LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Crimes, mistakes and misunderstandings can have a serious impact on an Airmen's career.
The Office of the Area Defense Counsel is dedicated to working on behalf of individual Airmen for everything from administrative paperwork to the preferral of charges in a court-martial.
The ADC exists to help these Airmen understand their rights, and help them navigate through the complex legal and administrative process.
"We are in your corner," said Capt. Jennifer Sanchez, one of two Air Force Legal Operations Agency defense counsel stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. "We deal with people who might face jail time or other life-changing events, and we know the consequences."
Along with Capt Ben Martin, Sanchez provides free, independent legal counsel to Airmen.
"We report straight to [Washington] D.C.," said Sanchez. "We are entirely independent from the base legal office and any base commanders."
This separate chain of command guarantees the ADC cannot be pressured to act against their client's best interests. Additionally, conversations with the ADC and their defense paralegal, Tech. Sgt. Kassi Crain, are confidential.
"People that come to talk with us are usually under stress. It's important for them to know that even though I am in a uniform, my job is to work for them, and what we talk about is between us," said Martin.
When Airmen seek out their counsel, both Sanchez and Martin have experience to rely upon.
"We've both deployed, been stationed overseas and prosecuted cases. Our advice to a client about their rights comes from experience as a lawyer and an Air Force officer," said Martin.
Those experiences as both prosecutors and defenders can benefit their clients, and also provide a valuable perspective to the client's commander.
"Commanders have to focus on the overall discipline of their unit. We can help them refocus on the individual that's standing in front of them," said Martin
The most common ADC consultations are for allegations brought under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. These charges can vary from driving under the influence and underage drinking, to failure to deploy.
In a court-martial, they most often deal with more serious crimes, such as extensive drug use or sexual assault. Physical training failures, charges of dereliction-of-duty and the failure to complete technical orders are seen often by the ADCs as well.
When suspected of an offense, Airmen have the right to request counsel, and the ADC services are free-of-charge. If you or a friend needs help with a case, contact the ADC office at 757-764-5607.