From Navy Enlisted to Lawyer: Judge Advocate General's Corps Establishes Commissioning Program

June 10th, 2013

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- In a NAVADMIN released June 4, the Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps announced the In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) designed to create a pathway for enlisted Sailors to become judge advocates.

The JAG Corps IPP is open to qualified and career-motivated enlisted personnel of all ratings. Candidates selected for the JAG Corps IPP have the opportunity to complete a Juris Doctor in preparation for a JAG Corps commission.

"The JAG Corps IPP provides a commissioning option for talented and motivated Sailors," said Vice Adm. Nanette DeRenzi, Judge Advocate General of the Navy. "Officers commissioned through JAGC IPP will provide diversity of perspective, thought, and experience not widely found in the civilian law student population."

The JAG Corps IPP provides both funded and unfunded paths to JAG Corps commissions. Sailors who have earned a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree may apply for funded legal education; Sailors who have already earned a Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school and a bar license from any state may apply for direct appointment.

"JAG Corps IPP will expand the pool of applicants from which we recruit judge advocates," said Command Master Chief Paul St. Sauver, Office of the Judge Advocate General. "It will provide key enlisted fleet experience to the JAG Corps, thereby significantly enhancing the value of the JAG Corps to the fleet."

The JAG Corps IPP is open to active-duty enlisted personnel and Navy full-time support personnel, in any rating or military occupational specialty, in pay grades E-5 through E-7 with at least two years and not more than 10 years of service. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and under the age of 42 by the time of commissioning.

Complete application procedures and education requirements are provided in NAVADMIN 154/13 and can be found at JAG Corps IPP web site.

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