Judge Advocate Positions with the Marine Corps

[alohastate]

I just received this email quite out of the blue through my CA state email, so I suspect it is legitimate in case anyone is interested.  I think it is a great opportunity to serve our country, begin working on a military pension, become an officer, and position. yourself for future government employment, but I don't meet the age requirement:


Good Morning [Alohastate],

I hope you and your family are safe and healthy during this unique time in our country. My name is Captain Michael McLeod and I’m the Marine Officer Recruiter for this area, and I'd like to let you know about opportunities in the Marines for lawyers such as yourself. The Marines are specifically looking for potential Judge Advocates at this time and recently raised the age limit for applying to 42.

As a Marine Corps Judge Advocate, there are many areas of specialty in which you may practice law:

TRIAL ATTORNEY

• As a prosecutor, you are responsible for investigating, assembling and preparing a court-martial while working closely with investigating agencies such as the Military Police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

• As a defense counsel, you are responsible for representing your client at a court-martial or administrative discharge hearing.

• As a litigator, you will review evidence, interview witnesses, consult with other judge advocates on your team and use your trial advocacy skills to represent your clients.

• You will try cases before the military judge or before a jury of Marines and /or naval personnel.

• You may also argue appellate cases before the Navy-Marine Corps court of Criminal Appeals of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.



CIVIL LAW/LEGAL ASSISTANCE ATTORNEY/IN-HOUSE COUNSEL

• As you gain experience, you may transition to other areas of law such as Civil Law and Legal Assistance or act as in-house counsel.

• You will write ethics opinions and research issues pertaining to Employment, Fiscal, Government Contracting, Labor and Employment, Claims and Tort Litigation Law, and other legal matters.

• You will also work closely with Marines and Marine families on Family, Consumer, Tax, Estate and Immigration Law issues.



OPERATIONAL LAW ATTORNEY

• You may serve aboard a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a ship of approximately 2,000 Marines that deploys globally, where you are responsible for all legal matters pertaining to the unit.

• You may deploy with a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) that deploys globally for larger-scale operations, where your responsibilities could include handling Rules of Engagement, Laws of War, Detention Operations, Investigations, Fiscal Law, Government Contracting, Foreign Claims, Military Justice, Host Nation Justice Systems, Legal Assistance and other legal issues that arise in a deployed environment.



Marine Officers receive full medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, 30 days paid vacation per year, competitive salary with scheduled promotions and pay raises, nontaxed housing allowance, discounted travel and recreation, LL.M. degree opportunities/G.I. Bill, and unparalleled leadership and management training and experience.



If you would like more information about the Marines we can schedule a time to speak about your current career goals and have a preliminary discussion about the opportunity to become a Judge Advocate. I hope to hear from you soon.



Respectfully,

Captain Michael S. McLeod

United States Marine Corps

Officer Selection Team Santa Barbara/Simi Valley

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

LinkedIn:

/

[foghorn]

Thanks! Not to mention that you build up retirement funds. That being said, USMC Jag, as might be expected, required future JAG officers to go through Basic at...The Basic School. So those applying need to be fit, and ready for The Quigley. In the summer that means snakes, n the Winter it can mean frostbite.

(My son --not an attorney-- felt he received extra points because even though he had frostbite from his stint in an ice clogged Quigley, he went on crawling on his belly in the snow rather than report sick, as 6 others in his group did). You may be a lawyer, but in the Marines you are first and foremost, a rifleman.

Don't worry, I'm sure that the D.I.'s have utmost respect for attorneys, as they do for all officer candidates.

[alohastate]

I'd consider it if I wasn't way beyond the age limit.  Ahem, I'm a big talker when I'm not eligible haha.

[neufenland]

Jul 19, 2021 17:38:29 GMT -5 foghorn said:

Thanks! Not to mention that you build up retirement funds. That being said, USMC Jag, as might be expected, required future JAG officers to go through Basic at...The Basic School. So those applying need to be fit, and ready for The Quigley. In the summer that means snakes, n the Winter it can mean frostbite.

(My son --not an attorney-- felt he received extra points because even though he had frostbite from his stint in an ice clogged Quigley, he went on crawling on his belly in the snow rather than report sick, as 6 others in his group did). You may be a lawyer, but in the Marines you are first and foremost, a rifleman.

Don't worry, I'm sure that the D.I.'s have utmost respect for attorneys, as they do for all officer candidates.

It means OCS, too. Marine JAs are not staff officers like in the other branches, and don't do a "fork and knife school" course like JAG Corps members in the other services.  "Every Marine a Rifleman" and all that.  

You would have to be pretty gung ho, but there are plenty of folks who are.  Good luck if that's your chosen path.  I'm 43 and overweight, so I get tired just thinking about it.  

[jagvet]

alohastate, I don't know how old you are, but they can take direct commissioned officers up into their early 40s (used to be 42, but it may have changed) if you meet the physical fitness standards in the Army. The Air Force and Navy also have direct accession programs, but I'm not sure about the rules. I doubt the marines will take older folks, but who knows? Check it out.

JAG practice is excellent in all the services. Coast Guard Legal Officers get a command tour every third tour, and many use that non-Jag time to write articles, take advanced courses, maybe go for an LLM.

Sometimes, it's easier to get in by going reserve and then volunteering for an active duty tour. If you are truly interested and don't make the age or, ahem, weight standards, you might try the State Guard (or Militia). It's volunteer (unpaid), but you get to serve, make rank, and fill in for the National Guard (then you get paid) when they mobilize.

Good luck! Oorah! Hooah!

[noah]

I applied for this when I was 51.

I asked for an exemption, stating I was young at heart.

The recruiter said: "This is the Marine Corps, not Jurassic Park."

[jagvet]

Don't go to any recruiter. Contact the JAG school of the Army, Air Force or Navy and ask to talk to someone. They will give you a realistic idea of your chances and get you to a JAG recruiter at JAG HQ.

[foghorn]

A number of years ago I spoke with someone at Navy JAG who indicated they prefer younger rather than on the line (this was when I was 36, which is to say several years ago. My advice--talk to someone in JAG and see what they can find out or if they have a source. You'll find out if there are exceptions, how to work them.

[hamster]

Jul 19, 2021 21:57:40 GMT -5 noah said:

I applied for this when I was 51.

I asked for an exemption, stating I was young at heart.

The recruiter said: "This is the Marine Corps, not Jurassic Park."

I understand the Air Force hires JAGs up to age 82, provided you don’t have a pacemaker and can program a VCR. The physical fitness entrance exam is one push-up, but you have three hours and it can be a girl push-up. And we have the best chow halls by far!

Best, Hamster (USAF Retired)

[alohastate]

Jagvet, I am 57 years old, far too old to serve my country as a service member.  I recall looking into joining the reserves about 15 years ago, and I was too old then too!  Suffice it to say that I have an attitude of gratitude to those who have served and are serving in our armed forces, but unfortunately I did not give too much thought to it when I was younger, as I was enamored with the idea of hopping on a private hamster wheel, which I did.

[jagvet]

Jul 20, 2021 17:10:04 GMT -5 alohastate said:

Jagvet, I am 57 years old, far too old to serve my country as a service member.  I recall looking into joining the reserves about 15 years ago, and I was too old then too!  Suffice it to say that I have an attitude of gratitude to those who have served and are serving in our armed forces, but unfortunately I did not give too much thought to it when I was younger, as I was enamored with the idea of hopping on a private hamster wheel, which I did.

My friend, you are not only a friend (as we all are on this board), but you're a patriot.  I applaud your interest, but, alas, 57 is too old (and I'm much older, but I must say you look good for 57, not a grey hair!).

Thank you for your support of those who serve.  It is only with strong civilian support that those young soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines can know that in our democratic republic, they sacrifice for our freedom.

Mahalo, alohastate , mahalo.

[neufenland]

Jul 20, 2021 17:10:04 GMT -5 alohastate said:

Jagvet, I am 57 years old, far too old to serve my country as a service member.  I recall looking into joining the reserves about 15 years ago, and I was too old then too!  Suffice it to say that I have an attitude of gratitude to those who have served and are serving in our armed forces, but unfortunately I did not give too much thought to it when I was younger, as I was enamored with the idea of hopping on a private hamster wheel, which I did.

If there's ever a Red Dawn situation, you won't be too old.  57, 87, 12?  We'll all be in the mountains screaming "Wolverines!"  

I was in the Air Force after college and before law school. Just a four-year stint as a line officer. Glad I did it, but I enjoy being a civilian way more.  

[Pixie]

Jul 20, 2021 20:51:09 GMT -5 neufenland said:

Jul 20, 2021 17:10:04 GMT -5 alohastate said:

Jagvet, I am 57 years old, far too old to serve my country as a service member.  I recall looking into joining the reserves about 15 years ago, and I was too old then too!  Suffice it to say that I have an attitude of gratitude to those who have served and are serving in our armed forces, but unfortunately I did not give too much thought to it when I was younger, as I was enamored with the idea of hopping on a private hamster wheel, which I did.

If there's ever a Red Dawn situation, you won't be too old.  57, 87, 12?  We'll all be in the mountains screaming "Wolverines!"  

I was in the Air Force after college and before law school. Just a four-year stint as a line officer. Glad I did it, but I enjoy being a civilian way more.  

Not to take anything away from your service, but your 4 years in the Air Force actually qualifies as civilian time. Pixie

[Burt Macklin]

Jul 21, 2021 7:32:40 GMT -5 Pixie said:

Jul 20, 2021 20:51:09 GMT -5 neufenland said:

If there's ever a Red Dawn situation, you won't be too old.  57, 87, 12?  We'll all be in the mountains screaming "Wolverines!"  

I was in the Air Force after college and before law school. Just a four-year stint as a line officer. Glad I did it, but I enjoy being a civilian way more.  

Not to take anything away from your service, but your 4 years in the Air Force actually qualifies as civilian time. Pixie

🙄

[ssaogc]

Jul 21, 2021 8:56:03 GMT -5 Burt Macklin said:

Jul 21, 2021 7:32:40 GMT -5 Pixie said:

Not to take anything away from your service, but your 4 years in the Air Force actually qualifies as civilian time. Pixie

🙄

The Army has had Air Force Envy since 1947. If you cannot bet then join them.

I served in both. Loved my Army time but it made me appreciate the USAF even more.

[hamster]

Jul 21, 2021 7:32:40 GMT -5 Pixie said:

Jul 20, 2021 20:51:09 GMT -5 neufenland said:

If there's ever a Red Dawn situation, you won't be too old.  57, 87, 12?  We'll all be in the mountains screaming "Wolverines!"  

I was in the Air Force after college and before law school. Just a four-year stint as a line officer. Glad I did it, but I enjoy being a civilian way more.  

Not to take anything away from your service, but your 4 years in the Air Force actually qualifies as civilian time. Pixie

Respectfully, you’re grossly mistaken, Pixie. There is no requirement for a civilian to do the one push-up a year that the Air Force requires of its personnel. Please stop minimizing the extremely daunting physical hardships inherent in Air Force service. Thank you.

Aim High!

Hamster

[stevil]

All jokes aside - the 28-years of PT testing I had to do in the USAF as a JAG included countless miles of running in addition to that push-up. My knees remind me of this every time I have to get up out of a chair.

Not sure why the Army even needs JAGs - the Army commanders I met over the years in joint assignments never listened to or followed their advice anyway!

[jagvet]

My father, who was Army Air Corps for part of his WWII service, was a bit disappointed when I told him I was going Army and not Air Force. He said airmen were smarter and Air Force had better food. Having later sampled the state fair award-winning cakes at the Army's Culinary School (Ft. Jackson), I'm not sure he was right about the food.

Lots of good people in all branches.