ALCOAST 130/19 - APR 2019 CGJAG WANTS YOU! - AY20 OFFICER AND ENLISTED SOLICITATION FOR JURIS DOCTOR (JD) LAW ADVANCED EDUCATION (AE) OPPORTUNITY

R 230947 APR 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-094//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01500//
ALCOAST 130/19
COMDTNOTE 1500
SUBJ: CGJAG WANTS YOU! - AY20 OFFICER AND ENLISTED SOLICITATION FOR JURIS DOCTOR (JD)
LAW ADVANCED EDUCATION (AE) OPPORTUNITY
A. COMCOGARD PSC Washington DC 12 APR 19 ALCGPSC 039/19
B. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 081002 APR 19/ALCOAST 114/19
C. Performance, Training and Education Manual, COMDTINST M1500.10 (series)
D. Law Advanced Education Program for Juris Doctor and Master of Laws Degrees,
COMDTINST 1524.2 (series)
E. Officer Accessions, Evaluations, and Promotions, COMDTINST M1500.10 (series)
F. Coast Guard Recruiting Manual, COMDTINST M1100.2 (series)
G. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1 (series)
1. I need seven high-performing officers and enlisted members committed to making a positive
difference as the newest members of the Coast Guard legal program (CGJAG). From law enforcement
to disaster response, intelligence operations to marine safety and security, CGJAG is actively
engaged in every Coast Guard mission. We provide commanders a decision-making advantage and
drive mission execution by delivering proactive legal advice and counsel across the full
spectrum of Coast Guard operations. Active duty personnel whose performance demonstrate the
ability, dedication, and commitment to excellence are ideal candidates to become judge advocates.
2. Commissioned officers and enlisted personnel meeting the requirements specified in REF (A)
are eligible to apply. We will select seven active duty CG members to attend school beginning in
fall 2020 to obtain a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, with an anticipated graduation in spring 2023.
3. Officer Eligibility: The preferred officer selectees will be tour complete officers in grades
O-2 or O-3 with fewer than six years of service as a commissioned officer. Non-tour complete
officers may request a waiver from PSC. I seek candidates from all accession points and a broad
range of specialties. If you have applied before, consider applying again as it took me several
tries to be selected.
4. Enlisted Eligibility: This provides an opportunity for enlisted members to attend law school,
commission to lieutenant upon graduation, and be assigned to a billet within CGJAG. Upon
selection for and acceptance of the program, the member's enlistment contract will be extended
for the duration of law school. Requirements for enlisted applications include the following:
    a. This opportunity is open to Active Duty Coast Guard personnel in grades E-4 to E-7 with
over four and fewer than ten years of service at the time of the panel. Due to the length of
the AE service requirements, waivers for members with more than ten years of service will not
be granted.
    b. Pass a pre-commission physical examination IAW REF (G).
    c. No court-martial convictions or non-judicial punishment (NJP) during the current enlistment.
    d. Be a United States citizen.
    e. Complete an Officer Program interview. The Officer Interview Panel is normally scheduled
through your Coast Guard Education Service Officer. A Coast Guard judge advocate must be part
of this panel. Please contact the legal program manager if you are having trouble scheduling an
interview.
    f. Provide a list of personal awards.
    g. Provide proof of security clearance or interim clearance.
    h. A Professional Resume. Your resume should be no longer than two one-sided pages.
    i. A personal narrative outlining why you desire to become both a Coast Guard Officer and
judge advocate, how the Coast Guard would benefit from you selection, and the value you would
bring to CGJAG. Your narrative should be no longer than three one-sided, double-spaced pages.
    j. Letters of recommendation. Two letters are required, one has to be from the member's chain
of command familiar with the applicant's experience and potential for becoming both an officer
and judge advocate. Two additional letters of recommendation are authorized. These may be from
personal, professional, or educational sources.
5. Law School Selection: Selectees will work with the legal program manager to choose an ABA
accredited law school, typically near CG Headquarters, an Area Command, a District Office, or
the Legal Service Command (LSC) to allow for valuable Coast Guard legal office summer internships.
6. Funding and Commissioning: The Coast Guard pays tuition and authorized fees within the FORCECOM
established AE funding structure. The required active duty obligation is three months for each
month of education for the first year and one month for each month of education thereafter,
normally resulting in a five-year service obligation. Upon graduation from law school, an enlisted
selectee would receive a Temporary Regular five-year commission as a Lieutenant (O-3) in the U.S.
Coast Guard Reserve and attend the Direct Commission Officer course. The AE obligated service
would run concurrently with the commissioned service obligation during the member's follow-on
legal tour(s).
7. Officer Application Process: Submit your application by 15 June 2019 via the Direct Access
e-resume process using your work e-mail address. Follow REF (A) to complete your application.
Your e-resume should include a personal narrative and a command endorsement. Use the narrative to
describe how you would add value to CGJAG and how the Coast Guard will benefit from your selection.
8. Enlisted Applicants: Enlisted applications and enlisted command endorsements should use the
e-resume to refer to the separate personal narrative and command letter of recommendation,
detailed in paragraphs 4.i and 4.j above. There is no need to submit a separate personal narrative
or command endorsement other than what is required in paragraph 4.
9. LSAT: A current LSAT score is required for both officer and enlisted applicants. LSAT scores
taken on or after June 2015 will be considered; successful applicants typically score in the
mid-150s or higher. Due to limited testing opportunities, LSAT scores will be accepted after the
application deadline to allow for results from the June 2019 test; send a copy of your scores
directly to CG-PSC-OPM-1 (HQS-SMB-CGPSC-opm-1-PGPanels@uscg.mil) prior to the date the panel
convenes. Proven past performance in the Coast Guard is a significant criterion for selection.
All applicants must submit proof of completion and award of a baccalaureate degree from a
regionally or nationally accredited college or university. I am looking for candidates whose
transcripts demonstrate their academic achievement. All transcripts must be submitted and
included in the member's EI-PDR. A strong academic record and solid LSAT score are indicators of
a member’s ability to pass a state bar examination and are also key elements considered in the
selection process.
10. Contact the legal program manager for more information regarding CGJAG. Contact OPM-1 for
more information regarding the e-resume application process.
11. POCs:
      a. Program Manager: LCDR Rebecca Shults, 202-372-3753;
      b. PG/AE Coordinator: LT Lauren Binger, 202-795-6441;
      c. PG/AE YN: YN3 Nel Bruno Felix, 202-795-6439.
12. Action: Widest dissemination of this ALCOAST is requested.
13. RADM Steven J. Andersen, Judge Advocate General, sends.
14. Internet release is authorized.