JAG---the Real Thing!

For those who’ve taken to the JAG TV show, it is my hope that you realize that not a lot of those great experiences are afforded many (if any) JAG’s or Petty Officers. JAG’s (Military Lawyers) and their Paralegals (Legalman, as we are called in the Navy) can be found in some rather interesting places and doing some pretty incredible things. In addition to the mere fact that I, as a Senior Navy Paralegal, am serving the world’s greatest country in my now 20+ years of honorable service in the Navy, am currently working for the Army as a Senior Paralegal. This mere fact has recently taken me on a pretty incredible trip within Afghanistan: to the Arghandab Valley where life cannot be compared to that which most of us are used to in the United States.

Being assigned as a Senior Paralegal working on an investigation directed by a pretty senior Army Officer, our transportation to the Arghandab Valley was nothing less than an incredible experience. How many paralegals can say that they’ve been flown in on a helicopter to do their work? I trust this number is pretty small however, I can now be included in that number. Our investigative team of 6 arrived in the Arghandab Valley via our own Blackhawk helicopter! Yes, it’s true and I have some pretty awesome pictures to prove it. Our investigation was merely administrative in scope although it was directly preceded by a criminal investigation which is likely not complete, therefore, must remain confidential. Needless to say, once that investigation is complete, I’m sure it will, unfortunately, be in the main stream media more than it already has been.

When we arrived, we landed in the landing zone and were greeted by some of the leadership of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) with whom we had prearranged our accommodations. Accommodations is a rather interesting word to use because essentially, we worked in a plywood building from sun up to sun down and beyond. Our sleeping arrangements were also equally interesting because there were only 12 women permanently assigned to the FOB and a number of them were on leave and not at the FOB. Therefore, the large tent which had been sectioned off to accommodate the women assigned to the FOB was ours for the duration. The tent was also separated by a plywood wall so that the other side of the tent and plywood wall could be used by men permanently assigned to the FOB. Of course, one of the women with me – who shall remain nameless – climbed up to peek over the wall, the investigator in her couldn’t resist the temptation – to assess our situation. This really was a smart thing to do. Although she saw a tent full of bunk bed-type cots, she also saw that some very messy men were living there. She described the view as what you would expect in a kids room with clothes strewn all over the place. Needless to say, it gave us a good laugh. Our tent was marked by a typed sign which was taped to the exterior of the zip flap (not a door) with pink duct tape – what other color would you use to denote a tent for women?

The approximately 200 personnel permanently assigned to the FOB were more than helpful and did the best they could with our team crawling around and interviewing everyone and asking a million questions about their training, processes, and procedures. In addition to our team uncovering everything possible, we also required space for our computers and the stacks of documentation we had identified and obtained. Some of the more than 30 people we interviewed were more than willing to talk to us. Some, on the other hand, were not as eager because, although we were not looking at the criminal investigation, the information they had was traumatic and a couple were specific and told us this was information and memories which they were trying to forget and move on from. How can you help but feel bad for some of these young kids (when I say young, I mean the 20 something’s which we were talking to). We did our best, stayed on point and asked only those questions which were required to stay on point. We worked very long hours and if I say that I don’t want to transcribe anything else for a while, you’d understand! I transcribed (verbatim) more than 30 interviews so we could provide legible sworn statements to our Appointing Officer. We provided the transcripts to the interviewees, they read them, changed them so they said exactly what they intended for them to say, and then they signed them. We did our absolute best and I’m confident the final work product will be good. In fact, I’m anxious to see the final work product. As most lawyers and paralegals know, each time you look at a document you draft, you can typically find another way to word something or to describe something so we will continue to review the findings and recommendations until it is submit in the very near future. That’s how an administrative investigation works.

When we arrived, the FOB did not have a chow hall. We were able to eat 3 hot meals a day which is better than what we initially thought: two hot meals and one MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) per day. We were also told that we would be sleeping in tents so we had prepared for tents. We did not expect our tents to be heated or have electric, nor did we expect them to have cots or bunk bed-type cots. So, in actuality, we really got lucky. After our second day at the FOB, they unveiled a new chow hall which was a great addition to the FOB. It was a rather small space, but so worth it when you realize what these Soldiers experience on a daily basis. The most unique part of the chow hall was that it was on a hill and yes, it had a very steep slant form one end to the other. We all commented on how we felt like we were on a boat…which of course, made me feel right at home!

Another intriguing part of life on this FOB, in addition to the latrines (yes, we also had green port a johns without running water) were the shower trailers. These were like a very small mobile home with just stalls for commodes which were not available for use, but each also had three shower stalls. The rules were simple: we were to take Combat Showers! Don’t feel ashamed to ask what a Combat Shower is, because had I not read about it on the wall of a port a john, I wouldn’t have known either. A combat shower consists of a few basic instructions which are: 1) get naked 2) turn on water for 30 second to wet body and hair 3) turn off water 4) lather up 5) turn on water for less than 2 minutes and 45 seconds to rinse. Sounds, simple, right? Try it! 2 minutes and 45 seconds is NOT long enough!

Take a look at my pictures.....