USAFEC hosts the 2024 AMC JA Operations Law Conference

  • Published
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  

The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center’s Office of the Staff Judge Advocate hosted the 2024 Air Mobility Command Judge Advocate Operations Law Conference, March 12-15, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The conference brought 21 active duty, guard, and reserve legal professionals together from across Air Mobility Command.

The primary goal of the conference was to enhance the audience’s knowledge and ability to develop, lead, and manage the operations law section at a base legal office with an introduction to geopolitics in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. Attendees learned the importance of having the right legal resources, references, subject matter expert contacts, and understanding as to how to fully support military exercises and operations, both domestic and international.

“Air Force military operations must comply with U.S. domestic and international law,” said Col. Amer Mahmud, USAFEC Staff Judge Advocate. “AMC aircraft fly missions all around the world and it’s up to supporting legal professionals to provide legal support for all aspects of exercises and real-world operations whether its Air Force, joint, or combined.”

Throughout the week the attendees received briefings and panel discussions and participated in table-top exercises with more than 10 officer and enlisted subject matter experts who were handpicked to participate in the conference because of their vast knowledge and experience in deployed environments.

“I hope every attendee left the conference with a new understanding as to how they can improve their organizations’ operational readiness,” said Gregory Kruse, USAFEC Legal Advisor. “Also, on a personal level, we want to ensure they are best prepared to deploy anywhere in the world no matter where the mission takes them.”

USAF legal professionals also serve as legal advisors to exercise planners. They help draft and review exercise rules of engagement, general orders, and deployment plans. Legal professionals must also be ready to advise on non-combatant evacuation operations, contracts, fiscal law issues, and much more.

“Operations law includes all legal and ethical laws, rules, policies, and guidance related to military operations,” Kruse said. “In short, when the Air Force executes a military operation, it must do so legally and ethically. There are legal aspects to every operation, and we want to ensure Air Force legal professionals are prepared for whatever future conflict may arise.”