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Welcome to the 230th Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course (JAOBC)! We’re thrilled to have you join us on this excited journey. To begin your JAOBC journey, please the information below. Contact the Student Detachment via e-mail at judgeadvocateofficerbasiccourse@army.mil with any questions.

Student Data Form

Student Handbook

Tasks to Complete Prior to JAOBC

  1. Handbook & Policy Memos: Review the Student Handbook and Policy Memos.
  2. Student Data Form: Complete the Student Data Form by 8 November 2025.
  3. Access Badge/Biography Photo: Submit a head and shoulders portrait in OCP uniform on a plain or off-white background as a JPG or PNG file by 8 November 2025.
    1. Students attending DCC 001-26: DCC Cadre will assign a student to take all JAOBC student photos.
    2. Students NOT attending DCC 001-26: Submit your photo to Student Detachment via e-mail.
  4. Government Travel Card (GTC): Complete the government travel card application as soon as possible. If you have a government travel card, you do not need to apply for another one. It is extremely important to submit your application as soon as possible so that your card will be available on Day 1 of OBC to pay for lodging expenses.
    1. Active Duty: Use the instructions above to complete the application.
    2. Reserve/National Guard:
      1. If you have not completed an application, contact your home unit for a travel card “invitation passcode, inviter’s email address, and approver1 email address. You may use the linked instructions to assist you with the application, but you must use your unit’s invitation passcode.
      2. If you completed an application but did not receive your card before departing, contact your home unit and request the card approving authority to update the mailing address to TJAGLCS prior to approving your application. Mail the card to TJAGLCS as indicated in the instructions NOT your home address. Cadre will collect travel cards and distribute them on the first day of OBC.
  5. Army Virtual Desktop AVD: Register for AVD by 22 November 2025. Your A365 email license must be activated before you can complete this step.
    1. Active Duty: TJAGLCS IT department will activate your license by 31 October. Contact Student Detachment if you are not able to access your Army e-mail and complete the AVD registration after 31 October.
    2. Reserve/National Guard: Contact your home unit and request activation of your A365 email license if you are unable to access your Army email or register for AVD.
  6. Lodging Exception to Policy (ETP): After reviewing the Student Handbook and Lodging Policy Memo, submit an ETP request, if necessary, to via e-mail by 8 November 2025.
    1. Requests must state a bona fide need and specific reasoning to justify the request.
    2. Requests will be considered and approved case-by-case and based on the availability of lodging. Not all ETPs will be granted.
  7. Household Goods (Active Duty only): Coordinate with TJAGLCS Transportation for your household goods move.
    TJAGLCS Transportation POC:
    Ms. Tracy L. Jones
    tracy.l.jones1.ctr@army.mil
    434-971-3332
  8. Defense Travel System (Active Duty only):
    1. Prior Service: If you are prior service and have a DTS account, contact your previous organization or use the linked instructions to have your DTS account released from your previous organization. Email Student Detachment once your account has been released to request to be arrived to the TJAGLCS hierarchy.
    2. Newly Commissioned: If you are newly commissioned and have never accessed DTS, use the linked instructions to register for a DTS account.
  9. Complete Online Training: You will have time in the evenings of week 1 to complete required online training. However, doing so before arriving to OBC will alleviate stress and allow more personal time after classes each day. Do not re-do any training you completed within the last 9 months. Save a copy of your completion certificates to submit during week 1.

Travel Instructions

  1. All Students must arrive at their directed Charlottesville lodging no later than 2100 on Sunday, 23 November 2025.
  2. Traveling from Fort Benning:
    1. Personally Owned Vehicle (POV): You are entitled two travel days to travel from Fort Benning to Charlottesville via POV (if your orders allow POV transportation). National Guard Soldiers should seek approval/guidance from your home unit. You are authorized reimbursement for the hotel cost for one night at the government rate at/around the midway point (Charlotte, NC). You must retain a copy of your hotel receipt for reimbursement. POV travel is reimbursed at a flat rate based on the official distance. You do not need to retain receipts for gas. Visit the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) webpage at https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates to get the exact lodging reimbursement amount. Please plan ahead.
    2. Flight: Air travel must be booked through CWTSato Travel. Retain a copy of your receipt for reimbursement. Do not book a flight directly with an airline or third-party booking site.
  3. Traveling from home or home unit:
    1. Personally Owned Vehicle: Review your orders for authorization to travel via POV.
    2. Flight: Air travel must be booked through CWTSato Travel or the Defense Travel System (DTS). Retain a copy of your receipt for reimbursement. Do not book a flight directly with an airline or third-party booking site.
  4. Lodging: Review the Student Handbook & Lodging Policy Memo. Do not book your own lodging. All OBC Student lodging reservations will be made by TJAGLCS Student Detachment. You will receive your lodging assignment via email prior to the course start date.
    1. Active Duty: During the first week of OBC, the Finance Office will provide you specific guidance on how to request reimbursement for your travel expenses. Expenses incurred during your trip from your Home of Record to DCC will be processed through the DFAS Smart Voucher platform, while those from DCC to OBC and those at OBC will go through the Defense Travel System (DTS). You will be enrolled in DTS upon arrival to OBC. Ensure you save all your lodging receipts for reimbursement purposes. Your travel expenses from your Home of Record to DCC and DCC to OBC will be reimbursed at your gaining unit once you file your PCS travel voucher.
    2. National Guard and Reserve: You will receive your reimbursements through the Defense Travel System (DTS) managed by your unit. We highly encourage you contact your Unit Administrator for more information about the reimbursement process. Estimated lodging rate to provide your unit for DTS authorization: $136 per night and an expense entry for lodging taxes. If you are directed to stay at Army lodging at a lower rate, you will only be reimbursed the exact amount paid for lodging, as verified by your receipts.
  5. Departure: You will be able to depart TJAGLCS on 26 February, after the completion of out-processing and the graduation ceremony. Do not make flight reservations departing the Charlottesville airport prior to 1400 on graduation day. (Airports further from Charlottesville will require later flight times.)
  6. Reimbursement:
    1. Active Duty: You will receive specific guidance on how to request reimbursement for your travel expenses during week 1. Retain copies of all lodging and air travel receipts for reimbursement.
    2. National Guard and Reserve: You will receive your reimbursements through the Defense Travel System (DTS) managed by your unit. We highly encourage you contact your Unit Administrator for more information about the reimbursement process.

Reporting Instructions

  1. Arrival: You must arrive to your Charlottesville lodging on the date annotated on their Student Data Form and no later than 2100 on Sunday, 23 November 2025. Lodging will not be available if you arrive before the date on your form.
    1. Traveling from DCC to OBC: You may report anytime between Friday, 21 November and Sunday, 23 November (no later than 2100).
    2. Traveling from unit or home of record: You must report on Sunday, 23 November (no later than 2100).
  2. Check In Procedures: You will be provided a point of contact the week prior to the course start date with specific instructions for Sunday accountability or communicating unanticipated travel delays.
  3. Day 1:
    1. Formation will be at 0700 on Monday, 24 November at TJAGLCS, 600 Massie Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903. Students will form up under the overhang outside the main entrance in OCP uniform. A backpack and pen are encouraged.
    2. You will receive a map with the formation area marked via email the week prior to reporting.