Breaking Doctrine Episode 48 - “Legal Support to Operations”
6 snips
Dec 1, 2023 
Lieutenant Colonel Dan Maurer, a seasoned military lawyer and professor, teams up with Major Charlie Fowler, an experienced judge advocate and author, to delve into the complexities of legal support in military operations. They explore the transformative rewrite of FM 3-84, emphasizing the need for JAG integration in warfighting functions. Topics like the evolution of national security law, JAG specialization, and the critical role of legal counsel in command decisions highlight their insights. Their conversation underscores the importance of building credibility and clear communication within military structures.
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Doctrine Must Mirror Multi-Domain Ops
- FM 3-84 updated JAG language to match FM 3-0 multi-domain operations and reflect legal support across all domains.
- The JAG Corps must advise on domain-specific issues like cyber, space, maritime, and intelligence law for commanders to operate legally.
JAGs Swim With The Army
- The JAG Corps moves with the Army like a small fish alongside a shark, adopting the Army's tempo, language, and doctrinal changes.
- Operational legal work is far broader than wills and taxes and requires matching operators' terminology and expectations.
Six Core Legal Functions Defined
- FM 3-84 identifies six core legal functions: national security law, legal assistance, military justice, trial defense, fiscal and contract law, and administrative/civil law.
- Each function overlaps in operations and requires JAGs to know enough across disciplines when serving as command legal advisors.
