To be eligible for appointment in the Navy JAG Corps DA Program, you must:

• be a United States citizen of good moral character;
• be younger than 42 years of age at the time of commissioning;
  • If an applicant is over 42 years of age, a waiver may be authorized. See Application Process for details.
• be a graduate of a law school fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA);
• be admitted to practice before a Federal Court, the highest court of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; and
• meet the physical and medical requirements for commission in the Navy. If you have concerns about the medical qualifications, you may contact the Accessions Program Manager but ultimately will need to go through medical screening process for adjudication.
  • The physical requirements include meeting Navy and DoD fitness standards.
  • Navy officers are required to participate in at least one Physical Readiness Test each year. The test consists of completing as many pushups as possible in two minutes, a cardio test (typically a 1.5 mile run, but other options include a 500y/450m swim, 12-minute stationary bike, or 2,000 meter row), and a timed plank. More information is available at Physical Fitness Test.

NOTE: If you are an active duty naval officer currently attending law school and interested in applying via the Direct Appointment Program, please contact the Special Assistant for Accessions at navyjagaccessions@us.navy.mil.

Becoming a judge advocate is a two-phase process. The first phase is to apply for a Professional Recommendation for selection by the Navy JAG Corps. If you are Professionally Recommended you then apply for a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Once accepted, applicants selected for Professional Recommendation continue law school until graduation and take the first available bar examination of the jurisdiction of their choice (any state, territory, commonwealth, or DC bar). Active duty begins at the start of Navy training - not at time of commissioning as an officer.

Navy training begins with the five-week Navy Officer Development School (ODS) training in Newport, RI. After ODS, new judge advocates then report to their permanent duty stations for approximately two months. They will then proceed to the ten-week Basic Lawyer Course at Naval Justice School (NJS) in Newport, RI. Upon graduation from NJS, new judge advocates return to their permanent duty station and are committed to four years of active duty. For more information, visit the Path of a Navy JAG Corps Officer.

Direct Appointment applicants can apply multiple times—there is no limit on how often you can apply. Application materials are not kept after selection decisions are final, so if you want to be reconsidered, you must reapply. Submitting an application doesn't mean you joined the Navy. Applicants are under no obligation whatsoever until they are offered and accept a commission with the Navy at the end of both phases.

Phase One: Apply for a Professional Recommendation

Prior to the application deadline, you must complete four steps:

1. Complete the online application by the deadline provided above.
2. SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW. Schedule and complete a structured interview by the deadlines listed above. You may schedule and complete your interview before you have submitted your application. Information for scheduling a Navy JAG Corps interview is located in the application guide linked above. Your interview must be completed before the application deadline. Applicants are responsible for contacting the appropriate office to schedule their interview. Your application will not be considered without a completed interview. Applicants may only complete one interview every three years.
3. Ensure your letters of recommendation and all additional documents have been submitted in the online application by the deadline. Letters of recommendation and all other documents must be submitted via the online application. Documents receive by mail or email will not be considered.
   
   Letters should be addressed to the "JAG Corps Accessions Board".
   
4. If you are over 42 years of age, an age waiver will be required. You must submit a letter requesting an age waiver with your application package (upload via the online application website as an addendum).
   Age Waiver Template

Once applications are received, the accessions office completes a full review of all applications for completeness and ensures each applicant is eligible. The completed packages of all eligible applicants are then reviewed by a board of senior active duty judge advocates. The board typically takes place 4 weeks after the application deadline. The final selection of professionally recommended students must be reviewed and approved by the Judge Advocate General. Applicants who are professionally recommended will be notified individually, usually within 6-8 weeks after the application deadline. All applicants can check their status on the application website.

Note: If you are not selected, you may reapply by each deadline as long as you remain eligible. You must submit a new application. The structured interview does not expire, however you are not allowed to have a new structured interview within a three year period. After three years have passed, you may (but are not required to) request a new structured interview.

Phase Two: Apply for a Commission in the U.S. Navy

If your application is selected, you will be considered Professionally Recommended for commissioning and begin Phase Two. In Phase Two, the final selection of applicants is conducted by Navy Recruiting Command. During this phase, the following things will occur:

1. A Navy recruiter will work with you to complete the commissioning requirements, including a medical examination and security investigation. Upon successful completion of these requirements, you will be offered a commission.
2. If you accept your commission, you will then take the oath of office for a commission and sign a Service Agreement.

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Special Assistant for Accessions at navyjagaccessions@us.navy.mil.

Income

The Navy JAG Corps offers active duty judge advocates a competitive starting salary. The total compensation includes basic pay and certain non-taxable allowances, such as those for housing and subsistence. Housing allowances vary according to the cost of living in the area to which you are assigned. Pay increases come with promotion and longevity. For more information regarding basic pay and allowances, visit Military Pay.