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The Army Lawyer | Issue 3 2023View PDF

Court Is Assembled: A Dignity-Focused Approach Is the Key to Developing the Army of Tomorrow

The Department of Defense (DoD) Human Goals Charter states:

Our Nation was founded on the principle that each individual has infinite dignity and worth. The [DoD], which exists to keep the Nation secure and at peace, must always be guided by this principle. In all that we do, we must show respect for Service members, [C]ivilian employees, and [F]amily members, recognizing their individual needs, aspirations, and capabilities.

News & Notes: Welcome to Fort Moore

In August of 2022, the Naming Commission identified nine installations, including what was once Fort Benning, Georgia, for redesignation. Through the redesignation process, Congress sought to remove commemorations of a Confederate past; but, redesignation also provided a unique opportunity to honor individuals that all Americans could look to for inspiration.

People First, People Always

Over the past several years, the Army has been working to implement the Army People Strategy, which, as expected, acknowledges people as the Army’s biggest asset. General James C. McConville said it perfectly in the above quote that we win through our people. In recognition of that, the strategy provides a framework to demonstrate that we value all members within our organizations and emphasizes building cohesive teams by exercising four lines of effort: acquire talent, develop talent, employ talent, and retain talent.

Pivotal Perspective: The Summer of Hard Knox

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).

What’s It Like? Changing Places

The U.S. Army engages in numerous exchanges with allied partner countries to maximize alliances and partnerships by building capacity and strengthening relationships in support of global strategies. On an operational level, exchanges are meant to increase cooperation by integrating U.S. and partner-nation military personnel across various positions at the unit level.

Book Review: The United States Army and the Making of America

The United States Army and the Making of America: From Confederation to Empire, 1775-1903 is an important book and a model of scholarship. Every judge advocate, legal administrator, and paralegal specialist should read it for its unique and comprehensive synthesis of how civil-military relations, internal Army politics, and various Army wars played a critical role in the creation of the United States prior to the twentieth century.

Book Review: The Wager

Even though judge advocates (JAs) are not mentioned until the last twenty pages of the book, author David Grann’s most recent novel, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder (The Wager), is not without lessons for those attorneys willing to dive into its pages.

Azimuth Check: Building a Culture of Dignity and Respect

Dignity and respect are key elements of a healthy, productive organization that senior leaders must prioritize in an organization as we communicate vision and purpose.1 However, high optempo, stress, circumstances, and emotions can sometimes complicate relationships. This article offers some points to consider and use to increase dignity and respect in the installation-level workplace and beyond.

Lore of the Corps: A Judge Advocate in World War I

The roughly 425 lawyers who were Army judge advocates (JAs) during World War I served in the United States and overseas in England, France, Italy, and Russia. One of those lawyers was James A. Gallogly, a West Point graduate who transferred to the Judge Advocate General’s Department (JAGD) after earning his law degree.