JAG appointment grade

[i82much]

Talked to a recruiter today. I've made that mistake before ;)

Anyway I'm currently an O-3E in Navy IRR, was looking into Guard JAG, just finished law school & passed the bar. I started law school and was commissioned in '04, finished this year (part time law school).

I read this:

http://www.goarmy.com/jag/jag_reserve_component.jsp

And figured I'd have to go down to O2E to do Army Guard JAG. The recruiter says I'll come in as an O3 as long as I've got my JD and qualified to be a member of the bar.

Who's right, me or the recruiter?

[matthew.ritchie]

Appointment to special branches (JAG, chaplain, medical) is an entirely different procedure than in the basic branches. Thus, you could be appointed at the same, higher, or lower grade, based on your background. To grossly simplify, your years of commissioned service count, as well as professional degrees and certifications in your special branch, and years of civilian experience in that field. There's a chart in the AR 135-100, and for JAG and chaplain it's relatively simple (medical can get very complicated, just because there's so many variable and different sub-fields). The State OSM will prepare the packet, but you can look at the reg yourself and make your own estimate.

Based on the fact that you're a brand-new JD-holder (and thus have no civilian experience), you may be appointed as a first lieutenant. That is the minimum grade for appointment as a JAG, so that's the minimum. Depending on your number of years of commissioned service, you have a good chance of appointment as a captain.

Obviously, your years of service continue to count for pay and retirement.