A question for the U.S. military people...

[Adhesive]

Lately I've been tossing around the idea of doing a 4-year tour in the JAG core. Why would a Ron Paul supporter enlist? Good question! I have my reasons for and against, but for now, I just wanted to get some basic information from those serving in the military, especially if you've served in Japan. I would contact a recruiter, but their job is to recruit, so I don't really see them giving me the skinny. I've also looked all over the web, but the information I get is often conflicting. I have the utmost faith in FG, so here goes!

First, although I understand that you cannot choose where you're stationed, I've heard something about them taking your preferences into consideration. My basic question is this; how likely is it that having an intermediate Japanese speaking ability, and a Japanese wife and daughter would allow me to be sent to a base in Japan? Do they look at your preference and just say "ah...that's cute", or do they actually evaluate your "fit" in a particular base?

Second, once I'm stationed somewhere, how long do you serve at that particular base? How long until I would have to pack up and move my family, and would it most likely be in the same country?

Third, assuming I do get stationed in Japan, and manage not to go AWOL, does the military offer any sort of language training for those interested?

Fourth, again assuming I get stationed in Japan, if they decide to deploy me, how likely is it that I'd be deployed to Iraq? For example, do people stationed in Japan typically get deployed to Asian countries like Korea, or when they deploy do they just randomly grab people from all over?

Fifth: How many lawyers have been killed in the line of duty??? My wife would be really upset with me if I went off and got myself killed!

[Iraira]

"You are just the type we need for desk work in Tuvalu. In my 9am, out by 5pm, and most of the time we head over to the bars by 4 on Fridays. Combat? I doubt it, unless you mean with the local ladies"

Your experience may differ.
If it is not in writing "YOU WILL NOT GO TO IRAQ", you are eligible to go to Iraq, or whomever is next. Can you walk, pull a trigger,etc? Then, you are eligible to go to Iraq, or whomever is next.
Seriously, given the recruitment woes the US military is facing, and the stories of heavy-handed recruitment tactics, etc., the promises of many virgins waiting for you could just be many Akihabara otaku guys who don't bathe frequently.

[Charles]

The military offers Japanese language instruction at the Defense Language Institute, which is in California, not Japan.

BTW, if I were you, I'd avoid self-identification as a Paultard, that could get you labeled as psychologically unfit for duty.

[Adhesive]

The military offers Japanese language instruction at the Defense Language Institute, which is in California, not Japan.

BTW, if I were you, I'd avoid self-identification as a Paultard, that could get you labeled as psychologically unfit for duty.

Well, considering Paul receives the largest percentage of military contributions out of any candidate, I think they'd make an exception.

[Adhesive]

"You are just the type we need for desk work in Tuvalu. In my 9am, out by 5pm, and most of the time we head over to the bars by 4 on Fridays. Combat? I doubt it, unless you mean with the local ladies"

Your experience may differ.
If it is not in writing "YOU WILL NOT GO TO IRAQ", you are eligible to go to Iraq, or whomever is next. Can you walk, pull a trigger,etc? Then, you are eligible to go to Iraq, or whomever is next.
Seriously, given the recruitment woes the US military is facing, and the stories of heavy-handed recruitment tactics, etc., the promises of many virgins waiting for you could just be many Akihabara otaku guys who don't bathe frequently.

Not sure I understand your post. I know I'm eligible to go to Iraq as soon as I sign-up, my question is how often do they really send a lawyer stationed in Yokosuka to a war-zone?

[Charles]

[quote="Adhesive"]Well, considering Paul receives the largest percentage of military contributions out of any candidate, I think they'd make an exception. ]
Yep, there's a lot of overseas military who haven't yet figured out those mysterious unauthorized charges to RP on their credit cards.

[FG Lurker]

BTW, if I were you, I'd avoid self-identification as a Paultard

If I were you I would avoid self-identification....period.

[Iraira]

Not sure I understand your post. I know I'm eligible to go to Iraq as soon as I sign-up, my question is how often do they really send a lawyer stationed in Yokosuka to a war-zone?

The bigger question is, "Do you want to go to Iraq?" If no, then you shouldn't put yourself in any situation that would increase the odds (and I don't think that there is any real way of estimating what the odds that they would ship a Japanese-speaking lawyer based in Yokosuka to Iraq) of your being shipped to Iraq.
Kinda like Russian roulette, unless you are really drunk or trying to prove that your 2" penis really isn't an indication of what kind of man you are or you are legitimately suicidal, you don't play, no matter how many chambers the gun has.
Yes, it is noble to serve, but you have a wife and kids(?) to think about.

[Greji]

Lately I've been tossing around the idea of doing a 4-year tour in the JAG core.

What service are you considering and where would you be enlisting at? If this is putting out more on-line than you want, PM me. I spend 24 years in the USAF, mostly in Japan, with some agricultual experience (plowing selected rice paddies) in Vietnam and had a lot of work related with the JAG.

Whatever you do, don't ask Kamome. I gave him a set of law books on his last visit to Japan and he ate the covers off of them. He's only got his sights set on class action coffee burns at MacDonald's.

[Adhesive]

The bigger question is, "Do you want to go to Iraq?" If no, then you shouldn't put yourself in any situation that would increase the odds (and I don't think that there is any real way of estimating what the odds that they would ship a Japanese-speaking lawyer based in Yokosuka to Iraq) of your being shipped to Iraq.
Kinda like Russian roulette, unless you are really drunk or trying to prove that your 2" penis really isn't an indication of what kind of man you are or you are legitimately suicidal, you don't play, no matter how many chambers the gun has.
Yes, it is noble to serve, but you have a wife and kids(?) to think about.

I understand what you're saying, but isn't that like saying I shouldn't drive my car to the video store because I might die in an auto accident? That is why I asked about probabilities, because calculating risk always involves a weighing of the benefits of the action compared to the probability and magnitude of harm.

In a Russian Roulette scenario the magnitude of harm is death, and the probability of harm is 1/6. The benefit is merely the fleeting sensation of knowing what its like to have an 8" cock.

[Adhesive]

What service are you considering and where would you be enlisting at? If this is putting out more on-line than you want, PM me. I spend 24 years in the USAF, mostly in Japan, with some agricultual experience (plowing selected rice paddies) in Vietnam and had a lot of work related with the JAG.

Whatever you do, don't ask Kamome. I gave him a set of law books on his last visit to Japan and he ate the covers off of them. He's only got his sights set on class action coffee burns at MacDonald's.

There's big money in class actions.


Ideally I would like to serve with the AirForce, but I hear they are the most competitive. The Navy would be next, then the Army, and if being stationed in Japan is simply not likely, then I would probably shoot for the Coast Guard, since their is no chance of them being deployed to Iraq.

I'm not sure what you mean by where I would be enlisting at? I'm relatively new to this...

[halfnip]

Although I have not been enlisted in the military directly, I have spent a lot of time at several stations due to my pop being in the Navy for nearly 30 years. He was stationed in Yokosuka for about 15 of those years and he did see quite a bit of time in the gulf at that time, but only because he was a radioman on the ships. It's kind of hard to avoid going, when you're actually stationed on the ship, eh?

I would say your chances in Japan in particular are quite well, as most of the Navy/Marine bases in APAC are in Japan, or should I say *used to be* or *not for long*. Being able to speak Japanese would be huge for you I believe, as I'd imagine you'd have to deal with the Japanese authorities as well.

I do know that Japan--Yokosuka in particular, is a fairly popular pick amongst the enlisted, so you might get shipped somewhere else first..

Sorry I can't be of much help here, but being from Yokosuka and seeing how much of a shithole it has turned in to makes me wonder why someone would want to be stationed there now anyways.

BTW, my brother-in-law left the Navy only to join the CG and now they're stationed in Freeport, Maine.

Good luck--!

[ttjereth]

Lately I've been tossing around the idea of doing a 4-year tour in the JAG core.

You know the women don't really look like Catherine Bell right? ]http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/images/vbimghost/18574762304de06c6.jpg[/img]

Seriously though. I'm not and never was in the military myself, but I'm a military brat and the first adult male in my family for 4 generations to not serve in the military, therefore the information I post below is not first hand or official, but things I have experience either being hauled all over the place with my father as a kid or things I know of through family and acquantainces, and the most recent information I have is from the first gulf war.

Anyway, disclaimers aside, I know for my father personal choice wasn't generally much of a factor in where he was stationed. He was in the navy and originally stationed on a ship, so obviously at that time he went where the ship went, but even when he was no longer serving on a ship I know he was assigned to the old Philadelphia Naval Base when he requested to be placed somewhere on the West Coast (closer to his home) and that even later in his career when he was given some semblance of a choice it was more often having his original choice ignored and being allowed to pick from a handful of other locations, generally nowhere near his original choice (as an example, although he always opted for someplace on the west coast, the closest we ever got was Missouri).

As for the language thing. As far as i understand it, they don't place people in the language school based on current ability or preference, but based on apititude (as determined by the military).

That being said, the two people I do know who went through the Japanese language program in California (both for the Vietnam war strangely) speak better Japanese than any other foreigner I've ever heard.

[Greji]

I'm not sure what you mean by where I would be enlisting at? I'm relatively new to this...

Where are you physically located now and/or where do you intend to go to enlist, as this will tell where the nearest place for military information on legal services would be at. i.e. if you are near Yokota or Yokusuka, or Zama in Japan.

[Adhesive]

Where are you physically located now and/or where do you intend to go to enlist, as this will tell where the nearest place for military information on legal services would be at. i.e. if you are near Yokota or Yokusuka, or Zama in Japan.

I'm in California now, and would need to be interviewed by the senior attorney at Travis AFB in San Francisco.

I'm looking at the assignment preference sheet (AF Form 1760) and it asks you to list unique language or other skills, and "military spouse career field." Does that mean if I tell them my wife works as a snack hostess in Yokosuka it will increase my odds?

BTW: One other question for those who know, one of the perks listed on the brochure is "space available travel on government aircraft at no cost or minimal cost". What does this really mean? If I'm stationed in Bahrain, how likely is it that I can catch a free ride home? What is minimal cost? Also, will this apply to my wife and kid as well?

[Adhesive]

[quote="ttjereth"]You know the women don't really look like Catherine Bell right? ]

You know, I've never actually seen that show. It's probably for the best that they don't look like that though, as I'd probably be facing a dishonorable discharge in no time.

[Tommybar]

If you enlist, you will be asked 3 locations you would prefer. This does not mean you will get them (some posts are popular and senior enlist personnel will get those billets). If they are unpopular postings then chances are you will get one of them. In the Navy you will most likely be assigned a ship for your first tour. So even if you get the locations you want, expect to be out to sea for 5-6 months a year. Since Japan is an expensive location, people with 3 or more children are usually not considered. The DOD (Department of Defense) schools in Japan are over crowded. There are PACE instructors for language on board as well as on post.
If you are looking for a position based on your language skills, you will most likely be use in the intelligence areas and not JAG. Japanese language, which you may or may not know, is different when it comes to 'law'. The GOJ provides these interpreter/translators to USG at no cost to USG.

[Adhesive]

If you are looking for a position based on your language skills, you will most likely be use in the intelligence areas and not JAG. Japanese language, which you may or may not know, is different when it comes to 'law'. The GOJ provides these interpreter/translators to USG at no cost to USG.

That makes a lot of sense. The more I hear, the more it sounds like the odds of me ending up in a desirable location are pretty slim. I guess I had better start considering if this is something I'd want to do in light of being in a shitty location, or out to sea for months at a time.

[Blah Pete]

6 Years active duty, 7 years reserve here. Got out just in time to miss the
Mess-O-Potamia.
As TommyBar says they give you three choices for preferences and you may actually get your choice - during normal - non War on Terror times.
The military directive is anyone from any unit can be sent to any assignment. In other words they may say they won't send you to Iraq or Afghanistan but their is nothing your commander could do to prevent it. They can't put a hold on anyone.

They may tell you your job will be a desk job but they can put a desk in the back of a humvee and send you anywhere. You could end up doing some investigations in Bumfuck, Iraq where one pissed off grunt offs some civilians or another GI.

A four year enlistment may be too short in your field to get enough experience. Since you are considering going enlisted your field basic training and schooling (AIT) may take up to a year. The real benefit of the military is when they send you for specialty training that you can apply when you get out. If you don't have enough time in service (or show a willingness to re-enlist if your commander is an asshole) they may not send you to extra schools.

I would advise against joining the military now. They could continue the Stop Loss and you may not be able to get out when your contract is up, or resign your commission if you become an officer.

[Blah Pete]

One more thing I forgot is the language school (DLA). Great if you want to learn Arabic!!!
There are few slots for Japanese unless there has been a drastic change. Most of the Japanese trained guys I met were INTEL guys. The last I checked DLA required a 6 year enlistment.
The JAG people I new in Japan said all the J-language was done by Japanese nationals.
The part they don't tell you when you sign your enlistment contract is if you fail a school (DLA, JAG, etc. ) you will be assigned according to the needs of the military. If your ASFAB scores are high enough to get into JAG they will usually assign you to a decent 2nd MOS. But they can assign you anywhere.

[Greji]

I'm in California now, and would need to be interviewed by the senior attorney at Travis AFB in San Francisco.

You need to do that. They're the ones with the up-to-date exact info. Normally, following enlistment, training and receiving your commission, you will have a six year commitment. This will depend if you are commissioned as a regular or reserve officer. JAG is a specialized assignment, so although limiting in some assignments, you will normally have a better idea of where you will, or can be assigned. Sometimes, you will even have a choice of available billets because it is usually a critical field (shortage of manpower), as it is hard to keep good lawyers in the military. They're anxious to get out into private practice.

You can be assigned as either a defense counsel or a prosecuting attorney for criminal courts, or various civil law fields that the military must deal in. All JAGs (with the exception of Defense Counsels) in the company grade ranks (lower officer grades) will be required to provide legal advice service for the troops during the normal work day. This would be such advice as will preparation, notary services, or advising on any legal problems a military member might be confronted with at the base.

The defense counsels are actually located separately from the JAG office to preclude any conflict with the prosecution, or command influence.

The civil law will include contract law, local law, to include the law of the country you might be in.

As I said, it is a specialized field, so you should contact the nearest JAG Office, if is Travis, make an appointment and have them tell you about it in person. Most of my info is so old it has moss on the north side.

BTW: One other question for those who know, one of the perks listed on the brochure is "space available travel on government aircraft at no cost or minimal cost". What does this really mean? If I'm stationed in Bahrain, how likely is it that I can catch a free ride home? What is minimal cost? Also, will this apply to my wife and kid as well?

That is a perk. If there is a seat available, you can get on any military, or military contracted aircraft bound for anywhere. It used to cost ten dollars. You have to be on Leave orders to travel. Overseas, your wife and children can travel with you. So traveling with a wife and one kid to the US from say, Yokota Air Plane Patch would cost $30.00 US. But, you would have to wait for three empty seats to be available. Sometimes that can take several days to get a flight. But if you have time, you can't beat the price.

Again, these things and prices may have changed somewhat since my time, but they are still available. Plus, in the military all medical care is generally free. Overseas all dental is included.

As far as the exotic far east is concerned all bases and posts have JAG units and major bases such as Yokota for the USAF, or Yokosuka for the USN and Camp Zama for the Army, all have large staff assigned, so the possibility of getting to Japan would not be that difficult.

Also, a JAG is a non-combatant, so you wouldn't be leading any bayonet charges (unless you're in Roppongi).

[Uhhuh35]

JAG? I assume you have a Law Degree Adhesive? That'll start you in the service as an O-3 (Air Force Captain) and you'll get professional pay on top of that. Last I heard it's around $25,000 a year.
One of my instructors at the FLETC Academy (Federal Law Enforcement) served a tour in Iraq as a JAG (Judge) and was never in harms way.

Good Luck!

[ttjereth]

One more thing I forgot is the language school (DLA). Great if you want to learn Arabic!!!
There are few slots for Japanese unless there has been a drastic change. Most of the Japanese trained guys I met were INTEL guys. The last I checked DLA required a 6 year enlistment.
The JAG people I new in Japan said all the J-language was done by Japanese nationals.
The part they don't tell you when you sign your enlistment contract is if you fail a school (DLA, JAG, etc. ) you will be assigned according to the needs of the military. If your ASFAB scores are high enough to get into JAG they will usually assign you to a decent 2nd MOS. But they can assign you anywhere.

This reminds me that both of the people I know who went through the Japanese courses worked intel. Didn't clarify that above, but I don't actually know anyone remotely related to JAG.

[ttjereth]

Plus, in the military all medical care is generally free. Overseas all dental is included.

Milatary healthcare is of questionable value I was born at the base hospital at PNSY and used base hospitals and whatnot for quite awhile when dad was still enlisted and they generally aren't fond memories

My uncle was medical on the Independence and he used to tell us all kinds of stories about stupid things that went on there.

One example was giving shots to guys who got STDs during Med cruises. Whoever the senior officer was wanted to make sure that the affected sailors remembered the treatment as unpleasant to better prevent any recurrences.

What they did was the medicine that was to be injected (sometimes directly into very sensitive areas) had to be kept refrigerated. Most places would take it out of the fridge and warm it up before injecting it, because it hurt more cold, but the c/o there told them to use it cold.

My uncle said they would take a bottle out of the fridge and have the guys hold it, the idea being to warm it up, but then they'd inject them from a still cold bottle

Then there are dad's constant complaints about the VA hospitals back home

[Charles]

One of my instructors at the FLETC Academy (Federal Law Enforcement) served a tour in Iraq as a JAG (Judge) and was never in harms way.

I am not surprised you hung out with fobbits.

[Greji]

This reminds me that both of the people I know who went through the Japanese courses worked intel. Didn't clarify that above, but I don't actually know anyone remotely related to JAG.

I went through DLI for Japanese and later, Korean. Does that mean I can be intelligent?

[ttjereth]

I went through DLI for Japanese and later, Korean. Does that mean I can be intelligent?

I'd say it earns you some respect from me based on my extremely limited (2 people) experience with graduates

[Tommybar]

I'm in California now, and would need to be interviewed by the senior attorney at Travis AFB in San Francisco.

I'm looking at the assignment preference sheet (AF Form 1760) and it asks you to list unique language or other skills, and "military spouse career field." Does that mean if I tell them my wife works as a snack hostess in Yokosuka it will increase my odds?

BTW: One other question for those who know, one of the perks listed on the brochure is "space available travel on government aircraft at no cost or minimal cost". What does this really mean? If I'm stationed in Bahrain, how likely is it that I can catch a free ride home? What is minimal cost? Also, will this apply to my wife and kid as well?

Space Available is just that. You will only be able to board a plane that has available space. Now that your in the military, you will have limited time for travel and sometimes it can take days to get an available seat. I once was traveling from Travis back to Japan on a milk run. (It went from California, Hawaii, Okinawa, then Yokota.) But I was bumped off the plane at Hawaii and had to wait 7 days till I could get a plane out. Then I was bumped off in Okinawa for 2 days...

Depending on the reason you are traveling, you will be assigned a priority code. Mission first, medical evacuation next, military traveling on orders third, military family members fourth, and retirees last. If your plane lands anywhere inbetween your departed location and your desired deboarding location you maybe bumped for someone who has higher priority.

And while your waiting for you plane you will need hotels, food, etc. too.

[Greji]

[quote="ttjereth"]Milatary healthcare is of questionable value I was born at the base hospital at PNSY and used base hospitals and whatnot for quite awhile when dad was still enlisted and they generally aren't fond memories
---snip----
Then there are dad's constant complaints about the VA hospitals back home ]

The one major right bestowed on all military people and their families is the right to bitch about anything military and they exercise it freely

However, your dad's complaints about VA hospitals are quite valid and are one of the major points of the recent congressional investigations.

As for the military hospitals, my wife has had several major surgical procedures and most recently lens replacement for both eyes, all of which have been successful and all at no cost, which is my favorite price!

The major problem with military medical services is travel! If you need to see a specialist, most base hospitals are small and don't have them. As a result, you have to go to the regional hospital for specialized treatment. Japan's largest hospital is at Yokosuka and as an example, although my wife was seen in the eye clinic at Yokota they didn't have the specialized capability, so she had to go to Yokosuka for the surgery. If you're on active duty with the military, the military will transport you and/or your family free of cost. They will also do that for retirees if it is a needed procedure.

Getting back to the lawyer business, the profession pay that Uhhuh35 is an incentive allowance in addition to a JAG's salary as a military officer.

Not as lucrative as ambulance chasing (Bird's forte), or class action, but nicely above the minimum wage!

I would again recommend that Adhesive go to the base and talk to the JAG to find out the latest info from the horse's mouth.

[Adhesive]

Thanks guys, you've given me a lot to consider, and I now feel better prepared to speak with a JAG representative.