USS Cowpens leaving Japan in hull swap with USS Antietam – Navy – Stripes.

At the time the story was written the John C. Stennis Strike Group and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) legal department included: Lt. Cmdr. David Lee, Legalman 1st Class Lakisha Baldwin, Legalman Chief Donald Osborne, Cmdr. Shane Cooper, Legalman 2nd Class Giannina Gutierrez, Lt. Matthew Schultz, Legalman 1st Class Erin Crusan, Legalman 3rd Class Melissa Ball, Legalman 3rd Class Kaedi Hunter and Legalman 3rd Class Gregorio Villalba.

Ships from John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group participate in an exercise while on a scheduled Western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group Three (CSG 3) is currently on a seven-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.  With that strike group is a legal team comprised of seven legalmen, three judge advocates and a Navy Criminal Investigative Service agent.  Each of these men and women is providing expert and essential legal advice to clients ranging from the admiral to the newly reported seaman recruit.

The legal team provides mission-essential support to the strike group to ensure they operate in accordance with international law and maintain good order and discipline aboard their ships and squadrons.  The team also contributes to personnel readiness by providing legal services to over 6,700 Sailors throughout 18 individual commands.

To allow personnel to experience operations aboard different ship platforms, the CSG 3 Commander, Rear Adm. Craig Faller, implemented a ‘cross-deck’ program to exchange personnel between strike group units.  An added benefit of this program is that it allows the legal staff to better assist Sailors aboard other ships in the strike group and provide legal assistance to crew members who do not have a permanent legal staff on board.

“Legalmen can either provide direct legal support and recommended solutions or seek ‘reach-back’ assistance from Naval Legal Service Offices, Region Legal Service Offices and other legal personnel at shore commands,” said Legalman 1st Class Erin Crusan, CSG 3.

During the work-up cycle and throughout the deployment, there has been significant reach-back support from shore-based legal personnel to keep the strike group’s legal readiness intact.  Naval Legal Service Offices in San Diego, Bahrain and Sigonella, as well as Region Legal Service Office Southwest, Transient Personnel Unit San Diego, and Naval Hospital San Diego, have been invaluable resources for the CSG 3 legal team.

Being stationed as a legalman on an aircraft carrier or as part of a strike group staff presents myriad career enhancing opportunities.  Many use this time to earn enlisted surface warfare specialist and enlisted air warfare specialist qualifications.  Additionally, legalmen can make a difference and have a significant  impact, not only by providing Sailors with legal support on a larger scale but by seeking out collateral duties such as a Damage Control Training Team member, Command Career Counselor, Command Fitness Leader, Volunteer Income Tax Advisor and Command Sponsor Coordinator.  There are also opportunities to serve as mentors for junior Sailors seeking guidance and advice.

“One of the perks of an operational deployment is getting an opportunity to experience new cultures by making port calls around the world,” said Crusan. “We have had the opportunity to visit Malaysia, Bahrain and Jebel Ali, with other exciting ports of call still to come.”

In addition to the chance for some rest and relaxation, though, liberty in foreign ports is approached as a “mission with a purpose”.  “As ambassadors of the U.S., our legalmen help to ensure Sailors are educated on, and adhere to, the governing policies in the given area of operation,” said Cmdr. Shane Cooper, staff judge advocate, CSG 3.

Members of John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSSG) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Legal Departments pose for a group photo on the flight deck of John C. Stennis. Pictured: Lt. Cmdr. David Lee, Legalman 1st Class (SW) Lakisha Baldwin, Chief Legalman (SW/AW) Donald Osborne, Cmdr. Shane Cooper, Legalman 2nd Class Giannina Gutierrez, Lt. Matthew Schultz, Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Erin Crusan, Legalman 3rd Class (SW/AW) Melissa Ball, Legalman 3rd Class Kaedi Hunter and Legalman 3rd Class (AW) Gregorio Villalba. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Chablis Torrence. (RELEASED)

Before each port visit, legalmen research reference material needed to draft senior officer present afloat guidance, liberty policies and port briefs.  Legalmen also have the responsibility of assisting the chain of command to identify potential liberty risk personnel and ensuring the member’s chain of command is properly informed of their status.

The current deployment of the CSG 3 has included some historic milestones.  On Dec. 18, 2011, an E-2C Hawkeye from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Two, operating from USS John C. Stennis, flew the final Navy aviation mission into Iraqi airspace, effectively ending naval aircraft support to Operation New Dawn.

“This day was a particularly unique book-end experience to close out support to military operations in Iraq (from the sea) as four of the CSG 3 legal team members have previously served ‘boots on ground’ individual augmentee deployments to Iraq,” said Cooper.

The mission of the Navy legalman ranges from direct support to personnel to operational support to deployed units, and it is an essential element of the overall effectiveness of the Fleet.  As U.S. Carrier Strike Groups continue to deploy around the world to protect our freedom and support our coalition partners, Navy legalmen will continue to play an essential role in that process.

The CSG 3 is composed of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 (consisting of eight aviation squadrons), Destroyer Squadron 21 (consisting of four destroyers), and Ticonderoga-class cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Mobile Bay (CG 53).