JAG announces law school programs for officers

  • Published
  • By Capt. David Cromwell
  • 39th Air Base Wing Legal Office
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The Judge Advocate General's Corps will accept applications for its Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program Jan. 1 through March 1.

Both programs enable active duty commissioned officers to pursue law degrees without ever leaving the Air Force, and to serve in the JAG Corps upon completion of their studies. Interested officers are encouraged to apply.

The FLEP is a paid legal studies program. It is an assignment action and participants receive full pay, allowances and tuition. To be eligible for the program, applicants must have between two and six years active duty service - either enlisted or commissioned - by the day they begin law school and must be a captain or below on the first day of law school.

The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program. Participants in this group do not receive pay, allowances or tuition, but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes. ELP applicants must have between two and 10 years active duty service and be a captain or below on the first day of law school. Individuals selected for ELP may apply for FLEP in the future.

To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must have submitted all application forms, applied to an American Bar Association accredited law school (acceptance is not required at the time of application), received their Law School Admission Test results and completed an interview with a Staff Judge Advocate by March 1. Officers must also provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field.

Selection for both programs is competitive. Applicants will meet a selection board in early March, and selections are generally made in April. Upon graduation and admission to practice law before any state's highest court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates.

In addition to providing legal assistance and prosecuting and defending clients brought before courts-martial, JAG officers routinely participate in nearly every facet of the Air Force mission.

Possible duties include developing and acquiring weapons systems, ensuring availability of airspace and ranges where those systems are tested and operated, consulting with commanders about how those systems are employed in armed conflict, and assisting commanders in the day-to-day running of military installations around the world.

For more information and application materials, visit www.jagusaf.hq.af.mil or contact the 39th Air Base Wing Legal office at 676-6800.