Legal Support to Operations

Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD) 1-04, Legal Support to Operations, establishes Air Force doctrinefocused on legal advice and considerations for Air Force operations. The Air Force, like other Services, continues to operate in an increasingly complex environment around the world, demanding nothing less than the very best in legal capability. This documentrepresents best practices and other sanctioned ideas regarding legal aspects of Air Force operations across the range of military operations. For over 60 years, the Air Force has possessedorganic legal support in both the Office of the General Counsel and the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps. On 25 June 1948, the US Congress established the office of The Judge Advocate General (TJAG), and, a year later, the Air Force Chief of Staff designated Air Force officers—who are attorneys—to serve as JAGs. In 2003, the JAG Department was renamed the “JAG corps” by order of the Secretary of the Air Force.