NAVAL RESERVE FLAGE-GRAM 01-05

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

To:     All Naval Reserve Judge Advocates and Legalmen

Subj:   FlagpE-Gram 01-05

Date:  29 May 2001

1.  I continue to receive extremely favorable comments on the accomplishments of our Reserve legalmen and judge advocates. This recognition includes the full spectrum of our Program — personnel supporting the line, other staff corps, JAG, NAMARA, the judiciary, and the Naval Legal Service Command. Space and time preclude recognizing everyone individually, but see below for representative details.

2.  Since my last FlagpE-Gram there have been several important evolutions for our JAG Corps Team. Many of you attended one or both of these events and it is important that we share the information gained, feedback from our active-duty partners, and lessons learned.

**JAG Conference

The JAG Corps had an exceptionally successful Conference in early May outside Baltimore. Our Reserve community was well represented — with legalmen and judge advocates from throughout the country in pay-grades E-6 to E-9 and O-3 to O-7. Every Reserve judge advocate and legalman who requested a quota was provided with one.

"Navy JAG … A Better Practice," Admiral Guter’s vision for the Corps, was the theme of the Conference. In addition to Admirals Guter, Lohr and myself, the plenary-session speakers included The Honorable Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former Navy judge advocate; The Honorable Robert Pirie, Acting Secretary of the Navy; and Admiral Frank Bowman, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion. The Reserve community hosted a breakout program that led to an outstanding question-and-answer session where numerous topics were discussed.

The Conference did not provide handouts for the substantive programs. Instead, all the materials are available for viewing or download from the Navy JAG website, www.jag.navy.mil, available as a link on our outstanding Reserve JAG website, www.nrjag.org.  I encourage you to visit the Conference presentation pages at www.jag.navy.mil/html/jag_services.htm (you may need to request a password via email (jagweb@jag.navy.mil), if you do not have access to the password-protected portion of the JAG site).

**Military Law Update Workshop (MLUW)

The first of two MLUWs for this year was held in Bethesda at the National Naval Medical Center. It was designated for units supporting the JAG, NAMARA, and Civil Law Support Activity claimancy. Numerous VTU and non-Law Program judge advocates and legalmen attended as well. Despite some difficulties with lighting, acoustics, and traffic flow, most attendees gave it a very positive evaluation. They felt the training was first-rate and that the pace sustained interest. The credit goes to Commander Dan Eckstrom and his Conference Committee and to Captain Bob Huard and his Justice School team. They worked hard and it paid off. The Justice School planned and executed perfectly and this led to an outstanding program. Together these two great teams worked hard and well to make the Bethesda MLUW a success. Finally, Captains Mac Carter and Jimmy Williamson put together a great, informal, non-command-performance cookout that let us enjoy ourselves and meet new people.

As those of you who attended the Bethesda MLUW know, we have made many changes this year to the format — this made the performance by Captain Huard’s and Commander Eckstrom’s groups even more impressive. First, there are only two MLUWs per year — meaning each one is much larger than in past years. While a larger group presents a greater administrative challenge, it is more economical and promotes our esprit de corps. Second, the MLUW attended by a particular Reservist is determined by the gaining command served and not by geographic location. This leads to another significant change — gaining-command training. For the first time in my memory, the gaining command assumed responsibility for a considerable portion of the training effort. In Bethesda, certain (but not all) of the NAMARA and JAG Divisions provided training to their Reservists. That training was exceptionally well received by the attendees. It is our goal that all NAMARA and JAG Divisions provide gaining-command training next year.

In Coronado, the entire Naval Legal Service Command structure will provide training. There will be specific training for judge advocates and legalmen gaining to NLSOs. The training will include claims, legal assistance, and defense representation. This training will include "how to" perform tasks — e.g., adjudicating a claim, preparing legal assistance documents — and means to fully integrate Reserve forces into the gaining command. Legalmen, as well as judge advocates, will receive training. The TSOs will also provide training to their judge advocates and legalmen. As in Bethesda, the Naval Justice School and its Reserve unit will provide the remainder of the training, including a program for VTU and non-Law Program personnel during the gaining-command training portion of the program.

3.  As I have said before, communication is critical to mission accomplishment. This includes passing information among the Reserve legal community as well as information from the active force and elsewhere. In this FlagpE-Gram I have the pleasure of passing information to our force from outside our program.

**Vieques Support.

At the JAG Conference, Acting Secretary Pirie and Admiral Bowman both commented on the critical importance of the Vieques training site to the Fleet and the contribution of the JAG Corps in support of training on Vieques. The 24 May 2001 New York Times contained a story on prosecution of trespassers on Navy property on Vieques. It quoted Peter Strasser, the prosecutor in a number of high-profile cases, many involving elected officials and other well-known individuals. As I relayed to the Naval Reserve’s senior leadership in a recent e-mail, the Peter Strasser mentioned is Commander Pete Strasser, JAGC, USNR. He is in San Juan on ADT and doing a great job under a lot of pressure. Not only is he doing superb work prosecuting but also making sure the chain of command is briefed.

Commander Strasser relieved Commander Brian Roberts, JAGC, USNR, who had served for four months at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico as the senior prosecutor and head of the Vieques trial team. During Commander Roberts’ tenure, the team successfully prosecuted 292 individuals who committed offenses on military property at Vieques, Puerto Rico. Commander Roberts personally tried and convicted 124 defendants. Other members of our Reserve legal team, judge advocates and legalmen, have served, are serving or will serve with similar distinction. Our Navy is grateful.

**Special Programs & National Security Case Support

Presently, Lieutenant Commander Pat Kelly is serving on ADT in support of the JAG’s National Security Case Commission chaired by Brigadier General Hague, USMC (Ret.). Legalman First Class Arnold is providing administrative support to the Commission. Admiral Guter requested these Reserves for a project that he stated was as important as the JAG Corps has had for at least ten years.

After discussions with the JAG and Deputy, I established a Special Programs/National Security cell within our Civil Law Support Activity 106 unit. The cell is composed of Captain Bob Eatinger, Lieutenant Commander (Commander Select) Chris Gentile, Lieutenant Commander Pat Kelly, and Lieutenant Sherry Sabol.  All four have extensive subject-matter experience. The cell will develop additional expertise in the investigation, preparation, and trial of national-security cases and will be available to train active-duty judge advocates in this area of the law.  The cell is further available to support such additional assignments, as the JAG deems appropriate. These Reserves will play a critical part in the JAG’s effort to expand legal resources available to the Navy in this area.

**Bravo Zulu!

Unfortunately the sheer number of kudos to Reserves passed to me at the JAG Conference alone make it impractical for me to name names here. I was approached by flag officers, commanding officers, executive officers, division directors, fleet and staff judge advocates, junior officers and chiefs of the active force to tell me that they could not get their mission done without Reserve forces. Many commanding/executive officers and fleet/staff judge advocates told me that they would not have been able to attend the JAG Conference if it were not for the fact that Reservists were filling in at their desks on a real-time basis.

I received details of Reservists serving as Article 32 Officers in the most difficult and high-profile cases and making the right calls — quickly, confidently and with the highest professionalism. Other active-duty leaders told me of innovations in claims handling and legal assistance that were made by their Reserve judge advocates and legalmen. I was informed of Reserves filling in on short notice so that the active command could get the job done for the Fleet or individual clients.

In sum, it is tremendously gratifying for a Reserve Flag to hear unsolicited comments about the magnificent support that is occurring throughout the world because of the skill and dedication of our Reserve legal force. Congratulations!

Captain Mac Carter and I want you to thank you again for the superb support to the Navy and Naval Reserve.

4.  I think the Marines have articulated my vision best. Therefore, with attribution to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, I want to restate that vision:  "Mission First, People Always."

5.  Please forward this FlagpE-Gram to those under your cognizance promptly.

R,

Steven B. Kantrowitz