I'm sitting on this barren patch of Iraqi desert—scrounging for what little bandwidth my puck can muster—and reflecting on my past several months here. Earlier this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Hadir Al-Abadi declared military victory over the Islamic State, and as our advise-and-assist mission evolves from the strike-based targeting of combatatants to the warrant-based targeting of civil society, it’s interesting to consider the contributions of Army Judge Advocates who’ve helped ensure the victory of law and order over the forces of chaos and dogma.
And fittingly, my mind drifts to a favorite former mentor and spiritual embodiment of the JAGWAR mission: LTC Megan Wakefield.
Back when she cut an equally imposing “Major” Wakefield, her role as a paratrooper and Judge Advocate was profiled in a Huffington Post article entitled “ISIS, the Laws of War, and Combat Lawyers.” If you haven’t read that article before, check it out; it provides a gripping perspective on legal issues from the annals of 2014, just before scores of JAs returned to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve to render legal advice to commanders whose respect they were compelled to earn.
And the article makes clear that then-MAJ Wakefield possessed the character to do so. Here’s the pull quote:
““She is passionate about both aspects of her job, jumping and lawyering.””
We members of the Army’s “dual profession” play a critical role in defining what makes our military might different than the indiscriminate violence waged by the enemies we’ve vanquished and the ones yet in our headlights. It’s on us to establish our legal advice as credible and moral, both legally and within the context of the Soldier experience. That’s why our status as Soldiers is critical to ensuring that our legal opines convey the requisite force of persuasion. LTC Wakefield has passed that test repeatedly. And having been trained by her, it’s kinda cool to be sitting in Iraq feeling like I’m carrying forth the same torch, as both a lawyer AND a Soldier.
I’m much obliged to you for your influence, ma’am! Thanks for being such a badass. I’ll keep working to make you proud out here.