The Cadet Command summer interns and other members of the Cadet Command Legal Team before taking on the obstacle course at Fort Knox, KY. (Image courtesy of authors)
Pivotal Perspective
The Summer of Hard Knox
By Captain Miles White, Second Lieutenant Drew Jackson, Sam Halpert, and Shaun Hay
One summer, four law students from different backgrounds, experiences, and schools worked as interns in legal offices at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This piece is a collection of their stories and experiences working with the U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox (USACC), Trial Defense Services (TDS), and U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) Offices of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJAs).
Mr. Sam Halpert, Summer Intern, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
For someone with no prior military experience, who does not come from a military family or town, it was difficult to know what to expect from the Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps summer internship. My interest in becoming a judge advocate (JA) was based on my understanding of the variety of work, the leadership opportunities, and the chance to live in different places throughout my career. Although I had researched this career path for years, spoken with current and former Service members, and completed other legal internships, I lacked any first-hand experience. My primary concerns before I started were that I would not feel welcomed and that my work would have a narrow scope. While at Fort Knox, I worked in the USACC and USAREC legal offices. I primarily assisted in drafting Army Regulation (AR) 15-6 legal reviews, AR 15-6 rebuttals, COVID-19 vaccination exception to policy legal reviews and recommendations, and assorted research and memoranda relating to other matters.
I was struck by the level of responsibility given to interns; I felt I was treated like a colleague rather than an intern. Although I had no experience in military or administrative law, the uniformed and Civilian attorneys allowed me to take on new projects and trusted me to learn and execute quickly. However, I was not left to fend for myself. The JAs were patient and provided me with meaningful and concise instruction, and, of course, they reviewed and endorsed my work. I left each assignment with a better understanding of the work product I was asked to prepare and the role it played in the wider scheme of the Army’s administrative processes.
The aspect of the internship I enjoyed the most was the exposure to Army life outside of the office. For example, I participated in a capsizing exercise with Army engineers at Fort Knox. We also completed the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Summer Training Confidence Course. Even though I enjoy physical activity and the outdoors, these were unique chances to understand elements of Army life that I would not be able to from behind a desk. The office also included us in morning physical training (PT), which allowed us to get to know everyone in a less-formal setting.
The mentorship I witnessed and experienced firsthand while working at Fort Knox inspired me. It can be intimidating for civilians—whether they are interested in joining the military or not—to approach Service members and ask questions. The attorneys I worked with never made me feel as though I or my questions were unwelcome. On a couple of occasions, I was able to set up meetings with senior officers and have candid conversations about their careers, leadership, expectations, and what I could do to position myself for a successful JAG Corps career.
My time at Fort Knox was incredibly beneficial and further solidified my goal of starting my legal career in the Army. I would recommend the internship to anyone who may want to become an Army JA, but I would honestly recommend it to any law student. As an intern, you work with exceptional legal professionals on interesting projects, and there are a lot of unique opportunities to interact with clients.
Mr. Shaun Hay, Summer Intern, The Pennsylvania State University School of Law
My time at USACC OSJA was a riveting experience. When I applied for the Army JAG Corps 2L internship, I was drawn to the national security practice of the JAG Corps. I had taken national security law in law school and enjoyed the class. I was unfamiliar with the other practice areas in the Army JAG Corps and was not sure that I would enjoy military justice or administrative law. However, throughout the internship, I gained some familiarity with these different practice areas, and I found the work to be intriguing and exciting.
At the start of the internship in June, I did not know what to expect. At first, I felt overwhelmed by the number of military acronyms and the Army’s vastness. However, with the help of my sponsor, the other JAs in my office, and my fellow interns, I gained a better understanding of the inner workings of the Army JAG Corps and the Army generally.
I participated in PT twice a week, where workouts consisted of planks, push-ups, air squats, and my personal favorite, running. Most of my day consisted of working in the office with a wide variety of people, a mix of JAs and Civilian attorneys. In my time as an intern, I was given wide range of responsibilities and duties including drafting an employment discrimination summary judgment motion to AR 15-6 legal reviews and documenting probable cause opines and letters of reprimand. More importantly, the internship allowed me to witness courts-martial and how they operate. I am amazed at how my leadership allowed me to take the first stab at drafting legal documents and memos that would later go to the commanding general for approval, allowing my work as an intern to impact the Army mission.
While most of my internship consisted of working in the office, it also included unique extracurricular activities. I experienced the Army’s esprit de corps while participating in the Army’s 247th birthday 5K installation run. Another highlight of my internship was participating in capsize exercises with the 19th Engineering Battalion, where we flipped a boat and then worked as a team to right it. I learned that JAG Corps lawyers are significantly better in the courtroom than they are in the water. Overall, my experience last summer was both informative and thrilling.
Sam Halpert, a summer intern, tackles an obstacle. Sam graduated law school in May 2023 and will join the JAG Corps in early 2024. (Image courtesy of authors)
Second Lieutenant Drew Jackson, Educational Delay Officer, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University
My background is unique compared to the more traditional Army JAG Corps intern. I was a 27D paralegal specialist in the Kentucky National Guard and commissioned through an ROTC program. I then attended law school with an educational delay, which delayed my active-duty service commitment until after completion of law school. The educational delay provides the opportunity to not only receive a legal education but also apply for and serve in the Army JAG Corps, which is not an option for the typical second lieutenant.
Drew Jackson, a summer intern, learning the ropes during a boat capsizing exercise with the 19th Engineer Battalion. Drew hopes to join the JAG Corps after he graduates in May 2024. (Image courtesy of authors)
I aspire to serve in the JAG Corps. After I was not chosen for the selective 1L internship, I knew that I still wanted to spend my summer with some type of JAG Corps experience. I reached out and was able to coordinate an unpaid externship. To help curb the financial burden of working an unpaid position over the summer, my school awarded me a public interest fellowship that provided funding to engage in unpaid public interest legal work. I can think of no better public interest work than serving those who serve the United States of America.
During my externship, I worked in the Trial Defense Service (TDS) office at Fort Knox, where I had the opportunity to work with and learn from some very experienced JAs. I could not have asked for a better experience. The JAs went out of their way to answer my questions and taught me the complexities of military law.
Because I was only a first-year law student, I expected to spend a lot of time doing caselaw research and completing small tasks. My experience exceeded those expectations. The JAs in TDS truly gave me a seat at their table and treated me as a valued member of their team. From the first day in the office, I was given hands-on work for pending cases. I conducted research for upcoming courts-martial, helped interview clients, and prepared demonstratives. Every assignment had impact on Soldiers’ lives and careers. I enjoyed going to work every day knowing that the work I was doing was important, and I found myself eager to learn more.
One of the most rewarding things about doing public service work is helping clients achieve better results and seeing things through to the end. The quick turnaround of some military justice actions, like Article 15s and administrative separation boards, allowed me to see the full process from start to finish in some cases. I was given opportunities that other internships are unable to offer, and the skills that I gained during my externship not only put me ahead of my peers when I returned to classes the following fall, but they also helped me prepare for my career, which I hope is with the JAG Corps.
Captain Miles White, Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) Officer, J. David Rosenberg College of Law, University of Kentucky
I was driving into Wilson Gate for PT on a summer morning at Fort Knox. And just when I thought I had forgotten what being a Soldier felt like, the ID check at the gate, the signs I drove past reminding me to stop for reveille and retreat, and the sound of distant small-arms fire all brought it rushing back. It was almost nostalgic.
Judge advocates truly have to be subject matter experts in military law, but their practice is so much broader than I thought.
This was not my first time on Fort Knox. I was here as a cadet in the summer of 2015. As I drove in, I thought about how much I had grown as an Army officer since that summer seven years ago, and how thankful I was for the opportunities the Army has given me to continue serving as a member of the JAG Corps. As my thoughts continued to wander, I finally arrived at my destination. I picked up my PT belt and water source and headed into the gym to find out what my first day of PT would be like. It turns out, it was dodgeball.
On my first day at USACC, I picked up a folder containing a neatly printed itinerary. The first week would be in legal assistance, and the rest of the summer split between military justice and administrative law. However, in my hunger to learn more about the JAG Corps’s craft, I began to seek out assignments wherever I could find them. I bounced between all the division offices, offering to take any work I could find. My one goal for the summer was to be added value for the organization. Luckily, I did not have to worry about finding work, and I was given a heavy load of assignments to complete.
In military justice, I observed multiple guilty pleas and portions of a contested court-martial. I prepared prosecution memoranda, proof matrices, and talked through themes and theories for cases. In administrative law, I worked through issues involving easements, intellectual property, and traffic law. For the claims division, I prepared a litigation report for an active Federal case. In law school, I assumed only criminal law would be applicable to the internship, but that summer I found out how wrong my assumption was. I worked in every area of law encountered through coursework, and even some subjects I had yet to learn. Judge advocates truly have to be subject matter experts in military law, but their practice is so much broader than I thought.
What amazed me while working at USACC was the amount of leeway I was given. My leadership trusted me to work independently on large projects and then reviewed my work. I received useful feedback every time and felt myself becoming more and more confident. As my knowledge increased, so did the complexity of the projects. By the end of the summer, I almost felt as though I was getting the hang of things.
While the work was enjoyable, the best part of the summer by far was my interactions with the other interns. Since I had some experience with the Army, I was jokingly referred to as the class leader. But it was fitting because I was an intern, so my fellow interns felt comfortable talking to me freely and asking their questions in a more relaxed setting. I talked about my experiences and motivations and they shared theirs. We went hiking together and got into long discussions on a variety of topics. Shaun and Sam had more time in law school, so they educated me on the law, and, thankfully, I was able to answer some of their questions about the Army.
Overall, my experience was leagues better than I imagined it would be. The mentorship I received from every JA I worked under was invaluable. I felt much more prepared for my second year of law school and able to contribute even more the next summer when I return as a rising 3L!
Lessons Learned
After the Summer of Hard Knox, Shaun Hay and Sam Halpert accepted offers to serve as Army JAs after graduating from law school in May of 2023. Second Lieutenant Drew Jackson started his 2L year at Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University and was selected to serve as a staff editor on the Northern Kentucky Law Review. Captain Miles White started his 2L year at the J. David Rosenberg College of Law, University of Kentucky, and was selected to serve as a staff editor on the Kentucky Law Journal. Shaun, Sam, Drew, and Miles are all excited to become JAs and will no doubt be valuable assets to the Corps!1 TAL
CPT White is currently a 3L at the University of Kentucky, J. David Rosenberg College of Law.
1LT Jackson is currently a 3L at Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law.
Mr. Halpert graduated from Case Western University School of Law in May 2023. He is slated to attend the Direct Commissioning Course in January 2024.
Mr. Hay graduated from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law. He is also slated to attend the Direct Commissioning Course in January 2024.
Notes
1. For more information on the JAG Corps Summer Intern Program, see JAG Corps Intern Program, The Judge Advoc. Gen.’s Corps: U.S. Army, https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/GoArmyJAG/Interns (last visited July 12,
2023). For more information on the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
Educational Delay program, see
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Educational Delay
Program,
The Judge Advoc. Gen.’s Corps: U.S. Army, https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/GoArmyJAG/ROTC-Educational-Delay (last
visited July 12, 2023). For more information on the Funded Legal
Education Program, see
Funded Legal Education Program, The Judge Advoc. Gen.’s Corps: U.S. Army, https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/GoArmyJAG/Funded-Legal-Education-Program (last visited July 12, 2023). Alternatively, use the QR code on the back cover of this publication to learn more about the U.S. Army JAG Corps.