NAVAL RESERVE FLAGpGRAM 02

NAVAL RESERVE FLAGpGRAM 02-03

From: Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, JAGC, USNR

To: All Naval Reserve Judge Advocates and Legalmen

Subj: FlagpE-Gram 02-03

Date: 21 July 2002

1. As in the past, this Flag E-Gram will inform you of issues important to our Reserve JAG Corps community.

2. Judge Advocate General of the Navy. On 28 June 2002, Rear Admiral Don Guter retired after a distinguished and brilliant career –including five years in Flag rank, the final two as Judge Advocate General. I know that the entire Reserve JAG Corps community will miss him and wishes the best for him and his family. Rear Admiral Mike Lohr has assumed duties as the thirty-eighth Judge Advocate General of the Navy. We look forward to Admiral Lohr’s leadership and will all strive to assist and support him.

3. Reserve Demobilization. As many of you know, at this time, most Reserve judge advocates and legalmen mobilized to support JAG Corps activities (OJAG and Naval Legal Service Command) have been released from active duty. Though many have already seen the message of Admiral Guter (also sent on behalf of Admiral Lohr and me), I quote a portion of it below and recommend that you read it in its entirety: "The JAG Corps has always been one team comprised of active duty and reserve judge advocates. This was never more evident than in the aftermath of 9-11 when our reserves mobilized and joined our active duty judge advocates to give our Sailors, Marines and their Families the support they need to go to war. RADM Lohr, RADM Kantrowitz, the 06 organization, and I put together a plan to mobilize a select number of reservists for functional areas and locations vital to the war effort. These men and women came on active duty willingly, put their civilian lives on hold, committed to one year of service, and assimilated themselves quickly with the team already in place. Their performance has been amazing!"

"The Secretary of Defense is committed to returning mobilized reservists to their families, communities, and jobs as active duty, government service, or contract personnel become available to fill manpower needs. After a month-long review, the Navy has decided demobilization must take place and take place quickly. We worked tirelessly to prevent this from affecting as many JAG Corps augmentees as possible. Now our concern is that it be done as compassionately as possible."

"This news may cause personal hardship for many of our mobilized reservists. I want each of them to know you have my everlasting gratitude. They responded to the greatest national crisis since Pearl Harbor with pride, selflessness, and determination. Their personal sacrifice in many cases was immense - they sold law practices, turned away lucrative business opportunities, left jobs and homes to serve. The example they set has been a reminder to all of us the cause we serve. I deeply regret informing them they must sacrifice again with an early release from active duty. I want to convey how deeply this pains me. If I could do anything to avoid it, I would. I want each and every one of our mobilized reservists to know they have served the JAG Corps, our Navy, and their country well. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." http://www.jag.navy.mil/html/whats_new.htm

4. Military Law Update Workshops (MLUWs). Our two MLUWs for this year were held again in Bethesda, Maryland, for JAG/NAMARA/CIVLAW units and at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, for LSO/TSO/Judges units. Each location also supported VTU and non-Law Program units and individuals. As we evaluate all aspects of these Conferences, my overall opinion is that they were very valuable to the participants. This success is due, in large measure, to the Conference Committees and the Naval Justice School. Both the Bethesda Committee, under the leadership of Commander Ginny Grebasch, and the Coronado Committee, led by Captain Joe Twining, performed flawlessly. Our entire program is greatly indebted to them and their staffs for their hard work in planning and executing these events with limited support and essentially no budget. Similarly, the Justice School, led by the Reserve support unit, Captain Bob Huard commanding, worked tirelessly and was critical to the overall success. Also, our active-duty Justice School liaison, Lieutenant Dan Cimmino, provided superb support and the outside lecturers were outstanding. Thank you.

At both MLUWs, we were fortunate to have Rear Admiral Lohr make a presentation and respond to questions at the plenary session. I appreciate his support and the timely information on active-duty JAG/LN issues and status. Vice Admiral Totushek, Commander, Naval Reserve Force, spoke and responded to questions in Coronado (his schedule precluded his attendance in Bethesda).

For the second year, a good portion of the instructional time was yielded to the respective gaining commands for billet- and command-specific training. I believe this opportunity for gaining-command involvement outweighs the consequent geographic issues of cross-country travel. Having had questions concerning the issue and having read the critiques, I understand that some do not agree. With this cycle of MLUWs complete, we commence plans for next year. I encourage each of you to provide input via the chain of command on all aspects of training for next year. As always, we need to know what you need to get the job done, grow professionally, and improve your career. Please provide your input to Code 62. It is welcomed, even though not all meritorious suggestions are feasible. For example, last year a number of critiques identified shortcomings of the Bethesda facility but we were unable to obtain an improved venue considering all of our issues. While some may (and in fact did in their critiques) suggest that the topics were too "of the moment" and others thought exactly the opposite, we strove for a balance of instruction that was designed for immediate application to job performance and for training that focused on general professional development.

5. Promotion Board Results. Optimum selection and development of our leadership, both officer and enlisted, is critical to the future of our program. Admiral Guter served as President of the Selection Board that considered Naval Reserve JAG Corps officers for selection to the grades of Captain and Commander. The board was comprised of an exceptionally dedicated team of active-duty and Reserve officers. They worked toward a simple but critical goal --ensuring that the best-qualified officers were selected for promotion.

Another committed board selected ten of our top first-class legalmen for advancement to Chief Petty Officer. Finally, at the very pinnacle of our enlisted grades, the E-8/E-9 board selected one Master Chief Legalman (Tim Ayoub) and two Senior Chief Legalmen (Tom Giancola and Jim Anderson). To my recollection, this is a record number of selects for legalmen at the E-7 to E-9 level. That demonstrates two things --that we have an abundance of talented legalmen leaders and that our enlisted community manning is at a healthy level.

I extend my personal thanks to the board members and congratulations to all the selectees. The results of all of these Boards have been released and are available at: http://www.nrjag.org/promot03.htm.

6. In my last Flag E-Gram I highlighted our focus on real-time support, provided in a customer-friendly manner. While we are seeing results, there are still some miscues and I want to restate this critical direction. All active duty and drills must be scheduled far in advance and for periods when the gaining command can utilize the support fully. There must be no "surprise" personnel coming on board to perform AT, ADT, or IDTT. Communication is vital with both the gaining command and the Naval Reserve Activity (NRA). If a problem develops that detracts significantly from mission accomplishment and the unit leadership cannot resolve it at the field level, please utilize the chain of command so that I can work on a solution.

7. OJAG, Code 62. LCDR Frank Bustamante relieved LCDR Mike Pinette as Division Director, Reserve Programs, effective 28 June. LCDR Bustamante transferred from Appellate Defense (Code 45), NAMARA, where he served as a Branch Head and Deputy Division Director. He also recently returned from duty as the OIC, Vieques Trial Team in San Juan, PR, where he prosecuted trespass cases in federal district court and presented four oral arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. LCDR Bustamante has already immersed himself in the program and is working enthusiastically to support our Reserve JAGC and LN community. LCDR Pinette has assumed new duties as legalman community manager at BUPERS. On behalf of our entire Reserve Law Program I extend to him our thanks and best wishes.

8. Communication. Excellent communication up and down the chain, and including the gaining command and the NRA, makes our force strong. Use all the communication tools at your disposal. Rest assured, anything passed through the chain to me is considered and appreciated. Much of the information we disseminate is passed via our Website, www.nrjag.org. Please check this site often and give our Webmaster, Captain Mac Carter, constructive feedback. The Website contains a message board enabling members of our Reserve Law Program to post items of interest and solicit comment and responses.

9. As I stated at each of the MLUWs, our Reserve Law Program force has performed in magnificent fashion this year. Everywhere I travel, I am told of the tremendous job being done for the JAG Corps and the rest of the Navy. Whether it was dealing with the hardships of being mobilized to support our Navy or the difficulties of demobilization sooner than expected, our judge advocates and legalmen have responded admirably. The Global War on Terrorism will continue to test us. Captain Mac Carter and I know that our team will meet all challenges and provide timely, indispensable support to the fleet.

10. I request that you forward this Flag E-Gram to those under your cognizance promptly.

11. God Bless America.

Steven B. Kantrowitz