Judge advocates ensure people are protected, disciplined

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mona Ferrell
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  Truth, justice and a speedy trial within the military judicial system may not be concerns weighing on a servicemember’s mind on a daily basis, but as a victim of a crime or as an Airman being accused of a crime, these concerns are things you not only think about, they are things you expect.

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe military justice offices work to meet these expectations, said Col. Steve Irwin, USAFE’s military justice division chief.

“As Airmen in the U.S. Air Force, we are sworn to defend the United States Constitution,” Colonel Irwin said. “Our military justice system embodies our Constitution. It helps us maintain discipline, good order, high morale and individual rights.

“Commanders can initiate nonjudicial punishment and refer charges to courts-martial,” he said. “At the same time, we as individual Airmen are innocent until proven guilty, we have a right to be silent, and we have a right to counsel. It also means the truth is the most important thing. And, if charges are referred against me, I know I will have the option to be tried by a jury of my peers.

“Everybody is part of the military judicial system,” Colonel Irwin said. "Every day Airmen abide by the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, correct others, act as witnesses and serve as jury members in courts-martial. It is a way in which we hold ourselves to the high standards, which make us the best. And it’s this knowledge, participation and pride in the system that allows it to work.”

Airmen working in military justice offices within the command recently attended a military justice advocacy and administration training course here.

The five-day course provided the participants with the most recent developments in the laws and regulations affecting the administration of military justice, both Air Force wide and from a major command perspective.

In addition, the course was designed to increase networking and information sharing between bases to ensure the uniform, consistent and efficient processing of military justice actions, Colonel Irwin said.

“Our over-arching objectives were to train people on the nuts and bolts of military justice, increase the networking between us and make justice more efficient,” he said.

Keeping the ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ concept in the forefront of their minds, course participants were provided with a fictitious scenario involving statements stemming from alleged misconduct and an altercation between two Airmen.

The scenario was used as the basis for most of the instruction throughout the week, the colonel said. As more information was presented in each stage of the judicial process, the severity of the conduct in the case moved from an Article 15 to a general court-martial.

“This case had everything in it -- how to investigate, no-contact orders, interviewing witnesses, (a) sexual assault issue and the victim/witness assistance program -- we examined the case and role played throughout the week, basically picking this case apart,” the colonel said. “The whole idea was to move the case quickly, but we also worked on how to do it fairly and ensure people’s rights were protected.”

The course was also about building professional relationships, said Maj. Chris McMahon, the 435th Air Base Wing military justice chief here who attended the course.

“Every case is handled differently, depending on the facts and circumstances,” Major McMahon said. “But, although every case is unique, there are always similar things that come up. Working with people across the command allows us to recognize our collective potential and take advantage of it.”

Military justice is all about the people, the law and the truth -- it also helps when we all speak with one voice,” Colonel Irwin said.

“We’re handling cases like the one we used for this course every day in our expeditionary Air Force, and our goal is to ensure we’re networked and working together for justice and make sure people are protected and disciplined,” he said. (Courtesy of USAFE News Service)