MINNEAPOLIS -- Marine judge advocates and the local officer selection officer attended the National Black Prosecutors Association's annual conference and job fair July 26, here. In line with the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ planning guidance, Marine Corps Recruiting Command remains focused on its mission to access officers representative of the face of the nation.
The NBPA is an organization dedicated to the advancement of African-Americans as prosecutors. Founded in 1983, more than 800 lawyers across the country are members.
Our goal was to try and meet people interested in becoming judge advocates,” said Capt. Jacob Aldean, officer selection officer, Recruiting Station Twin Cities. “We chose the NBPA conference and job fair because it gave us the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of qualified individuals.”
To accomplish this goal, three judge advocates were brought to the job fair to share their Marine Corps experiences with the attendees.
“We were able to speak with many current law students and practicing attorneys,” said Capt. Douglas Duffin, deputy staff judge advocate, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. “Our presence provided heightened awareness of the opportunities afforded to young, newly sworn attorneys.”
Finding qualified judge advocates is more difficult than finding potential Marine officers desiring an air or ground contract, so OSOs leave no stone unturned. Of the 21,307 commissioned officers in the Corps during Fiscal Year 2010, only 548 were lawyers. In addition to having an undergraduate degree, as is required for all Marine officers, potential judge advocates must also be in law school or have law degrees and be admitted to the bar in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
“The [NBPA conference and job fair] was a great opportunity to make inroads for the Marine Corps in a close-knit professional community,” said Maj. Keith D. Smith, military justice officer, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. “The goodwill and visibility that was garnered by our attendance undoubtedly will help the Marine Corps' image in the African-American community. The Marine Corps should send representatives to this conference and job fair every year. It will pay big dividends for us in the future.”
For more information on the Marine Officer Law program, visit www.MarineOfficer.com