what is a JAG officer doing in Iraq?
Most importantly, we try to help the commanders maintain good order and discipline of their Airmen — military justice. Military justice is commonly referred to as “job number 1” among JAGs. Given this summer’s recent press (Abu Ghraib Prison), I think most people would recognize the importance of good order and discipline in America’s military. Saying that, there was no alcohol at Balad, so there were less military justice issues than I have seen at the other bases. I handled no courts-martial while in Iraq, and only about a dozen cases of “Non-judicial Punishment.” I, like most people, worked all day, every day, even at times when we weren’t particularly busy. We worked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., often longer. Besides military justice, I handled a wide-range of issues — contracts, claims, legal assistance (assistance to Airmen with a wide array of legal problems, from divorce to consumer affairs), Law of Armed Conflict issues, briefing Rules of Engagement, and handling the “cats and dogs”
