Legal Issues for Military Commanders

Military command presents a great responsibility to those who are fortunate enough to be selected as commanders. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of command comes in the form of legal authority that is inherent in command positions. Each commander is responsible for a unique mission that contributes to the overall Air Force mission and a group of personnel responsible for accomplishing that mission. Commanders have legal responsibility for resources and mission accomplishment as well as legal authority over personnel to ensure the mission is accomplished. Indeed, legal authority to discharge their duties and punish personnel is one of the main differentiators between military leaders and civilian leaders in the private sector. Further, military commanders must keep their attention focused on international law and laws of warfare to ensure the Air Force performs in the bounds of those laws. Commanders are also charged with maintaining good order and discipline in their units while ensuring their personnel are trained and world-wide deployable at a moments notice. The Judge Advocate Generals, or JAGs, are vital resources at every level of the Air Force who advise and assist commanders on these and many more legal issues. Commanders must establish a close working relationship with their JAG and understand how the JAG can assist them with legal issues. Many commanders with good intentions have mishandled seemingly routine legal issues for failure to consult with a JAG. Air Force JAGs are a critical component of the commander's team and an invaluable resource for ensuring legal issues are handled appropriately.