NAVAL RESERVE FLAGpGRAM 02-02
From: Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, JAGC, USNR
To: All Naval Reserve Judge Advocates and Legalmen
Subj: FlagpE-Gram 02-02
Date: 28 February 2002
1. As in the past, this FlagpE-Gram will inform you of issues important to our Reserve JAG Corps community – in general and concerning our support to the war effort.
2. Rear Admiral Mike Lohr. The President has nominated Rear Admiral Lohr to relieve Rear Admiral Don Guter as Judge Advocate General of the Navy when Admiral Guter retires. Like Admiral Guter, Admiral Lohr is a strong supporter and friend of our Reserve Law Program. Congratulations to Admiral Lohr!
3. Naval Reserve Law Program SJA/CO Leadership Conference. Our conference was held on 7-9 December. It was a resounding success and for that I thank Captains Mac Carter, Norton Joerg, Steve Peterson and Bob Huard. I urge each of you to ensure that your unit or SJA leadership briefs you on the information passed and the skills developed in such areas as leadership, professionalism, information technology, and training. Our Deputy Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral Mike Lohr, provided a timely, clear depiction of where the active-duty Corps is, where it is going, and the role of our Reserve program now and in the future. Vice Admiral John Totushek (Commander Naval Reserve Force), and Rear Admirals John McLaughlin (Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force) and John Debbout (Commander Naval Surface Reserve Force) appeared as a panel and made a fast-paced, dynamic presentation on the Reserve Force -- particularly its future. They acknowledged various institutional difficulties that make mission accomplishment more difficult and sought our advice. These issues are being addressed as quickly as resources allow. Finally, our leadership began addressing the vital issues facing our program. "Fiscal Year 02 Challenge Teams," under the direction of my Special Assistant for Long-Range Planning, Captain Norton Joerg, are now working on these projects. I will pass along more details on this critical effort shortly.
4. Current Mobilization. Our judge advocates and legalmen serve as mobilized assets in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. There are many parts to the Reserve Law Program force mobilization, but those of our community who have been mobilized fall into two major categories. The first comprises those called up under the line/other staff corps mobilization. This call to duty started months ago and is, in large measure, outside the control of the JAGC leadership. It includes judge advocates and legalmen called to duty in support of non-JAG/non-Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC) activities – now 31 judge advocates and 16 legalmen. They serve at commands throughout the world, supporting Navy Regions, construction commands, warfighting CINCs, and many other Navy commands. Some of the legalmen are performing security duty. The ranks and rates involved range from LN3 to Captain and include both volunteers and members mobilized involuntarily.
The second category is comprised of members mobilized pursuant to our Law Program mobilization in support of OJAG/NAMARA/NLSC components. This mobilization is underway and involves volunteers only – including five legalmen (LN2 to LNC) and 23 judge advocates (LT to CDR). The judge advocates are from Selected Reserve (SELRES) units and Volunteer Training Units. Most will serve at NLSC activities in CONUS and overseas, while six judge advocates will serve at OJAG and NAMARA. Our active-duty partners appreciate the support and expertise these volunteers bring aboard. The JAG Corps’ mission of serving and supporting the Fleet could not be met at this demanding time without these dedicated and talented volunteers.
5. Nothing is more important than honoring our commitments and taking care of our mobilized Reservists and their families. Therefore, I repeat below important information from my last FlagpE-Gram, for ready reference:
"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. As 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."
6. Khaki Conference. Our senior enlisted leadership held the annual Khaki Conference in New Orleans in January for the LNC/LNCS/LNCM community. The time-honored Navy tradition of Chief leadership within commands and in the Naval Reserve Law Program was a cornerstone of the program. The conference focused on the critical issues of mentoring junior petty officers and assisting our active-duty partners in mission accomplishment. Lieutenant Commander Mike Pinette delivered my message to the Chiefs’ mess: I am counting on the CPO community to provide leadership in two directions -- up and down the chain of command.
Naval Reserve Force Master Chief Tom Mobley spoke on the evolution of the Reserve Force since the 11 September attacks. Following his remarks, he presented the first Master Chief Dilbert Black Leadership Award to this year's honoree, Chief Karen Pallat. He followed this with a special presentation from the Chiefs’ Mess to Master Chief Jones in honor of his many years of service, ending with his retirement this summer. The Force Master Chief presented a Navy book that included personal inscriptions from every CPO in attendance. JAG/NLSC Master Chief Gary Lemmons addressed the conference on mission requirements and Reserve support to the active force. Three other active Chiefs accompanied Master Chief Lemmons and they played a critical role in the success of the conference. I thank them for their visible and vital support.
7. Naval Legal Service Command Commander’s Conference. Again this year, I had the pleasure of addressing the Commander’s Conference. This was an opportunity for me to explore our results in mission accomplishment, to educate the active commanding officers on Reserve-specific issues, and to solicit detailed comments. I told these commanding officers that my goal is that they write the fitness reports of our NLSC Reserve commanding officers. I requested that they keep me posted on results and emerging problems. Overall, their comments were tremendously positive. These commands simply could not support the Navy’s requirements fully without Reserve drill support (IDT or IDTT), annual training (AT), active-duty training (ADT), active duty for special work (ADSW), and mobilization.
We must continue to focus on real-time support, provided in a customer-friendly manner. AT must be scheduled far in advance and for periods when the gaining command can fully utilize the support. There must be no "surprise" judge advocates or legalmen appearing to perform AT, ADT, or IDTT. Communication is critical. If the Naval Reserve Activity (NRA) is seen as a negative factor in mission accomplishment, then the unit leadership must take steps to resolve the issue -- be it lack of IDTT funding, inadequate equipment at the drill site (not the gaining command), or taskings by the NRA that detract from gaining-command support and are not required by higher authority. Again, we need to communicate and attempt to understand the NRA’s perspective and work through a solution. If the matter cannot be resolved at the unit level, please utilize the chain of command so that I can work on a solution. This guidance applies equally to units supporting OJAG, NAMARA, and CIVLAWSUPPACT.
8. ADT period in support of JAG/NLSC. In early February, I sat in at the Pentagon during a dual absence of the JAG and Deputy (both being TAD). This duty is a great opportunity for me to do a number of things. First, just as for all SELRES, my primary role is to perform my mobilization billet – to train and to supply contributory support. This occasion also gave me an opportunity to discuss the Reserve Law Program with Navy leaders. For example, I paid a courtesy call on Vice Admiral Totushek and discussed issues of concern. Also, after a Board callout with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, the Honorable William A. Navas, Jr., he asked about Naval Reserve legal assets becoming involved with possible military tribunals. I also met with several OJAG divisions (International and Operational Law, General Litigation, and Administrative Law) and the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Military Law. Just as with the NLSC, the feedback on Reserve support was enthusiastic and positive.
9. Law Program Manager, Commander, Naval Surface Reserve Force. I am very pleased to announce that Captain Steve Peterson’s relief has been identified. Admirals Guter, Lohr, McLaughlin, and Debbout have approved my nomination of Captain Joe Twining to report as Law Program Manager. Captain Twining is currently serving as REDCOM Southwest Staff Judge Advocate. He has had a distinguished career, both on active duty and in the Naval Reserve. His broad experience, mature judgment, and exceptional knowledge of the active-duty and Reserve communities will serve our Program well. I express my thanks to the other outstanding candidates who applied for this important billet. We truly had an abundance of talent from which to choose.
10. Reserve Judges. The JAG Judicial Screening Board and Admiral Guter have approved the list of Reserve judges that I forwarded. My thanks to the review board that assisted me in this important task – Captains Mac Carter, Rich Ozmun, Bob Huard, and Steve Peterson, Lieutenant Commander Mike Pinette, and our Reserve chief judge, Captain Teresa Davenport. Five outstanding judge advocates will be assuming duties as trial and appellate judges. They are Captain Bob Cauthen (trial), Captain Jim Harty (appellate), Commander Sal Dominguez (trial), Commander Will Gabig (trial), and Commander John Mulrooney (appellate). Congratulations to our new judges! They were selected from an exceptionally talented group of applicants.
11. Professionalism. Over the past year, I have made improving our Navy professionalism a top priority. Captain Mac Carter and I are pleased with the progress, but we still have a way to go. I see too many communications that do not comply with the most basic requirements of Navy correspondence rules and etiquette. If you are unsure, ask someone or consult the appropriate references. Official record maintenance, including microfiche record and personnel summary record (PSR), is also a continuing concern. Lack of attention to the record may result in non-selection for promotion, billets, and other critical screenings. We provided detailed instruction regarding this area at last year’s Military Law Update Workshops. Use the chain of command to get the help you need to ensure that your record is accurate and complete.
12. In conclusion, our Naval Reserve judge advocates and legalmen are providing vital support to the Navy/Marine Corps team as it assists in homeland-security and takes a leading role in striking terrorists and those who assist them. I could not be more proud of the officers and enlisted of our program as I travel and hear about the outstanding work being done, often at great personal or professional sacrifice. I am honored to serve with you at this critical time.
13. I request that you forward this FlagpE-Gram to those under your cognizance promptly.
14. God Bless America.
R,
Steven B. Kantrowitz