22nd ARW JA makes AMC clean sweep

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angelique Smythe
  • 22nd ARW Public Affairs
The 22nd Air Refueling Wing Legal Office held the Air Mobility Command Excellence in Discipline Award for all four quarters of 2005.

The military justice section helps commanders maintain good order and discipline in support of the Air Force mission. 

No other base has been able to surpass McConnell’s military justice excellence.
McConnell is the only wing in AMC to accomplish 100 percent of Article 15s “on-time.” They are the fastest in discharges and have managed more special court-martials than any other wing in AMC – all on time, all error free.“

This is a Team McConnell award, not just a legal office award,” said Lt. Col. Steven Thompson, 22nd ARW staff judge advocate.

 “Being able to complete our jobs 100 percent of the time means the commanders and first sergeants really care about discipline within the units and about the individuals who find themselves in trouble,” said Col. Thompson. 

“I can’t thank the commanders and the first sergeants enough. We are really just accepting this award on behalf of their hard work,” he said.

The Legal Office recently underwent an inspection by the AMC Staff Judge Advocate, Brig. Gen. Jarisse Sanborn and passed with flying colors. 

General Sanborn stated that she was “awed by the extraordinary work that went into attaining your 100 percent court-martial and non-judicial 22nd ARW JA makes AMC clean sweeppunishment (Article 15) metrics and the near perfect performance on discharges…absolutely phenomenal…yours is clearly one of the best offices I have encountered in recent years.

” According to Capt. Jim Annexstad, 22nd ARW chief of military justice, the goal of the Legal Office is to process all military justice actions as quickly as possible without sacrificing the quality of work. 

“We have done very well in both areas, and all of our metrics are at 100 percent,” he said.

Many of the determining factors for the quarterly and annual awards are based upon set timeframes that look how quickly certain actions are processed. 

“The military justice section accumulated an impressive array of accomplishments
this year,” said Maj. Brian Varn, deputy staff judge advocate. 

McConnell’s legal office was the only AMC base to process 100 percent of their 84 Article 15s on time while cutting the processing times from 14.9 to 12.2 days; they processed a record 46 administrative discharges while slashing processing times from 13.8 days to 6.8 days and saving the Air Force $30,000 in pay and allowances; and they processed a Wing record 26 courts-martial 100 percent “on-time” while virtually eliminating post-trial errors.

More important to the Military Justice section is the pride they take in the service they provide to the squadron commanders. 

“An Air Force member that is in trouble, or that needs to be separated from the Air Force, is ‘high drag’ upon the unit,” said Major Varn. “It can take weeks to replace a member, whether that person is being discharged for disciplinary matters or for personal reasons, such as medical. 

The unit needs that person off the books as soon as possible so they can get a replacement and also so the member can get on with their lives as well. That’s what the Military Justice Division brings to the fight for Team McConnell.

”According to Captain Annexstad, most recently recognized as the 22nd ARW CGO of the Year, the quality of people working in military justice is what it takes to win. 

“It takes great people to win this award,” he said. “We have outstanding Airmen and NCOs working in the military justice section. We have outstanding leadership here in the legal office and also around the base. It’s really those ingredients that have allowed
us to win this award.

”Major Varn agrees, “From Colonel (Cathy C.) Clothier, (22nd ARW commander), right down to each squadron, the team work and support are just incredible!”