publication: The Army Lawyer

October 2009

FULL TEXT The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School Doctrine Practice Note Introduction Field Manual (FM) 1-04, Legal Support to the Operational Army, revises keystone doctrine for The Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC).2 Field Manual 1-04 replaces FM 27-100, Legal Support to Operations, and reflects the evolving role judge advocates, legal administrators, and paralegal Soldiers play in providing legal support to the modular force.3 Lessons learned from recent contingency operations and the ongoing transformation process have resulted in significant changes across the Army in the doctrine, organization, training, material, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF)4 spectrum. Field Manual 1-04 provides the framework for how the JAGC will be organized and how the Corps will provide support to clients across all core disciplines during operations.5 This note provides a basic overview of how FM 1-04 is organized and the significant changes it makes to the provision of legal support. The Importance of Doctrine