Maj Marah Ericksen
1-800-JAG-USAF
af.jag.recruiting@us.af.mil
CAREERS
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
paths to becoming a jag
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Before you become a JAG, you must first learn to become an officer. That takes place during Officer Training School (OTS). OTS is an approximately eight-week training program at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. It is a rigorous program designed to challenge you both mentally and physically, developing you into an officer and a leader. You will participate in physical conditioning (running, push-ups, sit-ups, etc.), classroom studies and training on Air Force customs/courtesies, Air Force history, leadership, marching drills and teamwork.
You will need to be in shape before training begins. To find out more about our weight/height/body fat requirements, view the guidelines here.
After completing OTS, you will be tested twice a year to assure that you meet Air Force fitness standards: https://www.afpc.af.mil/Career-Management/Fitness-Program/ -
After completing Officer Training School (OTS), you will begin the Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course (JASOC), also at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. This is a nine-week course where you will be trained on Air Force legal practice. The JASOC curriculum focuses on many areas of military law, including military justice, trial advocacy and adverse administrative actions involving military members and civilian employees.
The course also covers a wide range of practice areas critical to daily operations at Air Force installations, including government contracts, environmental law, labor law and legal assistance. Finally, you’ll receive training in international and operations law topics, such as the legal aspects of homeland defense, deployed military justice and civil law, the law of armed conflict and rules of engagement.
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Judge Advocates have two professions. You will be both an Air Force Officer as well as an attorney. We expect our JAGs to continually grow and learn in both fields. You will be required to complete ongoing military education courses throughout your career to improve your leadership, management and professional development skills. These courses can be completed by correspondence, seminar or in-residence. The primary courses are Squadron Officer School (for captains), Air Command and Staff College (for majors) and Air War College (for lieutenant colonels and colonels). These courses are conducted at or through Air University, located at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
SKIP Practice Areas CAROUSEL
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01 AIR & SPACE LAW
Air Force JAGs rotate in and out of Space Force locations throughout their careers. Air and space law is a complex and fascinating area of legal expertise. As a JAG working in this field, you’ll serve as counsel to Air Force and Space Force commanders on the space products, services and tactics they rely on to reduce the fog of war. -
02 CIVIL ADMINISTRATION LAW
The Air Force must comply with civil and administrative matters according to the law, just like any business would. These include matters relating to the organization, administration, operation and functions of the Air Force. They also include the actions of the officers and enlisted personnel. -
03 CLAIMS AND TORT LITIGATION
Tort law is a unique career path within JAG. Specializing in this field involves working with base-level Judge Advocates to investigate and administratively settle tort claims against the Air Force in aviation, medical, international and general tort areas, partnering with the Department of Justice in litigating such claims, both for and against the Air Force and advising Air Force attorneys, commanders and other officials at every organizational level on issues related to medical and aviation law. -
04 CRIMINAL LAW
As a new Judge Advocate, you’ll gain litigation experience as trial counsel (prosecutor) in court-martial cases. At some bases, JAGs work with the Department of Justice to prosecute civilians who commit offenses on federal lands in federal Magistrate Court. Under this program, JAGs are appointed as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to prosecute federal and state criminal offenses before a Federal Magistrate Judge. -
05 CYBER LAW
You might be surprised to learn that the Air Force has one of the most robust and active cyber-warfare initiatives currently in operation. If you’re interested in cyber law and technology, there are plenty of opportunities within the JAG Corps to practice in this dynamic field. -
06 ENVIRONMENTAL AND REAL PROPERTY LAW
As a JAG specializing in environmental law, you’ll advise commanders and staff officers on the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). You’ll work with commanders, civil engineers and Air Force agencies at all levels. You’ll also be the face of the Air Force before government-regulatory agencies -
07 GOVERNMENT CONTRACT & COMMERCIAL LAW
JAGs play a vital role in the development of high-tech aircraft and weapon systems—the cutting-edge technologies needed to accomplish the aerospace missions now and in the future. As a JAG specializing in contract and commercial law, you’ll review and revise contracts, often worth many millions of dollars. You’ll award documents and ensure compliance with federal regulations and Air Force policy. You’ll also serve as an advisor to contracting officers. -
08 INTERNATIONAL LAW
As a JAG practicing overseas, you’ll have a dynamic career with opportunities to counsel on a variety of international law issues, some of which include advising commanders on agreements governing the status of U.S. forces, participating in the negotiation of bilateral agreements and tracking and reporting on foreign civil litigation affecting U.S. forces -
09 LABOR LAW
The Air Force has a substantial civilian workforce and must comply, just like any business, with federal labor laws. As a JAG practicing in labor law, you’ll counsel on matters such as discrimination complaints, dispute resolution, arbitration, labor agreement negotiations and overall labor relations management. -
10 LEGAL ASSISTANCE
As a JAG, you can choose to become the expert and advisor on current legal issues by counseling Airmen on ways to avoid their personal legal entanglements and providing legal assistance free of charge. The range of issues you’ll encounter is broad, but the most common involve taxes, domestic relations, wills, powers of attorney, property transactions, landlord and tenant relations, debtor-creditor rights, consumer affairs, adoption and citizenship. -
11 MEDICAL LAW
JAGs practicing in medical law investigate, settle and provide litigation support for all medical malpractice claims filed against the Air Force. They also provide guidance to both the legal and medical fields on policy issues involving patient privacy, training agreements, medical ethics, the regulation of physicians and other medical law issues. -
12 OPERATIONS LAW
If you are eager to play a critical role in the operations of the Air Force, focusing on operations law is a rewarding career path. JAGs in this field deploy with operational units, where they provide vital legal services to the combat leadership and Airmen. These Judge Advocates advise commanders on the lawfulness of targets and help ensure that the weaponry use complies with international law.
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Information & Contact
Active Duty Air Force JAG
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Additional Opportunities
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