Which is the best route to become a JAG Officer, going enlisted to ROTC, ROTC to Direct Commission, or enlisted to Officer?

MAJ Michele Bretz — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 19:30:46 -0500

I've got a very positive young man who is trying to figure out what is his best option. He is currently studying criminal justice and isn't sure which route to go. His ultimate goal is to be a JAG Officer. His options include going enlisted to ROTC, ROTC to Direct Commission, or enlisted to Officer. Which would you choose and why?

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Dec 21 at 2021 7:56 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 19:56:10 -0500

I had an ROTC classmate who earned an education deferment to go to law school and a non-ROTC alumnae who got direct commission after her JD. Personal opinion is not to enlist, but do ROTC or direct commission.

Although he is studying criminal justice now, he also needs a high undergrad GPA and a high LSAT score for a ranked law school. JAG is selective

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2021 7:57 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 19:57:35 -0500

I would do ROTC and study Pre-Law. Commission into a combat arms branch and then apply to the FLEP (fully funded law school) as a senior 1LT.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 21 at 2021 9:51 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 21:51:49 -0500

I would recommend law school. Just a thought.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2021 1:05 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 01:05:46 -0500

To become a Judge Advocate (27A) one must obtain a law degree. JA's direct commission to 1LT upon entry. It would do him well to reach out to a local JAG Office and inquire about the steps he needs to take. The Guard and Reserves have OSJA's that you can reach out to and regularly hold recruiting events at law schools in an attempt to attract new attorney's. As for AD, I'm unsure of how they conduct their recruiting efforts for new JA's but I'm sure a Recruiter can point him in the right direction.

If he is inclined to enlist before becoming a JA, he might want to consider enlisting as a Paralegal Specialist (27D) which will allow him to learn how a JAG office functions at the lowest level prior to commissioning. That said, many JA's I have met also have different backgrounds, for example two Staff Judge Advocate's I knew used to be 11B before earning their law degree's. Another JA I knew was a Ranger, and another used to be an artillery officer. Another used to be in the Navy before becoming a JA in the Army. So if he wants to try something else out in the meantime that's fine too.

Ultimately though he will need that law degree.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 22 at 2021 6:06 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 18:06:02 -0500

Your friend needs to complete his bachelor's degree first, then be admitted to and complete law school and become licensed to practice law. At one time, the DoD offered scholarships for law school to highly qualified applicants; however, if there is no shortage of lawyers applying for direct commissions, then those scholarships may not exist. Have your friend look at: http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-JAG-Lawyer

How to Become a JAG Lawyer

Becoming a military attorney combines two careers. As an officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps, you have the duties, respect, and career opportunities of an officer while providing high quality legal services to active duty...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2021 9:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 21:22:17 -0500

If he is set on the JAG Corps, he should go to law school and then apply for a direct commission. All the routes that involve joining the military first (ROTC ed-delay, or FLEP) run the risk of not getting picked up by the JAG Corps, and ending up doing some other job.

Response by LTC Reginald Brown made Dec 29 at 2021 1:29 AM

LTC Reginald Brown — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 01:29:33 -0500

https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/Sites/jaro.nsf/homeContent.xsp?open&documentId=13FE58A97B0DB74785257BD3006A87EB
https://armyrotc.ku.edu/judge-advocate-general-jag-corps

ROTC EDUCATIONAL DELAY PROGRAM

The Educational Delay (Ed Delay) program is designed to produce Active Duty Judge Advocates from current ROTC cadets. The program allows senior year cadets (MS IV) to apply for a commissioning delay in order to attend law school.

Cadets granted an Ed Delay are commissioned after graduation and placed in IRR during the duration of law school. Participation in Ed Delay does not guarantee that the cadet will be selected for the JAG Corps, but it does greatly increase the chances of selection.

Watch our ROTC Branch Orientation presentation on Ed Delay and the Funded Legal Education Program HERE!

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

LSAT score
Law school admission letters (if available)
Official transcript(s) with registrar's seal
One page essay entitled "Why I Want to Be a Judge Advocate"
Letter(s) of recommendation
Accessions Management Sheet
Resume or other documents that enhance the Cadet's application
Updated application requirements and routing information is available in USACC Circular 601-22-1

JARO

Response by CPT Dion Francis made Dec 31 at 2021 4:45 AM

CPT Dion Francis — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 04:45:15 -0500

Seriously, there are so many ways that a young person can be successful. I think the best route is to do your best at what ever task is right in front of you. ROTC might be the easiest if you have the funding. I was enlisted, then commissioned through the ROTC/ Green to Gold program. I completed PLDC, Airborne, & Ranger school along the way (among many others) I stayed in my own branch, then applied for the FBI and became a Special Agent. I eventually retired (due to disability) from the FBI. It would have been a shorter more direct path to just go through college into my final career. But the experience I picked up along the way made me far more competent and able to readily establish rapport & communicate. Look at what ever path is more comfortable, make a decision, dont look back, do your best all along the way, and remember your over all goal. A very, very good thing about the Army is that it's leadership schools and assignments are incremental. Although Law School admissions are based on GPAs and LSAT scores, breaking down the knowledge requirements into manageable bites along the way can also lead to inevitable success.

Response by LTC Lance Headrick made Jan 8 at 2022 1:00 AM

LTC Lance Headrick — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 01:00:46 -0500

Very open ended question.

Unless he is deeply indebted and going for loan repayment I would not enlist.

If he is looking for monetary help to law school now...he should talk to National Guard or Reserve Recruiters.

Stay in school. law degree, and pass the bar exam and Active Duty will take him.

He could take a commission in a non JAG branch and apply for FLEP as a 1LT....selection is not real high so it might be a gamble unless he has good grades.