Photo By Nicholas Rau | Maj. Maxwell Smart, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Legal Office Staff Judge Advocate,...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - With just two attorneys and two paralegals to cover all of the Air Force’s legal needs in Afghanistan, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Legal Office is the boots-on-the-ground authority for all legal matters impacting the Wing in the area of responsibility.
The legal office serves a variety of functions while deployed, from rules of engagement advice for commanders to a one-stop shop for legal services, such as powers of attorney and notaries.
“We are the commander’s advisor on all legal matters that can impact the unit,” said Maj. Maxwell Smart, 455th AEW Legal Office Staff Judge Advocate. “The advice depends on the situation. We interpret national command authority level directives, ensure the wing follows fiscal laws, provide legal assistance to deployed members, and help to maintain good order and discipline.”
As the mission changes and the objectives shift, explaining the rules of engagement to commanders and service members in the field becomes extremely important.
“Many members want to know the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ for the rules of engagement and the commander’s tactical directive,” said Capt. Nelson Faerber, 455th AEW Legal Office Deputy Staff Judge Advocate. “In this hostile environment it can be challenging to relay this information if you are not well-read into it.”
While many situations in today’s legal arena can be accomplished electronically or over the telephone, having an office of deployed Airmen has its advantages.
“We are here for the smooth operation of the wing and to keep impediments from affecting the mission,” Smart explained. “Having a legal office here allows us to address concerns right away, not down the line after the decisions have been made.”
To assist the 43 commanders at 12 separate sites, nearly 3,400 Airmen spread across Afghanistan, and countless contractors in need of legal guidance, the two legal office paralegals travel around the country to connect to their customers.
“We give the service member piece of mind,” said Staff Sgt. Alec Knoles, NCO-in-Charge of General Law. “In this already stressful environment, we get them taken care of so they can focus on the mission and relax during their limited time off.”
Providing that piece of mind to Airmen is important, and the legal office has taken that one step further. They have opened up to help in a joint service capacity, assisting Army, Navy, Marines and contractors, while still executing at a high level.
“We have seen over 650 clients in six months and saved them more than $32,000 in legal fees,” explained Tech. Sgt. Nikki Walberg, 455th AEW Legal Office Superintendent. “We have the highest rated non-judicial punishment metrics for timeliness in the Air Force. We maintain the commander’s good order and discipline; and we do it all with just four people.”
From assisting accident investigation boards and homicide investigations to working with home station units to facilitate courts-martial witnesses, the legal office covers all spectrums of the mission. And while they are not always in the forefront of the service members’ minds, Smart believes that is a good thing.
“I think a good legal office is one that you don’t necessarily know is there, because everything is running smoothly,” Smart said. “That is a success story.”
| Date Taken: | 03.18.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2016 07:17 |
| Story ID: | 192803 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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