Legal Guide for Soldiers

This manual introduces you to the military legal office-- the office of the staff judge advocate. It also discusses the law as it affects you as a soldier in the United States Army. Law in the Army does not deal with only crimes and punishments. In fact, only a few soldiers will ever undergo court-martial or appear before a disciplinary board. You might want to know about your right to take a job while off duty or to attend a political rally, however. You may need help with state or federal income tax returns, wish to be repaid for personal property damage while on duty, wish to have a will or power of attorney written, or wish to have some legal papers explained. This manual addresses many such questions. This manual will not make you an expert in the law, and you should not use it to be your own lawyer. It does, however, address various areas of law so that you can recognize whether you have a problem and in what cases you should discuss it with an attorney at the staff judge advocate's office.