Staff Judge Advocate (SJA)
Mission
Located in Taylor Hall, Building 462, the mission of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fires Center of Excellence, is to provide commanders and their staff with accurate, proactive legal advice on all issues affecting the Army and the Joint Force, while continuing to deliver quality legal services to Soldiers, retirees, and their families. Within the OSJA, these responsibilities are divided among several different divisions. Click division from directory below for more information. Telephone: (580) 442-5058 Fax: (580) 442-3817 (DSN 639)
Services provided include soldier readiness activities for mobilization and deployment, negotiation and mediation, client counseling and representation, document preparation, notary public services, and referral to other military or civilian attorneys or other agencies or community organizations.
CONTACT
4700 Mow-Way Road, Suite 400, Fort Sill, OK 73503
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday / 9am – 4pm | Thursday
/ 1pm – 4pm (CLOSED THURSDAY MORNINGS)
(580) 442-5058
https://www.facebook.com/fort-sill-legal-assistance
The mission of the Fort Sill Claims Office is to investigate, adjudicate, and settle claims filed both on behalf of the United States and against the United States. The Fort Sill Claims office processes, tort claims, affirmative claims, and Article 139 claims arising in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
TYPES OF CLAIMS
Personnel claims arise from damage to or loss of personal property incident to service. These claims include damage to household goods during shipment, as well as claims for damage in on-post quarters caused by fire, flood, unusual occurrence, theft, or vandalism. Personnel claims are processed by the Center for Personnel Claims Support (CPCS) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. More information may be found at http://www.JAGCNET.army.mil/Pclaims
Tort claims are claims arising out of personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage allegedly caused by the negligence of a government employee acting within the scope of his or her employment. Tort Claims include both medical malpractice and some motor vehicle accidents.
Affirmative claims include medical care recovery claims and property damage claims. For example, if a Servicemember or Family member is injured in a motor vehicle accident as a result of negligence and the government provides medical care, the Claims Office will make a demand for the cost of the medical care to the person responsible for the accident. As another example, if an individual destroys a stop sign on post, the government will seek the cost of replacing the stop sign.
Artilce 139 (UCMJ) claims for the wrongful taking or willful destruction of property by a Servicemember are processed through the claims office.
CONTACT
4700 Mow-Way Road, Suite 400, Fort Sill, OK 73503
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday / 9am – 4pm | Thursday /
1pm – 4pm (CLOSED THURSDAY MORNINGS)
(580) 442-5058
The Administrative and Civil Law division serves as the primary resource for commanders, assisting with interpretation of regulations, advice and counsel on investigations, and compliance with ethical standards. Administrative Law attorneys also advise boards and investigations, review separation actions, and provide general legal advice to the command. The Administrative Law Division is also responsible for the Fort Sill Ethics Program. Civil Law attorneys provide advice and assistance on matters ranging from government contracting to environmental law. Civil Law attorneys also represent the United States Government in labor disputes.
CONTACT
Second Floor | Taylor Hall, Building 462
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday / 9am – 4pm | Thursday /
1pm – 4pm (CLOSED THURSDAY MORNINGS)
(580) 442-2703
The mission of the Fort Sill Criminal Law Division is to provide support to Fort Sill commanders and directors in military justice matters. This includes training commanders and soldiers in military justice, advising commanders as to disposition of soldier misconduct, preparation for and trying of all levels of courts-martial, administration of courts-martial cases pending appeal, and finalizing of courts-martial after appeal.
Taylor Hall, Building 462
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday / 9am – 4pm | Thursday /
1pm – 4pm (CLOSED THURSDAY MORNINGS)
(580) 442-3900
The Criminal Law Division, through its trial counsel and brigade legal NCOs and specialists, provides a variety of training to Fort Sill units, including an initial military justice brief to incoming trainees, training of unit commanders and soldiers in military justice and law of war, and training of Field Artillery officers attending the FA Basic and Advanced courses.
The trial counsel, attorneys who are the commands’ prosecutors for specific jurisdictions, are directly responsible for providing timely, accurate legal advice and recommendations to commanders within their jurisdictions. The trial counsels advise commanders as to the legal sufficiency of evidence, recommend courses of action, and execute administrative separations and courts-martial when selected as a course of action by commanders. Courts-martial are held in the Honorable Patrick J. Hurley courtroom located in Taylor Hall.
Once courts-martial are completed, the Criminal Law Division manages the case through the post-trial process. The post-trial process involves approval of the court-martial sentence by the convening authority and record management while the case is being appealed to higher courts.
The U.S. Army Trial Defense Service (TDS) is an independent entity that functions much like a public defender’s office. TDS represents soldiers in courts-martial and separation proceedings, and provides other assistance as needed. The Region III TDS Field Office is located in Sheridan Hall, Building 652, 1st floor.
CONTACT
652 Hamilton Road, Fort Sill, Oklahoma 73503
(580) 442-2223
ABOUT TRIAL DEFENSE SERVICES
Since its establishment as a separate organization in 1980, the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service (TDS) has provided independent, competent, and ethical defense legal services to Soldiers worldwide whenever required by law or regulation or when authorized by the Judge Advocate General. TDS counsel, who are not supervised or rated by any commander on Fort Sill, represent Soldiers before courts-martial and administrative elimination or reduction boards and during criminal investigations, while counseling Soldiers regarding pre-trial restraint, non-judicial punishment, and many other adverse actions.
The ITAC offers a range of services depending upon the clients’ needs.
Fort Sill Welcome Center, 4700 Mow-Way Road, Suite
400
(580) 442-6445
WHAT TO BRING
- You will need to bring the following documents/information when you come to the ITAC:
- Military ID Card (for both if joint return)
- Social Security Cards for everyone listed on the return
- All documents showing income received and/or taxes paid
(For example: W-2, 1099R, 1099INT, 1099MISC, 1099G) - Last year’s return **With new software, carry forward will not be performed**.
- Proof of bank account & routing number (cancelled check, last year’s return)
- If Married Filing Separate, you must have spouse’s SSN in order to E-file
- Accurate amounts or receipts for: (all that apply to you)
- Child and dependent care
- Tuition and book expenses
- Student loan interest
- Moving expenses
- Educator expenses
- Charitable contributions
- Significant medical expenses
- Contributions to an IRA/Retirement Account
- Mortgage interest/real estate taxes (Form 1098)
- If purchased a new home—Signed HUD-1, orders if purchased with extension for deployed Soldiers
- If you are married and/or have dependents:
-
- Social Security Card and accurate SSN and date of birth of all dependents
- POA (Power of Attorney) – If filing Married Filing Joint and spouse WILL NOT be present to sign **MUST BE THE ORIGINAL POWER OF ATTORNEY**
-
The Fort Sill Soldiers’ Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) Counsel’s Office Assists Soldiers Through the Physical Disability Process.
CONTACT
4700 Mow Way| Road Suite 3G122
(580) 558-2382
SERVICES
The Soldiers’ Medical Evaluation Board Counsel’s Office was established under the terms of an agreement between The Judge Advocate General of the Army and The Surgeon General of the Army.
The Fort Sill Soldiers’ Medical Evaluation Board Counsel’s Office is staffed by an attorney and certified Paralegal NCO specially trained in disability law and the Army physical disability system. They assist Soldiers undergoing MEB/PEB board proceedings. At no cost to the Soldier, these professional advocates represent the individual Soldiers undergoing the MEB/PEB process, ensuring their rights are protected and that a fair assessment of a Soldier’s medical condition is rendered and documented during the MEB/PEB process.
These legal advocates review their Soldier’s Client’s MEB/PEB case file and the Soldier’s medical records to evaluate potential and likely outcomes; advise the client on potential results of the boards; advise the client on other known medical testing or medical records that he/she should discuss with his/her medical team to ensure the record is complete and necessary documentation is present for their case. Additionally, the legal team has the experience and knowledge to work with multiple commands, organizations, and individuals on and off Fort Sill to resolve Soldier issues that often arise while the Soldier is undergoing the MEB/PEB process. Soldiers do not have to be in the WTU (Warrior Transition Unit) to be eligible for this office’s services.
Services provided to Soldiers during the MEB/PEB process:
- Initial in brief
- Review DA Form 3947 & NARSUM
- Advise Soldiers of their rights
- Assist developing evidence
- Review Informal PEB decision
- Request informal reconsideration by PEB
- Represent Soldier at formal PEB hearing
- Assist with COAD/COAR request
- Assist with appeal