Capt. Thais Ridgeway, judge advocate from the 4th Legal Operations Detachment in Fort Totten, N.Y., shares her journey serving part-time in the Army Reserve as a lawyer, and how she was able to direct commission as a captain because of her civilian education background. Part of the “Dual Pursuits” video series featuring diverse Army Reserve Soldiers and their unique paths to service.

FORT STEWART, Ga. – A distinguished military law career spanning more than 24 years of active duty and reserve service across the United States and the world prepared Col. Alyssa S. Adams to assume leadership of the 150th Legal Operations Detachment (LOD) in April 2023. A U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, Adams currently serves her nation as a military judge in the 150th LOD and as a civilian attorney for the Department of the Army. Over 20 Army Reserve Soldiers serve as military judges with the Alexandria, Virginia-based 150th LOD, a critical component of the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command. These legal professionals support active-duty courts-martial worldwide in their Army Reserve capacity while maintaining civilian law practices.

Warrant Officer David Joshua Wilson serves as a Legal Administrator with the 139th Legal Operations Detachment, U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command. Wilson credits the comradery and expertise of his fellow Warrant Officers for his success. “It was important I put myself in a position where I could effectively speak and advise commanders not just as a Legal Administrator, but also from the perspective of an African American and a member of the LGBTIQ community,” said the San Antonio, Texas native. As a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, Wilson provides legal subject matter expertise to his leadership and peers on matters and procedures of military law. The position, he says, requires him to inspire trust and confidence from the commissioned officers and enlisted Soldiers he serves with. Leveraging perspective and experience to bridge gaps and enhance relationships is one of the greatest benefits of serving as a Warrant Officer he continues.

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - The U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command hosted over 300 judge advocates, legal administrators, paralegals, Department of the Army Civilians and retirees from over 60 units across the U.S. Army, during a Regional Collective Training (Southeast) at the C.W. Bill Young Armed Forces Reserve Center from Feb. 24-26, 2023 in Pinellas Park, Fla. The 213th Legal Operations Detachment led the planning, coordination, and logistics in support of the RCT. Legal professionals received senior leader strategic briefings, networked with Soldiers across all three components: Active Component, U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard). Officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers divided into breakouts for practical exercises and mentorship sessions.

JBLM, Wash. - Maj. David Mangan, center, faculty member of The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS), advises the recorder and defense counsel in front of the board members during the mock administration separation board on Feb. 4, 2023.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Chief Warrant Officer Four Kim Pastor, center, standing, the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command Acting Command Chief Warrant Officer, addresses Legal Administrators assigned to the unit during a multi-day synchronization held in late January at the unit’s headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The gathering provided attendees opportunities for mentorship, professional development and fellowship among their peers.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - The United States Army Reserve Legal Command headquarters held a second professional development training in Gaithersburg, Md. on Dec. 15, 2022, continuing the topic of the leader’s role in empowering their team, with a focus on building confidence in one’s professional abilities. Over 20 full time staff members consisting of various levels of seniority resonated with this topic. Soldiers shared a variety of strategies guidance they both experienced and used from leaders who entrusted them to work independently. The theme across the most positive experiences involved leaders identifying and presenting their team members with appropriate challenges to solve, trusting their capacity to perform from a people first, mission-oriented standard of excellence and professionalism. The diversity and inclusion of the room enabled sharing a multitude of perspectives, fostering understanding and inspiring others with their examples of nurturing potential among their teams.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - The United States Army Reserve Legal Command conducted professional development training on Nov. 30, 2022, with a focus on innovation and adaptability in leadership. Lt. Col. DeShun Eubanks, Deputy G-3/3, from Dallas, Texas, led Legal Command headquarters’ first Professional Development Program (LCPDP) on leadership empowerment. The LCPDP is a monthly opportunity that will provide Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians presentations on various topics such as strategic communication, diversity and inclusion, and historical teachings. This program supports the “Strategy of the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) 2022,” developed by the Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army: “The Army is people, and as the JAG Corps maintains readiness and looks to the future, people are its number one priority.”

FORT STORY, Va. - Judge advocates and paralegals of the 151st Legal Operations Detachment (LOD) provided legal assistance to over 130 Army Reserve Soldiers of the 18th Field Hospital during their Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) event at the Fort Story Army Reserve Center Nov. 19-20, 2022. Capt. Tricia Nicewicz (left), 151st Legal Operations judge advocate general, assists a Soldier in preparing his will. Legal Operations Detachments provide services such as last wills and testaments, powers of attorney, and medical directives to Army Reserve Soldiers so they may take care of their loved ones in preparation for mobilization/deployment. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Nancy Drapeza)