Programs turn officers into JAGs

  • Published
  • By Capt. Rob Caridad
  • Electronic Systems Center Legal Office
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Base legal offices provide Airmen with a wide variety of legal services, including criminal law, administrative law, legal assistance, government contract law, health law, labor law, environmental law, international law, military operations law and tort claims. Active-duty officers interested in pursuing legal careers with the Air Force can apply for assistance programs offered by the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps. 

Each year, a limited number of active-duty officers are selected for participation in the Funded Legal Education Program and the Extended Leave Program. 

Officers participating in FLEP receive tuition, fees and a book allowance. Because these officers remain on active duty, they also receive full pay, allowances and other benefits while attending law school. 

ELP officers attend law school in an unpaid status using excess leave. ELP participants pay for their own law school tuition, books and other educational expenses. However, ELP participants continue to accrue time for promotion and retirement purposes and remain eligible for other active-duty benefits such as shopping at the Base Exchange and Commissary and medical services. 

Applicants for both programs must be United States citizens serving as Air Force officers on extended active duty and must have graduated from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree or equivalent. 

FLEP applicants must be in the pay grade of captain or below with at least two but not more than six years -- including enlisted time -- of active duty service at the time of law school enrollment. 

ELP applicants must be in the pay grade of captain or below, with less than three years time in grade as a captain, and must have at least two but not more than ten years -- including enlisted time -- of active duty service at the time of law school enrollment. 

Transfer to the JAG Corps is contingent upon graduation from an American Bar Association-approved law school and admission to practice law in the highest court of any state, United States territory or a federal court. 

Selection for both FLEP and ELP is on a best-qualified basis. Selection factors include academic performance, extracurricular activities, community service, prior military record (if any), work experience and a Staff Judge Advocate recommendation. Applicants are notified of the results by letter. Selectees begin their legal education in the fall of the year in which they are selected. 

For more information on the FLEP and ELP programs, go to www.airforce.com/jag or call (800) JAG-USAF. To speak with a Judge Advocate about these programs or other JAG-related issues, call the Electronic Systems Center Legal Office at (781) 377-4077.