The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force visits Grand Forks Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Tim Flack
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Grand Forks Air Force Base legal officials recently underwent an Article 6 Inspection, hosting Lt. Gen. Richard C. Harding - The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force.

Harding was accompanied by Air Mobility Command Staff Judge Advocate Brig. Gen. David Wesley, and they visited Grand Forks from March 12-14 for the inspection, according to Lt. Col. Brandon Hart, 319th Air Base Wing SJA.

Hart explained that visits are actually directed in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The law requires The Judge Advocate General (TJAG) or members of his senior staff to "make frequent inspections in the field in supervision of the administration of military justice."

"While the primary focus of Article 6 Inspections is on the administration of military justice, they also provide an unparalleled opportunity for TJAG to evaluate how effectively legal offices are providing for the legal readiness of the commanders, personnel, and organizations they support," he explained.

Hart noted, "Quite frankly, they can tell a lot in a short visit." Hart explained that his staff briefed the visiting VIPs on everything from civil law issues like to the housing privatization to details on courts-martial held at Grand Forks over the last couple of years.
Hart said a huge benefit of having the TJAG visit is the interaction between the senior-most legal professional in the Air Force and all members of the legal office. The legal office showcased its work via a 100-slide PowerPoint Presentation. During the slideshow, for example, Harding offered a lot of insight on his philosophy with various subjects.

"Learning form him is much more important," than just briefing your own programs, Hart explained.

As the TJAG, Harding serves as the legal adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force and all officers and agencies of the Department of the Air Force. He directs all judge advocates in the performance of their duties and is responsible for the professional oversight of more than 2,200 judge advocates, 350 civilian attorneys, 1,400 enlisted paralegals and 500 civilians in the Judge Advocate General's Corps worldwide. Harding oversees military justice, operational and international law, and civil law functions at every level of command.