting and processing tax year 2020 federal returns on Feb. 12, 2021.

Tips for Taxpayers to Make Filing Easier:
The IRS urges filers to follow these steps to avoid unnecessary delays in processing and issuance of refunds:

• File electronically and use direct deposit for the quickest refunds.
• Check IRS.gov for the latest tax information, including the latest on Economic Impact Payments. There is …

Washington  –  

In November 2020, Lt. Martin Bunt accepted a Leadership Award for his work in 2019 as a Deputy Command Judge Advocate aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). He received this accolade from The Navy & Marine Association, which annually sponsors more than 400 awards presented to service members by the commanders of Naval Air Forces, Naval Surface Forces, and U.S. Marine Forces Atlantic and Pacific, as well …

With as much fanfare as 2020 would permit, Lt. DeNealia Cunningham Peterson accepted the award for the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) Junior Officer of the Year for her work as a judge advocate aboard USS Emory S. Land (AS-39). She still serves aboard AS-39 as Command Judge Advocate (CJA) and a public affairs officer.

“DeNealia is the consummate professional,” said Cmdr. Chris Kimball, COMSUBPAC Force Judge Advocate. …

Forgot to cancel a cell, internet, or TV contract before moving overseas? Thankfully, it’s not too late to cancel, keep your cellphone number, and avoid termination fees using the benefits of the SCRA.

The SCRA allows OCONUS Service Members to terminate TV, internet, and cell contracts “at any time after the date the Service Member receives military orders,” so long as orders are for 90 days or more overseas and …

 Please join us in congratulating Rear Admiral Christopher C. French, on his nomination by the President to serve as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy, and for his appointment to the grade of Rear Admiral (Upper Half). Admiral French is an outstanding naval officer and a widely respected and accomplished legal practitioner. Throughout his distinguished and decorated career – as a member of both the profession of law and …

NSA Souda Bay  –   Friday rolls around and the guilt of daily doggy daycare is weighing on you — can you bring Rover to work if he promises to sleep under your desk and not bark during meetings? The answer is… it depends. Friday rolls around and the guilt of daily doggy daycare is weighing on you — can you bring Rover to work if he promises to sleep under your …

The Navy Reserve Law Program (NRLP) includes nearly 600 dedicated legal professionals who excel in both their civilian and part-time military careers. Throughout 2020, Reserve members located in the Pacific Northwest were recognized for their outstanding contributions in their respective legal fields. Reserve Capt. Dan Jones was awarded the Washington State Bar Association’s Award of Merit, the state bar’s highest award. Also, two NRLP members were named finalists in the …

A critical part of deployment readiness is being ready-to-go at a moment’s notice, and that includes being legally prepared. Trying to resolve personal legal issues from overseas or while deployed is not just difficult, it can be costly, time-consuming, and sometimes impossible. Below are steps you can take in order to keep yourself and your family legally ready. Of course, this cheat-sheet is not an all-inclusive list. If you have …

On January 4, 1972 – 49 years ago – Secretary of the Navy John Chaffee approved the establishment of the Legalman (LN) rating and converted 275 Sailors to LNs. Today, the LN community includes more than 600 active and Reserve LNs – a diverse force of skilled paralegals delivering essential support to the Navy Fleet around the globe.

"We play a vital role in enabling our warfighters, upholding processes, and …

When Service Members use commercial property storage, or rent a residential property, they are protected from certain adverse actions by the property landlord. Generally, landlords who believe their tenants are failing to hold up their end of the bargain can either seize (and probably sell) the property in the storage unit or even evict their tenants. Ever watch the show Storage Wars? It’s kind of like that!

Each year, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) invites Navy personnel to compete in his Naval History Essay Content. Entries must thoughtfully apply past lessons to the Navy’s current focus on establishing and maintaining maritime superiority.

This year, the CNO was specifically interested in essays that address efforts by China and Russia to use their economic, political and military powers to compete for commercial, geostrategic, political and military advantage and …