Photo By Sgt. Alex Fairchild | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Calena Craddolph, a legal service specialist with the Legal...... read more read more
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CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Every year, the Marine Corps Defense Services Organization recognizes the work their counsel and legal-support Marines do to defend Marines and sailors. Cpl. Calena Craddolph, is the recipient of the 2020 DSO Marine of the Year Award.
Craddolph, a legal service specialist with the Legal Services Support Section, Headquarters and Support Battalion, was recognized for her outstanding performance in the service she provided to protect Marines and sailors. The other annual awards include defense counsel of the year, defense motions practice award, and the academic writing award.
“You have to go above and beyond to accomplish the mission and scrutinize every detail of every case,” said Craddolph, a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia. “When I received the award, I was humbled that I was chosen, and it motivates me to work even harder to expand my capabilities in defending service members.”
The DSO is a global criminal defense law firm dedicated to defending fellow Marines and sailors by providing them legal counsel in any matter required by statute or regulation. Composed of over 70 Marine judge advocates and legal-support staff, their practice consists of defending Marines at court-martials, boards of inquiry, and administrative separation boards.
Craddolph explained that on the administrative side, she assists with the input of details and evidence information related to each case. She additionally partners up with the defense counsel by contacting witnesses and conducting interviews as well as reviewing all of the information connected to a case with them to expand their argument or defense.
“Craddolph’s hard work, dedication and professionalism in her first six months in the DSO were instrumental in the Defense team’s resounding success,” said Lt. Col. Eldon Beck, the regional defense counsel with LSSS, H&S Bn. “Though her rank was lance corporal all of 2020, Cpl. Craddolph quickly learned her duties and magnified her responsibilities in highly impactful ways that were on par with those of a much more experienced noncommissioned officer.”
Beck, a native of Modesto, California, explained that Craddolph regularly pushes deep into investigations, witness interviews, trial preparations, strategy sessions, and murder boards of the most serious and complicated cases. Throughout 2020, she assisted in the processing of 24 general court-martials, 57 special court-martials, eight board of inquiries and 44 administrative separation boards.
“I’ve developed a strong passion for every detail that goes into my work,” said Craddolph. “I have had the fortunate opportunity to travel and work outside of my typical assignments to assist with cases and further protect the force.”
Along with her performance at LSSS, Craddolph’s accomplishments extend far beyond the workplace. She used her skill in marksmanship to help other Marines as a range coach for H&S Bn. on four ranges during 2020. She also utilized her graphic design ability to create shirt designs for LSSS, and before the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions, volunteered repeatedly at Shimazoe No Oka, a local Okinawan orphanage, strengthening the Marine Corps’ relationship with the Okinawa community.
“At the end of the day, it is all about defending our own,” said Craddolph. “We protect the force by providing protection to every Marine and sailor who is in need of our services.”
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2021 03:31 |
| Story ID: | 395874 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 186 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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