Legal ensures fight stays fair

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samantha S. Crane
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  During Exercise Sharpshooter 08-04.1 Feb. 26 through March 2, the base legal office showcased their abilities to provide legal assistance no matter where they're located.

Whether it's at home station, in a personnel deployment function or at a deployed location, if someone needs legal assistance, they can get it. While they may continue doing the same job while deployed, exercises help Airmen from the legal office practice their skills.

"Our mission during peacetime is the same as wartime," said Lt. Col. Brynn Morgan, 366th Fighter Wing Legal Office commander. "We use the same skill sets, but exercises prepare us by honing the skills we use while working in a deployed location.."

During the Phase I portion of the exercise, legal troops work at the PDF line briefing deploying Airmen on what they can offer and the importance of the Rules of Engagement and Law of Armed Conflict.

"We can do anything from preparing wills and powers of attorney to offering legal advice and answering any questions people have," said Tech. Sgt. Jerol Boyce, 366th FW Legal Office noncommissioned officer in charge.

During the Phase II exercise, Airmen in the legal office work through situations involving the ROE, LOAC or Status of Forces Agreements particular to the deployed location.

"If there are any suspected LOAC violations, we have to report them up our chain of command along with the base's chain," said Sergeant Boyce.

The legal office also deals with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, questions about war trophies and basic legal assistance.

"For the most part, we cover the entire spectrum," said Sergeant Boyce.

However, many people still have a misconception about what the legal office's mission is.

"A lot of people think we spend all of our time on legal assistance," said Colonel Morgan, "but we actually spend a majority of our time advising commanders."

Airmen from the legal office deploying today often go in support of a deployed base's legal office where a paralegal and attorney work together providing support to the base, or they may be called upon to support Task Force 134, where they would assist in detainee operations.

"Anyone we find suspicious we can detain," said Sergeant Boyce. "After we detain them, we have to go through 'mini trials' to determine if they're guilty."

If they are deploying to support a legal office, the operations law is one of the main concerns. Operations law commonly deals with questions regarding what weapons can be used and if a target can lawfully be engaged. Legal troops use the ROE, LOAC, SOFA and other applicable treaties and laws to answer these questions.

But overall, no matter where legal office Airmen go, they offer the same legal assistance they would if they were staying at home.

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