United States Army Legal Services Agency celebrated the Judge Advocate General's Corps' 238th birthday Monday during a ceremony at the USALSA building.
Brig. Gen. Thomas E. Ayers, USALSA commanding general and other military and civilian lawyers at Fort Belvoir took time to reflect on the JAG Corps' past achievements which date back to its birth on July 29, 1775.
"We have a rich history," said Ayers. "We want to talk about it because it talks about our present and future."
Reflecting on the JAG corps past is special for Col. Tom Modeszto, USALSA Contract and Fiscal Law Division, chief. Modeszto has served on active duty in the JAG corps for 22 years.
"It is a great honor and privilege to be a part of the ceremony and it means we are recognizing the birth of an organization that I love," Modeszto said. "I couldn't imagine being with any other organization and feeling the sense of fulfillment I do with this one."
The JAG Corps was born in the early days of the American Revolutionary War. The Second Continental Congress, using Britain as a model, elected John Adams' law pupil, William Tooter to be the first Judge Advocate of the Army. However, during the Revolutionary War, judge advocates were appointed to serve, when needed.
The JAG Corps has been a part of several historic trials in American history.
The second Staff Judge Advocate of the Army, Col. John Lawrence, engaged in many famous courts martials, including that of Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Holt, Staff Judge Advocate of the Army throughout the Civil War (1861 -- 1865), served as co-prosecutor during the trials of those involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
During World War I, the JAG department expanded to 426 officers, many of whom were reserve judge advocates.
The JAG corps saw its greatest expansion during World War II as the number of judge advocates in the Corps grew to 2,500 by 1945.
As the youngest member of the judge advocate staff at Fort Belvoir, Staff Sgt. Matthew Jardine, USALSA Defense Appellate Division, noncommissioned officer-in-charge said he was happy to be reminded of the JAG Corps' long history.
"I've only been here for three or four months, so it's a great honor to be a part of this," said Jardine. "I've been in the JAG Corps for quite some time, so I'm proud of who I'm with and what being in the JAG Corps stands for."
According to Ayers, the Army drawdown and possible changes to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice are two upcoming challenges for the JAG Corps.
However Modeszto, while confident the challenges will be met, said it's important for the young judge advocates and civilian workers to stay motivated during these trying times.
"We will execute whatever we are told to as we go through these drawdowns," said Modeszto. "But, the other important part will be to keep our younger SJA's and civilian workforce motivated. It's easy to be motivated during the good times, but challenges are an opportunity to show the JAG Corps can handle whatever is thrown at it."
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