Eglin AFB/Hurlburt Field, Day 1: F-15s, Working Dogs, & The Beach

While I assume most of you have been freezing away in Chicago and checking AboveTheLaw to figure out if your law firm may be laying you off, I spent the bulk of the past week in lovely Florida. In order to broaden our knowledge of the various cogs that make up the Air Force Wheel, our JAG class took a bus down to the Florida panhandle to spend time with operational units at Eglin and Hurlburt.

Our day started with a visit to the F-15 Wing at Eglin.


The F-15, known as the Eagle, is a 4th generation air superiority fighter. Its primary mission is air-to-air combat (hence air superiority) and has the unmatched distinction of never (ever) having been shot down. It is profoundly kick ass.

The Air Force JAG Corps: Will litigate anywhere, at any time.

Just taking her out for a quick spin

The Eagle's 20mm M61 Vulcan autocannon. This fires roughly 100 rounds a second. Count to 1. In that time, this just fired 100 20mm rounds.

In perhaps the coolest part of the day, we were introduced to the Air Force's Security Forces (SF) Military Working Dog (MWD) teams. Much like civilian K-9 units, our MWDs are tasked for patrol, narcotics detection, or explosives detection.

Who is a pretty boy?!? You are.

After an introduction to the mission of SF and MWD handlers, they selected several JAGs to serve as chew toys for the MWDs. I took some pictures but I felt the videos do far more justice to how totally awesome/terrifying these dogs are. Well worth watching.

Military Working Dog v. JAG:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRkBXVoLmT0

Military Working Dog v. JAG (2):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvGt8jBg2fk

The Best One, Hands Down: Military Working Dog v. JAG (3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay3a0poNUaM

Alternatively titled: Military Working Dog v. JAG v. Chain-Link Fence

We then spent more time with Security Forces, learning about their role in the USAF and how they interact with the JAG Corps. Truly fascinating stuff.

I've been upgraded from the dummy M-16A2 at OTS to the real deal M-4.

I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

And I'm stuck in Eglin AFB Corrections, and time keeps draggin' on

It is hard to succinctly articulate how simultaneously informative and awesome this day was, so I will leave you with some pictures of the simply horrible conditions we were forced to endure at Eglin.

How was your week at BigLaw?