Photo By Sgt. Angel Turner | Parker Gochenour displays the United States Manual for Courts-Martial while interning...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas — During physical training, he is the only person in the company formation wearing civilian attire.
During duty hours, he could easily be mistaken for a contractor as he walks the hallways of the 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters in his polo shirt, khaki pants and dress shoes.
But Parker Gochenour is no contractor. In fact, he is a second-year student at the University of Virginia School of Law, and this summer, he trained and worked alongside 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.
The Luray, Virginia, native spent the past two months interning with the First Team as part of the Judge Advocate Generals Corps’ summer intern program.
“The program is a recruiting tool that the U.S. Army JAG Corps uses to give second year law students an idea of what the Army is all about,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Amy Falcon, the division’s legal administrator.
Fifty applicants were selected to intern with U.S. Army units across the country.
“It helps us introduce the Army to some fantastic law students in the hope that they will in turn become fantastic lawyers in the Army JAG Corps,” Falcon said.
Gochenour said he always wanted to pursue a law degree, because he likes to research and write. He said he chose the 1st Cavalry Division as one of his top three picks, because it is one of the busiest hubs allowing him to get the most experience.
“This is one of the centers of the JAG universe,” Gochenour said. “I wanted the true Army experience, and I think I got that here.”
Spending time with the storied division brought two of his desires together – public service and law.
“I’ve always been attracted to public service, and this is certainly a way of giving back,” Gochenour said. “You’re able to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself.”
Falcon said she thinks the program is a good idea for law students and for the military.
“I think it’s important, because it gives college students exposure to life as an attorney in the JAG Corps,” said Falcon, a Norwalk, Iowa, native.
“Being a civilian attorney is very different than being an Army attorney,” she added.
Gochenour got a first-hand look at the Army’s legal career field while working in the division’s administrative law and military justice sections.
He attended five courts-martial, reviewed military criminal codes, investigated a fraudulent enlistment, and became familiar with pre-trial motion hearings and interviewing witnesses — just to name a few experiences he gained.
“It’s really been all-encompassing,” Gochenour said. “I’ve gotten to see all sides of the JAG world.”
Falcon, a 16-year veteran in the Army’s legal field, said she believes the aspiring litigator has what it takes to become a judge advocate.
“He has been extremely motivated and is hungry to learn about military law and the Army,” she said.
Although Falcon has been in units that have had interns, this was her first time working closely with one.
“It was neat seeing Parker out in PT formation in his civilian clothes with his reflective belt on,” she said. “It wasn’t a requirement for him to do that with us.”
The friendships, knowledge, and appreciation for what Gochenour referred to as “paid workouts” would not have been possible if he had not made education one of his top priorities.
Gochenour said his late grandfather, a World War II veteran, pushed education in the family.
“He would admire what I’ve done,” Gochenour said. “He valued education deeply and hoped future generations would take advantage of it.”
Gochenour has a Bachelor of Science in environmental sciences with a focus on geoscience and minor in astronomy, all obtained in three years from the University of Virginia. Once he completes his last year of law school, he will have a Juris Doctor degree, which he said he hopes to use in the JAG Corps.
The JAG Corps is the largest and oldest law firm in the world and recognized by military and civilian law personnel. One of the highlights of his internship here was getting to celebrate the Corps’ 239th birthday on Fort Hood.
“The beauty of the Army is you’re thrown into this world with people of diverse backgrounds and skills who are all working for the same goal of the Army — to become something bigger than themselves individually,” he said. “It’s truly admirable and comforting to see people in the legal profession devote their lives to public service.”
The summer experience has helped Gochenour seal his decision in applying to become a JAG officer. Although he has already stood out among his peers in his acceptance into the intern program, Gochenour said he will remain hopeful, because the program is extremely selective.
Falcon, on the other hand, said she thinks he has a good chance.
“I think he will be a great asset to the Army,” she said. “I think he will do well and succeed and become one of the future leaders of our Corps.”
Falcon noted that one of the division’s prior interns will soon return to the First Team.
“One of our 2012 interns was accepted into the JAG Corps and will be stationed here with the 1st Cav in early 2015,” Falcon said.
For now, Gochenour will finish his last year of school and carry with him the memories of the summer he spent with the 1st Cavalry Division.
“This has been an unforgettable experience,” he said. “I certainly can’t forget what The Great Place is.”
With a smile he added, “I know what a Stetson is now.”
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2014 12:39 |
| Story ID: | 139215 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Hometown: | LURAY, VA, US |
| Hometown: | NORWALK, IA, US |
| Web Views: | 373 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Aspiring litigator learns military law with the Cav, by SGT Angel Turner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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