Judge Advocate Training During Week 6 of DCC

*In this post, I describe judge advocate training during week 6 of the Army’s Direct Commission Course. *

For more detailed information, please see my book The DCC Survival Guide: Succeeding at the Army’s Direct Commission Course and its companion work The JAG School Survival Guide: Succeeding at the Army’s Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course.

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I just completed the sixth and final week of the Army’s Direct Commission Course. This week marked the end of the first phase of judge advocate training.

I have now graduated from the course. I will not, however, be a certified judge advocate until graduating from the JAG School in eleven weeks.

This week provided an opportunity to wrap things up and prepare to leave Fort Benning. We are now on our way to the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course in Charlottesville, Virginia. Consequently, few noteworthy events occurred this week.

Out-Processing

We had Monday off for President’s Day. The week, therefore, did not begin until Tuesday.

On Tuesday, we returned our gear to the Central Issuing Facility, which took entirely too long. We then spent the rest of the day cleaning our weapons before finally turning them in for good.

(I have spent hours cleaning my gun since the last time I fired it. I don’t know how it could have been any cleaner.)

Wednesday we started barracks maintenance. As you’d expect, we were required to clean the barracks before our departure. We also met with our cadre from Charlottesville. The company commander and her first sergeant came down to speak with us about our transition from DCC to JAOBC.

We spent Thursday morning wrapping up the last necessary tasks before our departure—mostly cleaning, packing, and completing required paperwork. We then spent the afternoon rehearsing for graduation. (Everyone must stand up and left face in perfect unison. It took us a long time to get this right.)

Wrapping Things Up

Finally, on Thursday night we had a social event with the local JAG office at Fort Benning’s Brew Pub. (The Brew Pub is a favorite hangout spot on post. We had the opportunity to visit and have a few beers on the weekends during the course.)

Throughout the week, those who previously failed to complete the necessary graduation requirements—except for rifle qualifications—had the opportunity to try again. A few people were able to achieve their essential graduation requirements during this time.

It is worth noting that not everyone who failed to fulfill their graduation requirements on the first try failed an attempt. Some people were hurt or sick when the rest of the class made its first attempt and needed time to recover before attempting the event for the first time.

So, for example, someone who got injured during land navigation, may not have been ready to complete the PT test shortly thereafter.

This week provided an additional opportunity for such people to make an attempt. Of course, it also provided an additional opportunity to those who did, in fact, previously try and fail.

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Graduation

On Friday, we had our graduation ceremony. It was a pretty low-key event with the post’s Staff Judge Advocate making a few brief remarks. (The Staff Judge Advocate is the post’s most senior judge advocate.) He then presented us with our diplomas.

Our brigade commander also showed up to witness the ceremony.

Those who did not graduate because they did not fulfill a graduation requirement did not participate in the ceremony. Most of those who did not graduate failed to qualify on the M-16 or pass their physical fitness test.

Only a few people failed to graduate, but they will have a year to complete the final requirements. Some will have the opportunity to fulfill the requirements at Charlottesville. (Those who failed their PT test will be able to retake it at JAOBC.)

Others, particularly those who failed to qualify on the M-16, will have to wait. (There is no Army shooting range on campus at the University of Virginia.)

Upon successfully completing the necessary requirements, they will receive their diplomas. Graduating from the course is required to be promoted to captain. There is, therefore, an incentive to finish the last few items as soon as possible.

The Army’s Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course

After graduation, the cadre released us to travel to Charlottesville, Virginia. There we will begin the ten-and-a-half week Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course. (A couple of our classmates were not judge advocates. The cadre just released them back to their units.)

The Army conducts JAOBC on the University of Virginia campus—or grounds, as those affiliated with the university insist it be called.

The University of Virginia Law School—generally considered one of the best law schools in the United States—is right next door to the JAG School. (It is visible from my room, which is located in the same building where classes occur.)

As I stated above, the cadre released us on Friday around noon. We had until 6:00 pm on Saturday to report to Charlottesville. (It is about a ten-hour drive from Fort Benning to Charlottesville. Some people flew.)

In Charlottesville, we will receive JAG-specific training, primarily in an academic environment. Where DCC taught us to be soldiers, JAOBC will teach us to be judge advocates.

Next Week at the Judge Advocate OBC

Next week is week one of JAOBC. I will continue to provide weekly updates on the progress of my training, and I will offer some final thoughts on DCC within the next few days. So, please check back regularly.

I provide a more expansive account of my experience in my book The DCC Survival Guide: Succeeding at the Army’s Direct Commission Course and its companion work The JAG School Survival Guide: Succeeding at the Army’s Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course.

The views and opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army, the National Guard Bureau, the Arkansas National Guard, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

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See Also:

Week 5 of the Army’s Direct Commission Course (DCC)

Final Thoughts Regarding the Army’s Direct Commission Course (DCC)