JAG generally hires two types of individuals, lawyers and paralegals. The requirements for these two positions differ greatly. The military recruits potential paralegals from within its own ranks and provides these individuals with all the necessary training.
In order to enter training as a Judge Advocate General attorney, individuals must be practicing attorneys or law school graduates. While the military provides military law training programs to lawyers, JAG schools are not law schools. Those seeking admittance to a JAG program as an attorney must seek a legal education previous to applying.
The United States Navy trains all its JAG employees at the Naval Justice School (NJS) in Newport, Rhode Island. NJS attachments exist in San Diego, California and Norfolk, Virginia.
The United States Army administers a Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course for lawyers at Virginia's Fort Lee and runs the The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Air Force JAG training takes place at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The Marine Corps does not have its own JAG program, but maintains a Judge Advocate Division that is subordinate to the Navy Judge Advocate General. Marines receive JAG education at Navy facilities.
The education process differs slightly with each branch. For the Navy and Army, attorneys apply for a position with JAG. Those accepted to the Navy program head to the Naval Justice School in Newport for a 10-week military law training course before beginning on-the-job training.
Those accepted to the Army program head first to Fort Lee, for introductory training, and then to Charlottesville, for more advanced training. A six-week officer training program at Fort Benning, Georgia constitutes the final step in Army JAG training.
Air Force JAG attorneys receive all the necessary training at Maxwell Air Force Base. However, Air Force employees may go from the Air Force to law school and return to the military afterward as JAG attorneys.
JAG recruits paralegals from within the military. In the Navy, a paralegal, or Legalman, must be at the E-3, E 4 or E-5 pay grade and have served for less than 10 years. Those accepted for Naval paralegal training go to the Naval Justice School for a rigorous training regime.
The Army, on the other hand, allows individuals with a GED and the ability to type at least 25 words per minute to join the paralegal training program, which comprises standard basic training followed by 10 weeks of advanced military law training.
The Air Force program allows incoming soldiers and long-serving individuals to apply for paralegal positions. All training provided constitutes continuing education and participation receive college credits as such. The Air Force helps service members continue on to law school after receiving a legal education through the military.