Despite the pouring rain and less than ideal temperature, Ms. Anita Fitch (GS-14) completed a half-marathon in Lago Maggiore, Italy. Ms. Fitch is a perfect example and reminder that despite not wearing a uniform, our Civil Servants still embody the Army Values and spirit of service that draws us all towards the JAG Corps. 

89th MP BDE Legal shop hosting their BJA CPT Mangru a surprise birthday gathering inside their office. She was very happy and stated that 89th was indeed without a doubt her all-time favorite legal shop she had ever worked for in her military career and had the best team around her. PROVEN IN BATTLE!!!!!!!

On 1 May 2024, the Blue Devils Legal Team took time out from the 88th Readiness Division's Large Scale Mobilization Operation Tabletop Exercise to participate in a 5K Run/2-Mile Walk. The Run/Walk was part of a dedication for Fort McCoy's Rumpel Fitness Center Grand Reopening!  Pictured with the 88th Readiness Division's Commanding General are:  MAJ Jason D. Wright, Chief, Administrative and Civil Law; MAJ Altoni F. Bias, Contract and Fiscal Law Attorney; COL Sean M. Connolly, Staff Judge Advocate; MG Matthew V. Baker, Commanding General; BG Andrew F. Scarcella, Deputy Commanding General-Support; MAJ Jessica N. Herdrich, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate; SFC Dexter A. Taylor, Chief Paralegal NCO; and SSG Rebecca J. Barret, Senior Paralegal NCO.

The Fort Cavazos JALS team kicked off Law Day Month with our Golf Scramble at the Courses of Clear Creek on post. The winning team of CW2 Pela, CPT Bayless, CW4 Adams, and CPT Paldino took a commanding lead of 14 strokes ahead of the second-place finishers. Congrats to all who participated and a special congrats to the winning team!

(Pictured l – r: CW2 Ryszard "Richard", CPT Taylor Bayless, CW4 Ken Adams, CPT Josh Paldino)

On 1 May 2024, SSG Johnnie D. Luna 1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne) successfully completed the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Static Line Jumpmaster Course. Congratulations, SSG Luna, on your hard work and dedication in becoming the JAG Corps newest Jumpmaster!

Photo taken by SFC Adam N. Van Natta, 3d SFG Senior Paralegal NCO. 

The Phantom Warrior Awards Program was initiated at Fort Cavazos to formally recognize individual and team contributions to installation operations and promote an installation-wide focus on innovation and performance excellence.

Mr. Dave Smith, Legal Assistance and Claims Attorney for the III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos OSJA, was awarded Civilian Employee of the Quarter.  Congratulations Mr. Smith!

(Pictured l – r: Ms. Greta Buccellato, Deputy to the Garrison Commander; Mr. Smith; CSM Calvin Hall, Fort Cavazos Garrison CSM.)

“Phantom Legal!”

The Phantom Warrior Awards Program was initiated at Fort Cavazos to formally recognize individual and team contributions to installation operations and promote an installation-wide focus on innovation and performance excellence.

The Special Victim Counsel Office for III Armored Corps was awarded as “Outstanding Commitment to a Job” Team for the Quarter! Congratulations, III Armored Corps SVC Team!

(Pictured l – r: Ms. Greta Buccellato, Deputy to the Garrison Commander; CPT Marquise Rivon; CPT Kevyn Lee; CPT Philip Fluegge; SSG Jessica Silva; CPT Bryan Dolin, MAJ Dana Neumann, Regional SVC; CSM Calvin Hall, Fort Cavazos Garrison CSM.  Not pictured: CPT Mai Bayless)

“Phantom Legal!”

The TDS attorneys and paralegals in Korea is promoting unity and wellness. On 5 April 2024, the TDS office in Korea enjoyed getting together outside of the office for a 4-mile wellness hike. 

Left to Right: CPT Weili Weng, PFC Thy Tran, SPC Jaymee Domenden, CPT Andrew Huffman, MAJ Patrick Sandys, CPT Zachery Bellis, SPC Evan Brewster, CPT Darrius Samples and CPT Teri' Dixon.

The USARC OSJA participated in Denim Day, which is an international movement where allies against sexual violence wear jeans on the anniversary of the Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction. In protest, women of the Italian parliament began to wear jeans to work which sparked the global movement.

[From left to right: COL Jeff Thurnher, 1LT Kristen Cody, MAJ John Banaghan, SSG Gerald Brunst, MAJ Patrick Johns, and LTC Scott Randall]

MCTP NSL OC/T Team celebrates the completion of the 1st Annual Pickleball Championship with a cake(ish) cutting ceremony. The senior member of the team, COL Beese, is joined by the youngest member of the team, LTC Grabill, to do the honors of cutting into the delectable dessert.  Also pictured are LTC Einhorn and MSG Keeling.

If you want to become a member of this elite Warfighting Team contact your assignments officer or NCO.

On March 22, 2024, MAJ Jeremy Watford delivered a presentation on behalf of the National Counterterrorism Center to a group of international field-grade officers as part of DIILS’s Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism (LCT) resident course. The four-week LCT course explores effective means for combating terrorism within the rule of law, with an emphasis on interagency cooperation. MAJ Watford’s lecture, titled “The Lessons of 9/11,” covered the evolution of intelligence collection authorities post-9/11 and intelligence sharing and dissemination practices across U.S. government agencies.

It’s not every day that you see an Army promotion ceremony in front of a captured narco-sub.  Congratulations to 1LT John Inkeles on his promotion to CPT!  CPT Inkeles is serving an eight-month Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) tour from the 151st LOD to Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS) and the Southernmost OSJA. Last year JIATFS was responsible for the interdiction of over 300 metric tons of cocaine worth over $13 Billion. Congratulations Shipmate!

On 26 April 2026, members of the 2ID OSJA conducted an off-site LPD event at the Icheon Landing Memorial and Museum. Over 45 members of the Warrior Legal Team received a private tour detailing General MacArthur’s bold amphibious assault that turned the tide of the Korean War. Following the LPD, 2ID OSJA personnel enjoyed a nightcap at Incheon SSG Landers Field where the Landers beat Suwon’s KT Wiz 5-3.

On 26 April 2026, members of the 2ID OSJA conducted an off-site LPD event at the Icheon Landing Memorial and Museum. Over 45 members of the Warrior Legal Team received a private tour detailing General MacArthur’s bold amphibious assault that turned the tide of the Korean War. Following the LPD, 2ID OSJA personnel enjoyed a nightcap at Incheon SSG Landers Field where the Landers beat Suwon’s KT Wiz 5-3.

Happy 116th Birthday to the Army Reserve!  MG Deborah Kotulich, OCAR Deputy Chief of Staff, cuts the Army Reserve Birthday cake with CW5 Joe Wiltz and SSG Victoria Clowers, OCAR paralegal.

4ID DIVARTY's Brigade Legal Team conducted a "dark" AR 15-6 investigation to test analog systems and processes during 4th Infantry Division's Ivy Sting III field exercise. The legal team conducted a complete investigation, utilizing witnesses with scripts, and stimulated the 4ID DIVARTY Staff to conduct justice missions in the field. After completing the investigation and receiving the legal review through runners, the battery command team executed non-judicial punishment on a humvee. The legal team will use lessons learned to be better prepared for future conflicts where comms and digital resources may not be available.

CPT Alex Brink (left) advises the battery command team (1SG Kyereme Kofi and CPT Jacob Planchon) on the results of the AR 15-6 investigation, legal review, and command options to address the notional misconduct. 

Ivy Gunners! 

The Army National Guard Trial Defense Service conducted the Defense Counsel and Paralegal (DCP) 201 course in Tucson, Arizona from 15-19 April 2024. Attendees are nominated by their Senior & Regional Defense Counsels, and selected by the Office of the Chief. The DCP 201 builds on the lessons from the DCP 101 course. Students sharpen their advocacy skills by participating in mock board proceedings, to include administrative separation, administrative reduction, and withdrawal of federal recognition. Students are assigned specific roles as counsel and paralegals in adversarial proceedings, and litigate cases before a mock board panel.

Soldiers from the 134th & 174th LOD attended the 2024 Annual Weapons Qualification at Fort Liberty, NC. During the AWQ both LOD's attended the EST, ACFT and range.

All photos were taken by the 134th LOD's PAO: PFC Dawn Riley

SSG Victoria Clowers, paralegal at the Office of the Chief of Army Reserve and the youngest Soldier at OCAR, cut the USAR Birthday cake with MG Deborah Kotulich, Deputy Chief of Army Reserve and CW5 Joe Wiltz. Happy 116th Birthday Army Reserve!

On Sunday, 7 April 2024, members of the Army National Guard Trial Defense Service and Special Victim's Counsel completed the Norwegian Foot March (NFM). The NFM is a 30k foot march in which participants must carry a minimum 25-pound ruck and complete it within certain timeframes based on age and gender. Pictured top left: SSG David Murn (TDS), bottom: SFC Laura Davis (TDS) and LTC Donna Ridgel (SVC). All three completed the foot march with a qualifying time to earn the NFM badge. Pictured top right: amazing volunteers of the event handing out popsicle sticks. 

On 26 April 2024, LTC Brad Cowan, CJA Medical Readiness Command East, spoke about recent changes to the UCMJ during a Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month Leadership Panel sponsored by the Medical Readiness Brigade, National Capital Region (MRB-NCR) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Also pictured are COL Kevin Mahoney (MRB-NCR Commander), CSM Scott Pierce (MRB-NCR CSM), and Dr. Tianna Bynum (Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Program Director).