What rank do JAG officers start at Army?
Asked by: Mr. Grover Willms Jr. | Last update: January 23, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (75 votes)
What rank will I begin at? Air Force: First Lieutenant (O-2) (typically promoted to Captain (O-3) after six months). Army: First Lieutenant (O-2) (typically promoted to Captain (O-3) after six to nine months).
What rank does a JAG officer start at?
If you were selected under the Student Program, you will be commissioned as an Ensign in the inactive Navy Reserves (non-paid, non-drilling status). If you were selected under the Direct Appointment Program, you will be commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade.
What rank do lawyers start in the military?
Marine, Air Force and Navy military lawyers start at the rank of O-2, and Army lawyers start at the rank of O-1.
What is the Army equivalent of JAG?
The Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) is a different kind of law firm. Since its founding in 1775, the JAG Corps mission has been to represent the legal interests of Soldiers and the U.S. Army with unmatched strength, courage, character and commitment, and unsurpassed knowledge of the law.
How fast do Jags get promoted?
The pay and benefits of joining the JAG Corps are competitive. Attorneys will commission as lieutenants and typically be promoted within the first 6-12 months.
Simple Guide to All Army Ranks in Order - USA
Where do most JAGs get stationed?
- Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (near Baltimore)
- Fort Belvoir, VA (near Alexandria)
- Fort McNair, Washington, DC.
- Fort Meade, MD (near Baltimore)
- Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, VA (near Arlington)
Do JAGs get paid well?
Income. The Navy JAG Corps offers active duty judge advocates a competitive starting salary, ranging from $80,000 to $108,000, depending on duty location. Your initial pay rapidly rises as you promote, reach longevity milestones, and become eligible for continuation bonuses.
Is there a shortage of JAG officers?
However, the JAG Corps routinely receives only 20 applications per year from a pool of nearly 6000 officers!
Will JAG pay for law school?
Does the Air Force JAG Corps pay for law school? The Air Force JAG Corps currently does not offer scholarships to pay for law school. The Air Force, however, offers the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) to officers and enlisted members on active duty.
What is the acceptance rate for the Army JAG Corps?
Acceptance into the Army JAG Corps is highly selective with an acceptance rate between 4-7%.
Which branch has the best jag program?
- Army JAG Corps: The Army provides a diverse range of legal challenges, dealing with everything from military justice cases to international law. ...
- Navy JAG Corps: The Navy emphasizes international and maritime law because of its global operations.
Do Army jags get deployed?
Throughout the history of the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps), deployed judge advocates and paralegals have provided vital legal support to combat operations.
Is it hard to become a jag officer?
The JAG application process is competitive, rigorous and highly selective. We evaluate each candidate using the "whole person" concept, which means we look at academic performance, extracurricular activities, community service, prior military record (if any) as well as work and leadership experience.
How much does a first year JAG make?
The Navy JAG Corps offers active duty judge advocates a competitive starting salary, ranging from $80,000 to $108,000, depending on duty location. Your initial pay rapidly rises as you promote, reach longevity milestones, and become eligible for continuation bonuses.
What rank are lawyers in the military?
Any rank from 1st Lieutenant to Lieutenant General. Because of the J.D. degree, military lawyers start out one rank higher than the ordinary officer. After that, their rank progression is the same as any other officer's.
What GPA do you need for JAG?
The characteristics that will make you a good candidate for a JAG position are common across all branches. There are no stated GPA minimums, but your academic performance will be a factor.
Do jags have to pass the bar?
Because we must wait on you to become a licensed attorney before scheduling you for officer training, you will not become a servicemember until after the bar exam results are released and you are licensed to practice law. If you are a law student or ROTC cadet, you may apply for internship or externship opportunities.
How competitive is becoming a JAG?
We receive hundreds of highly competitive applications each board and have only a limited number of selection quotas available to offer Professional Recommendations to. The selection rate for the Student Program continues to hover around 5 to 20% for the past 5 years, and even less for our other commissioning programs.
Is Army Jag worth it?
Becoming a Judge Advocate is personally, professionally, and financially rewarding. In addition to your salary, the JAG Corps offers student loan repayment and other benefits that will help you build your future. You will receive both tangible and intangible benefits not offered by other employers.
How fast do jag officers get promoted?
Officers in the Navy JAG Corps presently serve approximately six‐eight years as LTs before they are eligible to promote to lieutenant commander (LCDR). LCDRs serve approximately four‐seven years before they are eligible to promote to commander (CDR).
Do jag officers go to bootcamp?
As a Judge Advocate, you won't participate in the Basic Training that enlisted Soldiers complete. Instead, you'll attend the Direct Commission Course (DCC), a six-week rigorous physical, weapons, and leadership course that will prepare you to serve as an Officer.
How often do JAGs deploy?
In terms of deployment, it honestly varies and there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. Some JAGs may never deploy, while others may deploy multiple times during their career.
Do JAGs live on base?
You'll start your career as a JAG with a training regimen, both in the ways of military life and military law, beginning with Officer Training School (OTS) and followed by the Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course (JASOC). Throughout this training, you'll live at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in the on-base dormitories.
Does Jag pay off student loans?
The highly touted Air Force JAG Corps Student Loan Repayment Program pays eligible JAGs up to $65,000 toward student loan debt. Payments are made directly to a qualified lender over a three-year period, starting after completion of the first year of service as a JAG Officer.