E-GRAM
02-01NAVAL RESERVE FLAGE-GRAM
02-01
From: Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, JAGC, USNR
To: All Naval Reserve Judge Advocates and Legalmen
Subj: FlagpE-Gram 02-01
Date: 13 November 2001
1. This FlagpE-Gram will update you on issues important to our Reserve JAG Corps community – in general and concerning Operation Enduring Freedom.
2. Operation Enduring Freedom. Continue to keep all the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers. Ensure that your fellows Americans are educated on the struggle and the role of our Armed Forces. As I said in my last FlagpE-Gram, what each one of us does each day in our Reserve capacity has never been more vital to the country. Remember that.
3. Current Mobilization. Our judge advocates and legalmen are already contributing as mobilized assets. At this time, we have 24 Reserve judge advocates and 9 Reserve legalmen mobilized. They are at commands as substantively and geographically diverse as CINCJFCOM, OPNAV, NPC, various NAVREGs, NSA Bahrain, CINCPAC/PACFLT, NTC GLAKES, MSC, various Seabee units and CINCCENT. Ranks/rates called range from LN3 to Captain. Some have been involuntarily mobilized, others volunteered for this duty.
Unfortunately, there are many inaccurate rumors and misconceptions about these mobilizations. Everyone should know the facts. At present, all the mobilizations are for needs and billets outside the Law Program; that is, not for OJAG/NAMARA/Naval Legal Service Command components. Therefore, we do not have control over these decisions to mobilize – this includes the need for an individual, the selection of the individual and the decision concerning involuntary or voluntary fills.
Admiral Guter, Admiral Lohr and I have agreed on a plan to be put forward requesting judge advocates and legalmen to be mobilized in support of activities under the cognizance of the Judge Advocate General and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command. The plan requires concurrence at the resource sponsor and CNO levels. As currently envisioned, the plan will attempt to utilize volunteers to the extent available and consistent with active-duty needs and higher guidance. We will keep you advised on the status of this plan and its execution. If you have not already done so, immediately advise Code 62, Lieutenant Commander Mike Pinette, of any requests to volunteer for mobilization (include your unit, contact information, RUIC and RBSC). As I have indicated in the past, do not volunteer unless you will honor that commitment, if called upon.
Voluntary or involuntary, all calls to duty have been deemed necessary by the appropriate Navy authorities. We need to execute these orders promptly and to do so to the best of our ability. This is why we exist, what we have trained for, and what America expects and deserves.
That having been said, we need to take care of our mobilized members and their families, and we will. I have already written to each of our mobilized judge advocates and legalmen and advised them of the following. First, my Deputy, Captain Mac Carter (mac1588@aol.com, 908-756-8200), will assume leadership for assisting our mobilized members. Equally important, Ms. Val Ayoub (spouse of my Deputy Senior Enlisted Advisor, Senior Chief Tim Ayoub) (jagombudsman@yahoo.com, 540-710-9379) has accepted my appointment to serve as our first Naval Reserve JAG Corps Family Ombudsman. I know that she will be a forceful advocate and a knowledgeable resource for our families. Mobilized members and their families should not hesitate to make use of the knowledge and support that these two leaders will marshal. Finally, the current issue of Naval Reservist News has a special section for mobilized Reservists and their families. It notes the stand up of a Naval Reserve Assistance Center to support mobilized Reservists and their families. The toll-free number is 1-866-831-8582.
4. Anti-terrorism and Force Protection (AT/FP). Each one of us must be vigilant and trained in AT/FP. Our leadership conference (see below) will include this training and I will direct our commanding officers to take this information back to the units. Also, I request that you make use of the AT/FP training that is available on the Web. Visit www.at-awareness.org (initial password is: aware). Do not be complacent. Develop the proper expertise and use it.
5. Naval Reserve Law Program SJA/CO Leadership Conference. Our conference is scheduled for 7-9 December. Senior leadership of the JAG Corps (Rear Admiral Lohr) and Naval Reserve (Vice Admiral Totushek and Rear Admirals McLaughlin and Debbout) will be joining us and describing their vision of both our program and beyond. Our SJAs and COs will receive training and guidance across a broad spectrum including manpower/mobilization, funding constraints and opportunities, recruiting/retention, AT/FP, awards, and information technology. Most importantly, the conference will focus on leadership at this challenging time.
6. As many of you know, Captain Steve Peterson, our Law Program Manager on the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Reserve Force, will be retiring in the fall of 2002. We need to decide on a relief and a plan for training that officer. To that end, any judge advocate in the grade of Commander or Captain who would like to be considered for this billet should forward a military resume to Lieutenant Commander Mike Pinette, Code 62, by mail, facsimile or e-mail. It must reach him no later than 5 December 2001.
7. New judge advocate and legalman billets. I am pleased to advise you that our Law Program is growing. We now have approval to add 21 judge advocate billets (3 O-6, 3 O-5 and 15 O-4) and 9 legalman billets (3 E-8, 3 E-7 and 3 E-6) within the Naval Legal Service Command. At a time of no growth and even a slight decrease in billets within the Naval Reserve, this is a great achievement, all the more significant in view of the seniority of the approved billets. The Navy is convinced of the value that our force brings to the Fleet. Once again, Captain Rich Ozmun made it happen. He crafted an outstanding package and guided it through the various approval stages. His expertise and leadership did it. BRAVO ZULU!
8. Every communication I receive from our active duty leadership mentions how OJAG/NAMARA Divisions and Naval Legal Service Command activities simply could not be operating as the Fleet requires without the tireless and superb support of Selected Reserve and VTU judge advocates and legalmen. Be proud of that accomplishment, particularly at this time. Finally, let me paraphrase the words of our Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Admiral Norb Ryan -- it is always an honor to serve our country in uniform; during a period of crisis, it is the privilege of a lifetime.
9. I request that you forward this FlagpE-Gram to those under your cognizance promptly.
10. God Bless America.
R,
Steven B. Kantrowitz