THE CHEESE TRIANGLES DON'T GO LIKE THAT!!!

I write this while watching Da Bears on Monday Night Football.  I feel this is important to note as my my writing style and tone may be a bit mercurial depending on how many times our offensive line elects to shit the bed tonight.

Now what if Da Bears were to enter the Indianapolis 500? Uhhh, what would you predict would be the outcome, huh? 

How would they compete? 

Well, let's say they rode together in a big bus. 

Is Ditka driving? 

 Of course. 

 I gotta go with Da Bear Bus! 

Da Bear Bus! 

Bus full of Bears! 


Alternate Caption:  "Jay Cutler being rushed while in the pocket."

The past few months at work have been extremely trying and, at times, simply demoralizing.  I am loathe to complain about work when I am CONUS, able to return to my home every night, and am not surrounded by individuals that have an active agenda to kill me.  Life while wearing a uniform can be way worse.  But what is the point of having a blog if I cannot be a self-indulgent little shit and throw myself a pity party anyway?

PITY PARTY!!!

(Bears note: SEVEN false starts?!? Freals? Wait, make that eight.)

I only note my present issues on the job as a sort of learning point for the aspiring JAGs in my readership.  The positive tone in almost all my JAG related posts carry is legitimate - I love what I do.  Three years in, I still get a charge each time I put in my uniform in the morning.  That said, I feel it would be gilding the Lilly were I only to report the great stuff.  Since starting up at Cannon, the vast majority of each week I find myself to be in way, way over my head, with close to no reprieve.  Part of this is unavoidable - the only way to get experience is to do the job and the JAG Corps practice is to simply throw people into the deep end.

The learning curve, however, is inexcusably exasperated by the personnel manning issues at the office.  I am still struggling with how the powers that be allow us be this light on bodies and still be gutted by deployments and changes of station.  Three years of experience and I find myself as the second most senior officer in the office (only behind the SJA), with my #2 deployed, and my division of four paralegals reduced to one paralegal.  Despite that "Military Justice is Job One," our division is at 33% of its allocated manning.  A law firm run like this would implode within a week.

Those that know me know that I am dealing with this stress incredibly well.

The unquestioned positive about this assignment so far as been the weekend road trips.  As Clovis lacks anything that can be classified as "culture" or "a bar that is not frequently cited in our Security Forces reports as being the scene of multiple stabbings," leaving for the weekends is a must.  I've been able to explore and day drink in Albuquerque, Dallas, and Abilene (at which I was present for my first tractor pull.  How the hell is that an "event"?  More on that in another post).  I am really looking forward to ski season at Ruidoso.

All due respect but what the fuck are we doing here people?

I'm pleased (and somewhat relived) that my whole Ask-a-JAG thing was not an abject failure.  Most of the questions I've been able to handle by email but I got one in the other day that was open ended enough that I thought it would be good to cover on a post.

"1. Have you ever felt trapped serving as a JAG officer? I've never served in the armed forces and wonder a little how I'd feel if I couldn't quit, they tell you what to do, etc."

I would never say "trapped."  I'll readily concede that service means giving up a fair amount of personal freedoms but I cannot say I've ever felt the pinch.  I went from a Catholic prep school to five years of collegiate rowing, so I may already have been conditioned to a regimented lifestyle with people telling me what to do.  Quitting has never crossed my mind, though that is not really an option for me due to my internal wiring.  I descend from Irish stock comes from County Obstinate, so I really cannot quit anything, even when quitting would be a really good idea.  This is the same genetic line that causes my mother to brag about not taking Aspirin when she has a fever or headache because she prides herself in being a "tough old broad."  You probably should not be taking any advice from me on any subject.

As noted above, I really enjoy what I do.  I have spent the first three years just trying to figure out the job I was doing and time has gone by at an unbelievable rate.  And, as my mother has noted, "introspection often leads to headaches."

It sounds cheesy but a lot of it comes down to one's outlook and attitude.  If you are the sort of person that will view tasks and assignments, even the ones you do not initially want, as opportunities to distinguish yourself, you will do fine.  It is also incredibly important to know from the onset what you are signing up for - if you are the sort of person that will have significant problems with someone else deciding where you will be living and what you will be working on, the military is probably not the best place for you.  I feel it is only fair to point out that I do not see civilian practice (at least BigLaw



2. What do you see happening as far as deployment?  Is it likely that 100% (or 50% or what?) of JAG Officers would deploy during their first 4 years?  How has it affected those with families?

I think every applicant should realistically expect to deploy in their first four years and have that be something they embrace.  I do not have any stats to work with but the fact is many of us are tapped in our first four years - well over a majority of my JASOC classmates that I consider to be friends have deployed or are presently deployed.  A number were those in their first assignment.  There is a member in my office right now that specifically requested Cannon in order to guarantee himself the best odds at getting tasked to deploy - it worked.  It really is a privilege to serve overseas and it is essential that we put our best downrange, where commanders and operators can get the support they can get, be it from intel, logistics, legal, etc.

In terms of impact to families - I'm not sure that I am qualified to answer this as I am still living the single life.  Deploying can be very difficult on relationships but, as in all things in the military, the ultimate answer is that you will have to make do.  To be effective at this job, you need your family to be on board from day one.  They need to understand and accept moving every 2-3 years, dealing with TDYs, and being ready to support you on 6-12 month deployments.  If you go into serving with a "I hope I don't deploy" attitude due to your family or other reason, you may be in for a rough road.

3. Does individual preference in where you'd like to serve matter more the longer you remain a active duty JAG? Or will always seem at the whim of the AF, just wherever they need and want you?

Yes.

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That is all for now folks.  I'll probably come back up for air in a month or two.  For the future JAGs out there, please keep the questions coming - busy or not, I always enjoy this sort of thing.