REORGANIZATION FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES SUPPORT


https://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/4009422/reorganization-for-the-provision-of-legal-services-support/

R 180800Z DEC 24 MARADMIN 611/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC JA// SUBJ/REORGANIZATION FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES SUPPORT// REF/A/FY22 NDAA// REF/B/DOC: MARADMIN 65/23// REF/C/DOC: SECDEF MEMO/2JUL21// REF/D/DOC: SECDEF MEMO/22SEP21// REF/E/DOC: MCO 5800.16 CH-7// NARR/REF (A) IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL  YEAR 2022, REF (B) IS THE MARADMIN ANNOUNCING OSTC FOC, REF (C)  IS SECDEF MEMORANDUM ON ACTIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE TO  ADDRESS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MILITARY, REF  (D) IS SECDEF MEMORANDUM COMMENCING ACTIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION TO  ADDRESS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MILITARY, AND  REF (E) IS THE LEGAL SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION MANUAL (LSAM)// POC/J. A. LORE/COL/JAD, HQMC/[email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message announces a reorganization to the  delivery of legal services support following the realignment of the  Marine Corps Legal Community in response to statutory and Secretary  of Defense (SECDEF) mandated military justice reform, as well as  Force Design.  Legal services support beyond the organic capability  of a command’s staff judge advocate (SJA) is now provided via three  Regional Law Centers and their subordinate Law Centers.  Support for  the National Capital Region and Marine Corps Forces Reserve  (MARFORRES) is provided by a stand-alone Law Center.  This  reorganization also captures the creation of the independent Marine  Corps Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC), and the creation of  an independent Trial Services Organization (TSO) that reports  directly to the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine  Corps.  These two prosecution organizations join the previously  established independent Defense Services Organization (DSO) and  Victims’ Legal Counsel Organization (VLCO). 2.  Background.  The legal support mission, particularly the  military justice function, has increased in both scope and  complexity.  A number of reviews of the provision of military  justice mandated by both Congress and SECDEF have resulted in  statutes and directives to improve the quality and delivery of  military justice.  In particular, reference (a) directed the creation  of an OSTC, which was announced as fully operationally capable in  reference (b).  Additionally, in references (c) and (d), SECDEF  mandated changes in response to the Independent Review Commission on  Sexual Assault in the Military.  Simultaneously, the Marine Corps has  been executing Force Design, driving significant changes in how the  Marine Corps is postured for a future conflict.  In response to this  changing landscape, the Marine Corps Legal Community has reorganized  how it provides legal services support to the total force. 3.  Summary of Significant Changes.  In addition to capturing the  creation of the OSTC and TSO, this reorganization has modified and  improved several other capabilities within the Marine Corps Legal  Community.  The OSTC, TSO, DSO, and VLCO will now have their own  supervisory chain and monitored command codes (MCCs) aligning under  Headquarters, Marine Corps, though personnel will still physically be  located at Law Centers aboard Marine Corps installations and will  still be administratively assigned to the supporting Marine Corps  Installations Command region.  The reorganization has also added new  44XX structure to Fleet Marine Force (FMF) and supporting  establishment (SE) SJA offices.  These changes will optimize the  provision of legal support, while increasing the ability of the  Marine Corps to meet current and emerging requirements and manage  legal talent. 4.  Nomenclature.  The nomenclature associated with legal services  support has changed in the following ways: 4.a.  The Legal Services Support Sections (LSSS) located at Marine  Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton, MCB Camp Lejeune, and MCB Camp  Butler have been renamed Regional Law Centers (RLC). The Legal  Services Support Teams (LSST) subordinate to those LSSSs are now  known as Law Centers (LC). 4.b.  The LSSS at MCB Quantico is also now known as a  Law Center (LC), but has additional responsibilities to support  MARFORRES and its subordinate commands. 4.c.  A Regional Director of Legal Services (RDLS) will be located  at MCB Camp Pendleton, MCB Camp Lejeune, and MCB Camp Foster.  The  RDLS is responsible for the supervision of subordinate LCs.  LCs  will be led by a Law Center Director (LCD).  A Director of Legal  Services (DLS) will be located at MCB Quantico. 4.d.  Subordinate LCs are assigned as follows: 4.d.1.  RLC-MCIWEST: Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, MCAS Yuma, and  29 Palms. 4.d.2.  RLC-MCIEAST: Camp Lejeune, MCAS Cherry Point, and  MCRD Parris Island. 4.d.3.  RLC-MCIPAC: Okinawa, Hawaii, and MCAS Iwakuni. 5.  SJAs, RDLSs, DLS, and LCDs should review the updated tables of  organization and ensure personnel initiate security clearance  investigations and maintain security clearances that correspond to  their billet. 6.  In order to meet growing command legal advice requirements for  the FMF and SE, additional structure has been added to SJA offices.   Other changes as a result of this reorganization will not affect the  provision of command legal advice by a command’s SJA. 7.  When operational requirements exceed the organic capacity of  FMF SJA offices, standard force augmentation and global sourcing  processes will be used.  RDLSs, DLS, and LCDs will ensure that  Marines at the LCs are ready to support the FMF in the event augments  are requested.  8.  Future revisions to reference (e) will provide additional  information. 9.  Release authorized by Major General David J. Bligh,  Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.//