NAVAL RESERVE FLAGE-GRAM 01-04

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

To:     All Naval Reserve Judge Advocates and Legalmen

Subj:   FlagpE-Gram 01-04

Date:  2 March 2001

1. As you know, in late January, I addressed the Naval Legal Service Command Commander’s Conference and also met with the Assistant Judge Advocate General – Military Law and his Divisions. I am proud to report that the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. Our legalmen and judge advocates are sought after by the active force and doing a tremendous job on drills, annual training (AT), active-duty (ADT) training and active duty for special work (ADSW). The areas where we can improve our performance are, for the most part, in the leadership and administration of our program. I will address these here and in other messages.

2. Our commanding officers and staff judge advocates must be proactive in planning, budgeting, monitoring status (including approval of orders requests) and execution of all training and contributory-support. This requires close coordination with the Naval Reserve Activity cutting orders, as well as with the gaining command. We need to monitor the orders requests to enable us to solve problems before they become unsolvable. The gaining command must be aware of the plans so that meaningful work is available and scarce resources, such as space and computers, are not overtaxed. We never should have a situation where the gaining command is unaware of the scheduling of drill travel (IDTT) or AT or where an evolution involves more unit members than the gaining command can comfortably accommodate on the dates involved. Use the chain of command if a problem arises. I will step in to help if my support can overcome barriers to mission accomplishment.

3. Communication is critical to mission accomplishment. Therefore, as a regular part of my FlagpE-Grams, I will provide information, program guidance and general announcements. These are designed to get the word out, let you know about upcoming events, and make sure we are all on the same page on important issues.

**JAG Conference

Space limitations at the facility require that all components of the JAG team participate on the basis of fair-share allowances. Our Reserve force is allocated quotas, and invitations to attend will be forwarded to our program leadership and representative legalmen and junior officers. Lieutenant Commander Mike Pinette is my point of contact. Although most of the quotas will be billet-specific, please contact him if you have a strong desire to attend. Subject to our prioritization indicated above and our goal of ensuring a diverse attendance, we will make every effort to accommodate those seeking to attend.

**Naval Reserve Association News Issue on Reserve Law Program (August 2001 Issue)

The Naval Reserve Law Program is the feature for the August issue. Commander Bob Nelson, my Special Assistant for Public Affairs, is coordinating our input. We want your ideas, articles and photographs. I am anxious to illustrate the many contributions in providing legal services, particularly to active-duty components, all of you make throughout the country. I look forward to seeing as many of you highlighted as possible. Contact him within the next three weeks to make a submission.

**Reserve JAG Flag Matters

As many of you know, the Reserve flag had been known as the Naval Reserve Senior Judge Advocate. That title is no longer in use. My titles are Assistant Deputy Judge Advocate General (used generally) and Deputy Commander, Naval Legal Service Command (when I am involved in a uniquely Legal Service Command mission). Therefore, our awards program has changed from Naval Reserve Senior Judge Advocate Awards to Judge Advocate General Awards that I will sign by direction of Rear Admiral Guter. Please discontinue use of the former title. The change is not one merely of form. I am in the briefing loop on significant items of interest to Admirals Guter and Lohr. Most importantly, I fill in for them as the need arises.

**Awards

At the Reserve JAG Leadership Conference a question was raised concerning submission of Reserve awards through the JAG/Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC) chain. Apparently, certain award recommendations were returned with direction not to submit through JAG/NLSC. I have discussed this and am pleased to report that Admiral Guter has determined that we will process our awards (units supporting JAG, including subordinate activities such as CIVLAWSUPACT and the courts, and NLSC) through the JAG Awards Board. This should ensure that our awards are originated and forwarded through a chain intimately familiar with the quality of the work performed and the impact on overall mission accomplishment. We must ensure that the quality of the award submissions is high so that our active-duty partners are not unduly burdened. Lieutenant Commander Mike Pinette will ensure that we forward only well-written, timely, substantively justified recommendations that comply with all instructions. My Special Assistant for Awards and Recognition, Captain Eileen Riley, is available to help you comply. I will review Reserve Awards, prior to submission to the JAG Awards Board.

**AT, ADT and ADSW Opportunities

Opportunities are being posted on a real-time basis on our www.nrjag.org website run by my Deputy, Captain Mac Carter. (This dynamic site does much more than post these opportunities, so I hope that you check it frequently.) When you see an opportunity of interest, take appropriate action quickly because many are short fused. Before you do though, please be sure to investigate the details and be certain that you have the requisite skills and the ability (including family and civilian employment flexibility) to undertake the duty. If you apply, we will assume that you are ready, willing and able to execute orders.

**Bravo Zulu

Our outstanding judge advocates and legalmen continue to receive praise on a regular basis. Here a few recent examples that demonstrate the quality of our force and our commitment to outstanding legal support to the fleet. Congratulations!

--NR Civil Law Support Activity TWO ZERO SIX and its commanding officer, Captain Steve Talson, were commended by the Acting Judge Advocate General for outstanding support to the General Litigation Division during a period of decreased manning in the Division. Hard work and a well-planned schedule of AT and ADT by its Reserves allowed the Division to maintain its high standards and timely process its work.

--The Judge Advocate General commended Commander Jim Backstrom for his outstanding support of the Admiralty and Maritime Law Division. Commander Backstrom assisted the USS SEATTLE (AOE 3) with its preliminary inquiry and litigation report after an oil spill.

--The Commanding Officer of Naval Legal Service Office (NLSO), Southeast, Captain William Sweeney, expressed appreciation for Reserve support of carrier recovery claims assertions and legal assistance teams supporting outlying commands without NLSO assets. First, Captains Eileen Riley, Janet Quinn and Pat Leonard and Lieutenant Karin Shinego volunteered to assist the NLSO when personnel shortages combined with its assumption of carrier recovery responsibility led to a severe backlog. Their hard work and professionalism made the difference and was a role model to the active staff. Captain Anderson and Lieutenant Commander Escamelia provided legal assistance as part of very successful active/Reserve teams in Guantanamo Bay and Key West, respectively.

4.  We have a new service on our Web Page -- the Naval Reserve Law Program Message Board.  I encourage each of you to visit it regularly and to participate.  It represents yet another step forward in our ability to communicate with one another.

5. Captain Mac Carter and I want you to know that your exceptional support to the Navy and Naval Reserve is very much appreciated. Continue making mission accomplishment our first priority, develop professionally and have fun performing your duties as part of the great Navy team.

6. I request that you forward this FlagpE-Gram to those under your cognizance promptly.

R,

Steven B. Kantrowitz