Military Law & Life Matters

2018 will bring you a series of solo episodes where I go into depth on Upgrading your Discharge either through the Discharge Review Board or Board for the Correction of Military Records as well as many other legal topics. Start of a series called, Hope for Heroes where I ask a special Guest to share a Life Lesson to help veterans overcome life’s challenges as we all navigate our way through life.

Interview of Elizabeth (Libby) Jamison, a military spouse, an attorney, a member of the Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel, American Bar Association (ABA) and the President of the Military Spouse JD Network. Elizabeth will educate listeners on all of the resources available for military members, veterans and their families through ABA's initiatives/networks such as ABA H...

Interview of Greg Rada, a former C-17 cargo aircraft loadmaster in the USAF who now represents fellow veterans suffering from combat related PTSD as well as non-combat trauma events against the Veterans Administration to help veterans get the benefits they deserve.

• Episode 016 Interview of Bill Cassara, a retired US Army Reserve JAG. Bill specializes in criminal law to include courts-martial. Bill explains what happens after your court-martial has ended and you are appealing your conviction. Bill walks us through the Appellate process and explains why it's not over until it's over. How you can get your conviction overturned and walk out of prison.

Episode 015             Interview of Brian Schenk, an attorney who focuses on helping military members and veterans in administrative matters including filing Claims in Federal Court. Learn what you can do if your application has been denied by the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) and you want to appeal your case. Brian gives an excellent overview of the process to fight back.

• Episode 014 Interview of Mike Millios. Mike is a criminal law attorney who represents military members in criminal matters. Mike is also US Army Reserve attorney and has extensive experience representing clients facing administrative discharge. Mike explains what you need to know if you are fighting a discharge.

• Episode 013 Interview of Hugh Spires who is a retired USAF active duty JAG. Hugh has expertise in the disability evaluation system and walks us though each step of the system. Learn about the MEB, IPEB and FPEB and what you need to know to protect your rights as you either fight for a medical retirement or fight to show you are fit for duty.

Episode 012 Interview of Tom Clare whose practice is devoted to vindicating clients against reputational attacks in print, broadcast and online media outlets. Tom represents military officials who are targeted in hostile media investigations and who are subjects of false statements in the press. Learn what constitutes defamation and what to do if you are a victim of it.

• Episode 011: Interview of David Lowenstein, a former Senior Appellate Attorney at the Veterans Affairs General Counsel's office. David now uses his past experience to represent veterans with the claims process and with their Appeals at the VA and US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. David will give us tips on what you need to know if you are going through the VA process.

Episode 010:             Interview of John Howley who is a trial lawyer in NYC.  John has extensive experience in labor and employment law. John talks about the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA) and explains why you need to know about USERRA if you are a reservist or national guard member who leaves your civilian job due to active duty orders.

• Episode 009: Interview of Dana Jacobson, a retired USAF Reserve JAG who is the managing partner of the Jacobson law firm. As part of his practice, Dana has expertise in estate planning and probate. Many of Dana's clients are active duty and retired military members. Dana explains why it is critical to have your affairs in order and what happens if you don't

• Episode 008: Interview of Mark Sullivan, a retired US Army Reserve JAG who practices family law and has decades of experience in family law and military pension division. Military divorces are very complicated--you need to know the law and your rights. Mark goes over some very important concepts you will want to know about

Episode 07:             Interview of David Younts, a former active duty USAF JAG and criminal lawyer   who represents military members.  Davis also a reserve USAF JAG. Davis discusses two courts-martial cases where he defended a soldier and an airman and delivered justice to his clients.  Don't miss this episode if you want to hear about real court-martial cases where justice prevailed.

• Episode 06 In this episode, I will discuss the Board for the Correction of Military Records or BCMR. The BCMR for each service has the authority to review and correct the personnel records of current and former members of the each military service. Records include administrative discharges, reenlistment codes, disciplinary matters, performance evaluations, selection for promotion, advancement, r...

• Episode 05 I will discuss the Officer Grade Determinations or OGDs. If you are an officer in any service of the armed forces and have substantiated misconduct in your official records, it is possible that you will be retired in a lower rank than that last rank you held. The services determine your rank based upon the highest grade held satisfactorily. Listen and learn about this process and how...

• Episode 04 In this episode, I discuss the Discharge Review Board (DRB), the DRB gives former military members the chance to request a review of their discharge within 15 years of the date of separation. The DRB reviews a veteran's administrative discharge and can legally change the veteran's discharge characterization of service, the reason for discharge, and the re-enlistment eligibility code (...

• Episode 03 In this episode, I will explain how to survive a criminal military investigation Part II: The Do's and Don'ts. Arm yourself with knowledge so you don't become a victim of injustice.

Episode 02 In this episode, I will explain how to survive a criminal military investigation  Part I:  The Do's and Don'ts.  Arm yourself with knowledge so you don't become a victim of injustice.

Episode 01   In this episode, I will explain 5 reasons you should ask for a lawyer when you are read your Fifth Amendment and Article 31 rights.  You will be surprised to learn why you should Always ask for a lawyer, even if you are innocent.

Episode 00 In this first episode, I will discuss what the Military Law Matters Podcast is all about.  The Military Law Matters podcast empowers you to take charge of legal issues you are facing, from court-martial charges to divorce proceedings and military pension division, to tips on how to fight your discharge or how to upgrade your discharge and what to do if you are facing an Officer Grade De...