When the U.S. Army JAG Corps’s regimental Command Sergeant Major opines in the pages of the Army Lawyer, it’s probably wise to take a knee and settle into “receive mode.”
CSM Michael J. Bostic’s article appears in 2021’s Issue 1 with a literal “call to arms,” rallying Army paralegals to engage both aspects of our “dual profession” and vividly detailing how they interrelate.
“We must find ways to remain ready in our field craft as Soldiers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) just as much as we need to remain relevant in our technical trade as paralegal specialists,” he writes. “Building on all types of experiences at each of these levels results in a true dual professional—the Soldier-paralegal—who enhances any type of mission with both technical and tactical skills.”
His words couldn’t possibly align any closer with the JAGWAR mission! Since our founding in 2016, the Order of the JAGWAR has worked diligently to administer and facilitate Corps-wide opportunities to develop Soldier skills in tandem with our legal acumen.
In connecting judge advocates, paralegals, and legal administrators to jointly undertake the Triple-R Challenge or train for such events as the Bataan Death March, All-American Marathon, or German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge test, we endeavor to augment our Regiment’s athleticism, weapons familiarity, and tactical proficiency. It would appear that CSM Bostic approves!
“As dual professionals, we need to leverage our experiences, training, and technical expertise—as well as our education—to support lethality. . . . Regardless of our technical Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), our field craft is our foundation for service. We serve to fight and win our Nation’s wars.”
CSM Bostic’s words apply just as aptly to 27As as they do to the 27Ds he’s addressing. So get after it, JAGWARriors! Never forget that there’s a reason your uniform is camouflage, not a suit-and-tie.
Thanks for your thoughts, CSM! We’ll give you the last word:
“Most unit leaders appreciate our technical (advisory) role. Yet we add more value when we can share more in common with our unit (client). When assigned to the 82d Airborne Division, jump and run often; at the 101st Airborne Division, complete air assault school; at the 10th Calvary Division, complete your spur ride . . . the list goes on and on. We have to embrace organizational culture, regardless of the type of unit or role we serve in. So the answer to where you belong—technical versus tactical in our dual profession—is, of course, both.”