JAG School & Officer Training

Army JAG School: A Complete Guide to the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course

The Army's Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course (JAOBC) at TJAGLCS in Charlottesville: schedule, curriculum, daily life, and a week-by-week firsthand account.

JASOC: The Complete Guide to Air Force JAG Training

Everything you need to know about JASOC—the Air Force Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course at Maxwell AFB. Schedule, curriculum, and firsthand tips from a former JAG officer.

The JAG Corps Is Broken—Pete Hegseth Isn’t Wrong

A former JAG officer with six years of service breaks down what's actually wrong with the military justice system, why Hegseth's diagnosis is correct, and what real JAG Corps reform should look like.

The Army’s Direct Commission Course: A Complete Guide

Complete Army DCC guide: fitness standards, packing lists, week-by-week breakdown, and insider tips from a JAG officer who went through the course. Learn what to expect.

DCC Packing List: The Complete Interactive Checklist

An interactive packing checklist for the Army's Direct Commission Course (DCC) at Fort Benning — documents, uniforms, personal items, training supplies, and prohibited items.

Army Commissioning Paths Compared: DCC vs. OCS vs. ROTC vs. West Point

How to become an Army officer: compare West Point, ROTC, OCS, and DCC. Eligibility, duration, cost, and which path is right for your military career.

The Complete Guide to Becoming an Army JAG Officer

A complete guide to becoming an Army JAG officer — from application and selection boards to DCC, JAG School, and your first duty station, by a JAG veteran.

DCC vs. OCS: How Army Commissioning Paths Compare

A detailed comparison of the Army’s Direct Commission Course (DCC) and Officer Candidate School (OCS)—eligibility, duration, career fields, and which path fits your goals.

Week 6 of JASOC: Pilot Culture

A JAG officer's critical perspective on Air Force pilot culture: examining the exclusivity of the pilot track, the impact on Air Force leadership, and what makes pilot culture insufferable yet essential.

The Strange Call for Military Justice Reform

Botched investigations, missing constitutional safeguards, and a sexual assault crisis — a JAG veteran explains why military justice reform must go further than removing commanders from prosecution decisions.

The Administrative Discharge Process — JASOC Week 3

JASOC Week 3: Master military administrative discharge procedures, board processes, and insider tips from an Air Force JAG officer. Learn what to expect.

Week 12 at Yale: Finishing the Semester

A weekly update from Yale Divinity School — progress on final papers, preparing for exams, visiting the Yale Art Gallery's Dura-Europos exhibit, and thoughts on the curriculum.

Week 2 of JASOC

An Air Force JAG officer's firsthand account of JASOC—the Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course at Maxwell AFB. Covers exercises, moot courts, military justice training, and what to expect.

Week 1 of the Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course

Your guide to JAOBC/JASOC Week 1: the Air Force Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course. See the schedule, military justice curriculum, and what to expect.

Air Force JAG Corps: Career Guide & Honest Review

A former Air Force Captain's 2026 guide to the JAG Corps: how to apply, four entry routes, pay and rank, JASOC training, four-year commitment, and whether it's worth joining.

Probable Cause and the Military Prosecutor's Duty

Why probable cause is a binding standard in military justice — not a suggestion — and why prosecutors who ignore it commit legal malpractice. A JAG officer's memorandum.

Introduction to Military Justice

From the Articles of War to the UCMJ — how the military justice system evolved from the Revolutionary War to today. Written by a JAG veteran.

Week 10 of the Army JAG School

In this post, I discuss my experience during the tenth week of Army JAG School, which focused primarily on legal assistance.

Welcome to the JAG Corps

In this post, I discuss my graduation from JAG School and entry into the Army JAG Corps.

Ultimate Football and Week 9 of JAG School

In this post, I discuss week 9 of the Army’s JAG School and my introduction to ultimate football.

Administrative Law and Week 8 of JAG School

In this post, I discuss the administrative law block and week 8 of the Army’s JAG School.

International Law and Week 7 of JAG School

In this post, I discuss international law and week 7 of the Army’s JAG School.

Brief the Commander and Week 6 of JAG School

In this post, I discuss my experience during week 6 of the Army JAG School, particularly the “brief the commander” exercise.

Fiscal Law and Week 5 JAG School

A look at the contract and fiscal law block during Week 5 of the Army JAG School, including the daily commander-email exercises.

Courts-Martial, Charlottesville, and Week 4 of JAG School

Week 4 of the Army JAG School wraps up the military justice block with the graded mock trial, plus a weekend exploring Charlottesville.

Military Justice and Week 3 of JAG School

Week 3 of the Army JAG School digs into pre-trial and evidentiary procedure, Article 32 investigations, and the annual Blues Reception.

Week 2 of the Army JAG School

Week 2 at the Army JAG School eases into the academic routine and begins the military justice block of instruction.

Week 1 of the Army JAG School

First impressions from Week 1 of the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course (JAOBC) at the Army JAG School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Final Thoughts Regarding the JAG Corps Direct Commission Course (DCC)

Honest reflections after finishing the Army JAG Corps Direct Commission Course at Fort Benning — what DCC is really like and how to prepare.

Judge Advocate Training During Week 6 of DCC

Week 6 of the Army Direct Commission Course wraps up judge advocate training at Fort Benning with out-processing, graduation, and the drive to Charlottesville.

Land Navigation and Week 3 of DCC

Week 3 of the Army Direct Commission Course focuses on land navigation and the start of basic rifle marksmanship — plus an unexpected Georgia snow day.

Week 2 of the Army’s Direct Commission Course (DCC)

A JAG officer’s firsthand Week 2 guide to the Army’s Direct Commission Course (DCC) at Fort Benning: land navigation, first aid, CIF gear issue, and PT.

Week 1 of the Army’s Direct Commission Course (DCC)

A JAG officer's firsthand Week 1 guide to the Army's Direct Commission Course (DCC) at Fort Benning: packing, AFT fitness standards, and 2026 eligibility.

Army JAG Initial Training

A National Guard judge advocate's introduction to Army JAG initial training: the DCC and JAOBC pipeline, wait times, and what to expect.