Day 5

Another day begins at 0545 with PT.  Today was Push-Up and Sit-Up pyramids and a longer run.  Exercising outside is always nice, especially after a good rain.  It really begins to feel like the Army when you are lying on the wet ground doing push-ups and sit-ups in the wet grass and dirt.

Today was the first day that our class was wearing the Army Combat Uniform (ACU).  An ACU with rank means no more hiding in plain sight with APFU.  It means being seen as and having act like an Army Officer.  It also means salutes.  As is tradition in the Army, our class arranged a Silver Dollar salute ceremony for class members who had never been rendered and returned a salute before.  Tradition is important, and those that participated seemed pleased that they were able to take part in the same rite of passage that generations of Officers before them have done.

One of the highlights of our briefings today was by the Commanding General of the JAG School.  There is something special about seeing a General Officer in person and hearing about their experiences and knowing that they started just where you are today.

The Army is a values based organization.  We live our lives and conduct our activities by a code of conduct.  In the Army JAG Corps we aren’t just attorneys, but Army attorneys.  Our clients are the Army – the protector of our freedom (no disrespect to the Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard intended) and those who choose to wear an Army uniform.  Both are extremely special, which in turn highlights how special our JAG profession is.

Loyalty

Duty

Respect

Selfless service

Honor

Integrity

Personal courage

Those are our 7 Army values.  An Army JAG officer must live them, just as those we work with do.  And when a General Officer speaks to you about them it sinks in (if it hadn’t already) just how important they are.

Not to detract from our other briefings by building up the Commanding General – but he is a tough act to follow.  We also covered environmental concerns (things like snakes and spiders, who apparently seek to harm Army JAG officers too), composite risk management (a briefing the class asked the cadre to do twice), Army leadership, and how Judge Advocates fit into the Army structure.

Tomorrow is an early day.  We fall in at 0420, which means being up at 0330.  Who knew that 3:30 came around twice in a day?