Vanguard legal assistance provides counsel for soldiers

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN

10.21.2011

Story by Spc. Jazz Burney 

170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KUNDUZ, Afghanistan - Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, sit down with one man for paralegal help and advice.

"By serving the command group, I can provide guidance on where regulations are, how they read and how a leader can proceed with any sort of infraction," said U.S. Army Sgt. Wesley Jackson, the 2-18 Infantry Battalion paralegal non-commissioned officer.

The U.S. Army is governed by rules outlined in the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ. To maintain smooth operations within this organization, rules are in place with personnel who enforce those standards. Leaders get a better understanding of the intent of Army regulations with the help of soldiers who specialize in UCMJ.

Jackson, an Atlanta native, is one of those soldiers.

Not just for UCMJ actions, but a paralegal can provide services for a myriad of issues such as traffic tickets, claims, assistance with marital documents and trial defense services.

"It’s rewarding to me when I am able to use a collection of information, and provide [our leaders] and soldiers quick and easy solutions," said Jackson.

Often when a soldier comes to Jackson for specific answers to their questions, he usually starts with, “it depends."

"I tell them it depends based on whose perspective they are looking from. [Soldiers] come a lot of times already knowing what to do, they just need to know how they can do it within regulations," he said.

Regardless of the problem, situation or scenario, legal assistance is provided that soldiers can best make choices that will keep them serving their country within the Army’s standards.

• Date Taken: 10.21.2011
• Date Posted: 11.06.2011 06:05
• Story ID: 79630
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE KUNDUZ, AF