United States Coast Guard
Direct Commission Lawyer Program
The Direct Commission Lawyer Program hires between 6 and 12 new attorneys each year. The recruiting cycle runs with the fiscal year (Oct 1 - Sep 30), with one to three selection boards between October and February for training starting July or August. Deadlines are approximately six weeks prior to established deadlines. The Coast Guard Recruiting website www.gocoastguard.com contains further details regarding application deadlines. After the last deadline for the fiscal year, completed applications will only be considered for the following fiscal year. |
For more information and
application forms, go to
www.gocoastguard.com
(Click on Officer Careers- Programs- More Info- Direct Commission Programs)
The
The need...
Because of its expansive role in the country's
national defense and maritime interests, the Coast Guard has a continuing need
for military attorneys. To help meet this need, the Coast Guard offers
qualified law school graduates the opportunity to serve as military judge
advocates. The Coast Guard's legal program reflects the service's missions.
Judge Advocates frequently are involved in such diverse areas as Military
Justice, Trial Advocacy, Tort Law, Administrative Law, Maritime and
International Law, Environmental Law, Labor Law, Procurement Law, and Law
Enforcement, among other areas.
How it works...
Selectees are required to serve on active duty as Coast Guard
officers and receive four-year contracts. Currently, selected
are commissioned as Lieutenants in the Coast Guard Reserve and receive three
years of constructive active service credit (for promotion purposes only). They
attend a five week Direct Commission Officer Course at the Coast Guard Academy
in New London, Connecticut, followed by a two-week Operations Orientation
Program on board various Coast Guard Cutters, and a ten-week Basic Lawyer
Course at the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. From there, the
newly commissioned judge advocates report to their initial duty stations.
Salary & Benefits...
Since the Coast Guard is one of the country's five armed forces, the pay and allowances are the same as for the other military services. Your exact pay would depend on whether you have dependents and where you are stationed. (See Pay Table below). Benefits include free medical and dental care, 30 days paid annual vacation (not counting ten federal holidays), low cost $400,000 term life insurance, tuition assistance for off-duty education, post-graduate education opportunities, and the ability to contribute to tax-free retirement accounts under the federal Thrift Savings Plan. Other benefits include: use of commissaries (grocery stores) and exchanges (retail department stores), space available travel on government aircraft, use of military recreational facilities around the world, and excellent retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
To view military pay chart http://www.dfas.mil/dms/dfas/militarymembers/pdf/MilPayTable2012.pdf
Latest Pay Rates and Benefits
http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/rates.asp