U.S. ARMY RESERVE LEGAL COMMAND

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 BELVOIR, Virginia – On Saturday and Sunday, Brig. Gen. Gerald R. Krimbill, the 11th commanding general of the United States Army Reserve Legal Command, hosted the first Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps Board of Directors meeting to help shape the strategic initiatives of Judge Advocates, Paralegals, and Legal Administrators within the Reserve and Active Components.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Brig. Gen. Gerald R. Krimbill, commander of the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command (USARLC), hosted the first Active Component (AC) / Reserve Component (RC) integrated Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC) regional training from Dec. 5-7, 2023. This refresher training provided new tools and best practices for all Army component SVCs to provide effective and meaningful representation of clients who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence in the military. It included paralegals who play an important role by supporting SVCs and their clients. Krimbill personally expressed his support for those attending and others in the field currently serving as SVCs and SVC paralegals.

WEST POINT, NY – In the halls of West Point Academy – where the values of “Duty, Honor, Country” have guided generations of Soldiers and American leaders since 1802 – lessons from a legacy of service were shared from Medal of Honor (MOH) recipient and Vietnam War veteran, Col. (ret) Jack Jacobs. Speaking to a room of 60+ Army Reserve judge advocates, legal administrators, and paralegals from the 4th and 7th Legal Operations Detachments (LOD), the MOH recipient opened with the truth: when he commissioned in 1966, the goal for his service was not entirely selfless. “My objective was to serve my three years and go to law school,” he explained, not realizing that his service in the military and as the assistant battalion advisor, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam would create bonds of loyalty so strong, he traded his civilian dream for 20+ years of a career in uniform.