So Long Maxwell

Since returning from D.C., things at JASOC were at high speed. We all prosecuted our fully litigated moot courts-martial, which ended up being both easier and harder than I expected. I am confident in asserting that I am not going to be a terrible trial-counsel in representing the United States. That said, there are simply a massive amount of things I need to learn/hone before I would classify myself as competent. Mauet, the author of our Trial Advocacy text back when I was a 3L, noted that it is generally accepted that it takes the experience of 50 trials in order to evolve into a "good" trial lawyer. Having seen the complexities of a fully litigated court, I cannot disagree.

We also had our final exam. I am so done with taking tests. 5 years of college, 3 years of law school, Bar/Bri, Illinois Bar, Officer Training School, and JASOC. Enough with the tests already. I will proudly note that my JASOC Flight, Alpha (again, the NATO phonetic alphabet), earned the highest Flight average. Echo Flight can cheat their way to a softball victory but we got them where it counts.

Alpha!

Alpha might not have been "good" at "winning" at "competitive sports" or "anything else" but at least we were not Echo.

We then had our JASOC Dining Out the night before graduation. I'm currently averaging a Dining Out once every 5 weeks.

The infamous Grog. Anyone caught breaking a rule of the Mess is sent to the Grog. When the President of the Mess directs a violator to the Grog, the individual proceeds promptly. Upon arriving at the Grog, the violator does the following:

Stops one pace from and centered on the Grog Bowl

Does an about face and salutes the President

Does an about face and salutes the Grog and then fills the cup

Does an about face Toasts the Mess by raising the cup and saying "To the Mess"

Drains the entire contents of the cup without removing it from the lips

Turns the empty cup upside down over the top of their head

Does an about face and replaces the cup

Does an about face, salutes the President, and returns to his/her chair

With the exception of the toast, the violator is not permitted to speak during this process. Omissions of any of the above steps may demand a repetition of the entire procedure by the President of the Mess.

This is all alcohol. I'm not sure who thought of the marshmallows but they were an excellent touch, requiring the person before to Grog to chew them down before finishing their cup.

And of course, it would not be a JASOC event without Crud, Mess Dress notwithstanding.

Graduation was the next morning. While I could not wait to get away from OTS, I am still bummed about leaving JASOC. I have no doubt that Las Vegas is going to be legendary but JASOC was a great experience. While I will not miss living out a hotel, subsisting on South Beach Microwave Pizzas and whatever else could fit in my mini-fridge, or interacting with the ASBC students in any situation, the faculty and students at JASOC are simply without equal. I'm looking forward to when our paths cross again.

Accepting my graduation certificate from Lieutenant General Jack Rives, The Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force.

The men of Alpha Flight, now certified Air Force Judge Advcoates.

A judgeship in my future? Stranger things have happened.

I guess there is no more putting off Act II in the life of 1st Lt. Johnny Utah, USAF. Here's hoping that Las Vegas does not kill me and that I end up making a decent attorney.

A "Legal Warrior" indeed.