E-GRAM
01-03NAVAL RESERVE FLAGE-GRAM
01-03
From: Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, JAGC, USNR
To: All Naval Reserve Judge Advocates and Legalmen
Subj: FlagpE-Gram 01-03
Date: 27 January 2001
1. On 30 January 2001, I will address the Naval Legal Service Command Commander’s Conference. I will highlight the capabilities of the supporting Naval Reserve Law Program units, including judge advocates and legalmen. During the roundtable that will follow, I will solicit frank and constructive comments on our performance. On that same day, I will meet with the Assistant Judge Advocate General - Military Law, Colonel Cal Scovel, and discuss similar issues with him. This real-time feedback will help us to expertly focus our resources and improve how we do business. I will report to you in my next FlagpE-Gram.
2. I would like to highlight some of the initiatives we are planning, as well as explaining some of the staff functions that are underway. Therefore, I asked some members of the staff to contribute to this FlagpE-Gram. Other members of the staff will provide input in future FlagpE-Grams. As you can see, they are very busy working with Captain Mac Carter and me. Feel free to contact them for more information or with suggestions. Their reports follow:
Manpower, Personnel and Training – Captain Bob Huard
This year, Rear Admiral Kantrowitz has decided to revise somewhat the format for the MLUWs. The reason for the change is to involve the gaining commands that we serve in our training. During each of the conferences, active-duty members will provide training regarding what the gaining commands expect of us and how best to accomplish the mission. This should allow us to optimize our contributory support to the gaining commands. There will be two conferences this year — one in Bethesda (5-6 May) and one in Coronado (23-24 June) — divided along functional vice geographic lines. The Bethesda conference will be for OJAG, NAVJAG, CLSA, NAMARA and similar units while the Coronado conference will be for LSO and TSO units and the TRIJUDACT. Staff Judge Advocates, Senior Attorneys, members of non-Program 36 units and independent duty judge advocates and legalmen should plan on attending the geographically closest MLUW.
Recruiting and Retention – Captain Bill Harbeson
On the officer side, we have put in place a program where any active-duty officer interested in affiliating can contact a Reserve Recruiter who will start the process and coordinate with the recruiter in the REDCOM where the officer will settle. When we get the name, I get involved and notify the REDCOM SJA for the region where the officer is going. Part of my discussion with the officer is an inquiry as to whether a job has been secured. If the officer contacts LCDR Pinette or the REDCOM SJAs, the inquiry is directed to me and I forward the name on to our recruiter. Our recruiter, LT Herron, has contacted each of the officers who are being released from active duty. Code 61 has published notices in "People Talk" discussing the requirements and process for affiliation and promises to publish a similar notice periodically. On the enlisted side, we met in New Orleans and discussed a strategy for gaining enlisted members. We have already identified that there is no discussion of the LN rating in the APG material that the recruiters use. We are working on changing this. We are also working on tapping into the career counselor and recruiting systems to better advertise the LN rating. Finally, we plan on developing an advertisement to get to the REDCOMs to publish in their monthly newsletters about the program in the hope of increasing conversions. The most important development in the conversion area has been the hands-on involvement of the senior enlisted advisors in getting these packages to New Orleans without delay. All judge advocates and legalmen should be aware that all conversion packages need to be forwarded to the senior enlisted advisors. As to enlisted retention, the mentor program is the key retention tool. I have done everything possible to support LNCS Ayoub in his development of this program.
Flag Advance and Scheduling – Commander Bernie DeLury
Rear Admiral Kantrowitz' schedule is largely dictated by the demands of the greater Navy and Naval Reserve community and the official functions of the Naval Reserve law program, not to mention his demanding civilian career. Moreover, he is frequently asked to participate in a variety of worthwhile unit and regional functions, such as the Annual Yankee Operational Law Conference in Brunswick. Additionally, the Admiral is asked to participate in familiarization tours and working sessions in law program units and gaining commands nation-wide. The job of Flag Advance and Scheduling is to act as the clearinghouse for all requests to enable the Admiral to meet his goal of visiting our judge advocates and legalmen in their working environments. Flag Advance and Scheduling then coordinates the Admiral's commitments with the many requests he receives.
3. Captain Mac Carter and I want to thank you for the outstanding support already provided to the Navy and Naval Reserve this fiscal year. Keep up the great work and enjoy your drills and active duty. The vitality of our Reserve Law Program should be a matter of pride for all of us. In closing, I want to share from an e-mail of a YN2 who is in the process of converting to legalman: "It's a relief to come over to a rating where people are enthusiastic and committed." That says it all.
4. I request that you forward this FlagpE-Gram to those under your cognizance promptly.
R,
Steven B. Kantrowitz