Career
Goals and Objectives
A
Personal Checklist
- Strive to
improve the service you and your unit give the gaining
command and other clients. Pro-actively study the
workload and needs of the command. Maximize feedback.
Find better ways to do the usual, volunteer for the
challenging jobs.
- Obtain the
skills and experience to be XO and CO. Master reserve
unit administration; learn from center personnel about
training plans, drill documentation, awards, fitness
reports, and performance evaluations. Read the message
board regularly.
- Become
trained and certified as an instructor. Get trial
advocacy training and become certified by an organization
like NITA. Use your courtroom experience to train active
duty JAGs. Major goal: Teach a topic at the Military Law
Update Workshop. Volunteer locally as an instructor in
standards of conduct, law of armed conflict, and
premobilization briefs. Develop preventive law briefs and
forms.
- Become known.
Volunteer (to the REDCOM SJA) to serve as Legal Advisor
to a reserve center, and for other ad hoc assignments,
such as recruiting, retirement, or other special
projects. Volunteer as a special assistant to the Naval
Reserve Senior Judge Advocate, or as a member of
selection boards and policy boards.
- Help other
service members by supplying legal information pamphlets,
such as those provided free by state bar committees.
- Apply to
serve on policy boards, which help integrate JAGs into
the wider Reserve program. Prepare for service on the
REDCOM policy board by submitting items to the center
board and serving on the center board. Use the policy
board to improve local, regional and national procedures
and practices. Review past board reports for format and
potential topics.
- Expand your
military knowledge. Learn the missions of other units.
Complete the correspondence courses of the Naval War
College. Take the 2-day Reserve Joint Operations Planning
Seminar of the Armed Forces Staff College (offered in
Norfolk and elsewhere). If near a joint command, tell its
SJA that you will participate in joint exercises.
- Learn about
JAGs in other services. Attend the annual, regional
on-site training of Army JAGs. Support the ABA military
committees, the Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Lawyers
Association, the Judge Advocates' Association, and the
Federal Bar Association. Join the military law committee
of your state bar. Attend the Judicial Conference of the
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, held each May.
- Pursue
professional training: the reserve refresher, SJA, and
operational law courses of the Naval Justice School; the
two-week reserve courses at the Naval War College and the
National Defense University; the law of armed conflict
and other courses at the Army JAG School; the off-campus
night programs of the Naval War College offered at major
bases.
- Subscribe to,
and read regularly, professional publications like the
Naval Institute Proceedings, Army Lawyer, Naval Law
Review, etc. Goal: Write a military law article for a
professional journal.
- Help recruit
top applicants for the JAG Corps. Attend recruiter
training and join the recruiting district assistance
council. "Adopt" a law school for the Navy.
Speak to student and civic groups about the opportunities
in Navy JAG. Keep a direct contact at the nearest NLSO to
expedite tours and recruiting. (If in doubt, contact OJAG
Code 61).
- Be prepared
to travel (at your expense) to the best billet you can
land. Network with JAGs, active and reserve, to uncover
billets available. Think each day what you can accomplish
for the Reserve, do it, and document your achievement.
- Perform so
well that your superiors nominate you for awards -- Navy
Achievement Medal for junior officer personnel, Navy
Commendation Medal for more senior members. After 10
years of reserve participation, apply for the Armed
Forces Reserve Medal. When you receive a letter of
appreciation, be sure to inform your superiors and OJAG
Code 62.
- Learn how to
draft nominations for awards. Practice by writing up a
nomination of your Legalman for the Kimberly Kay Clark
Award and yourself or a shipmate for the Military
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
- In the words
of Admiral Steve Glass, become a cub reporter. Take
pictures of Reserve and active duty events and
activities. (Black and white are best for PAO purposes.)
Make it a habit to mail pictures and writeups to the FLAG
GRAM, your REDCOM SJA, and state bar newsletters.
- Get purple
training and experience. A "purple suiter" is
an officer trained to serve in joint service commands.
(The color symbolizes the blending of talents and efforts
of all services -- red, white, and blue combine to make
purple.) If you have background or interest in joint
training, tell your CO and the REDCOM SJA.
- Go to sea.
There is no finer opportunity in the Navy Reserve than
the chance to serve our sailors at sea.
- Commanders
who want to be competitive for pay and promotion should
make the most of the chances to be CO of a VTU LAW unit.
- Whether in
pay or out, do your utmost to perform Annual Training.
Keep your CO and the SJA informed of your interest and
availability.
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