ADC represents Airmen of all ranks

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexandra M. Boutte
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Area Defense Counsel office located on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., home of Air Force Global Strike Command provides various free legal services to all active- duty members in proceedings under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and adverse administrative actions.

The ADC is not attached to any wing, numbered Air Force or major command. They fall under a separate defense command, so they are able to represent all Airmen.

Capt. Thomas Greenwood, an ADC attorney, and Staff Sgt. Breihan Fetz, a defense paralegal, assist active- duty Airmen, regardless of their rank, with military administrative and criminal matters. The ADC occasionally assists Air Force Reservists depending on their status and the reason they seek legal guidance. The ADC typically does not provide assistance to retirees and do not represent civilian clients.

The key difference between ADC and Judge Advocates is the clients they serve. The ADC represents ordinary Airmen, while JA represents the United States Air Force. The ADC provides defense counsel to Airmen charged with crimes, and JA is responsible for prosecuting alleged criminals. JA provides a wide variety of legal advice and assistance regarding civil matters.

"Our goal is to represent individual clients with competence, tenacity and loyalty, limited only by the bounds of law, ethics and good judgment," Captain Greenwood said.

The ADC is an advocate that works on behalf of Airmen to ensure their legal rights are respected and the process remains fair.

When an Airman is questioned and read his or her rights by an Air Force Office of Special Investigations agent, security forces members or another military member, the Airman has the absolute right under the Constitution and the UCMJ to remain silent and request assistance of an attorney.

Waiving one's rights is not an absolute choice; an Airman may decide to reassert his or her rights at any time.

The ADC can provide confidential legal consultation, advise an Airman of their rights, assist an Airman in crafting a response to an action and act as an agent on their behalf in negotiations with his or her commander.

"An Airman coming to the ADC can usually expect a nonjudgmental and fairness assessment of their situation," Sergeant Fetz said. "Airman can look to the ADC as a safe place to discuss pending administrative or criminal matters."

"We cannot help Airmen who fail to seek us out in a timely fashion, who do not provide us with all of the information we require or who do not cooperate with our instructions," Captain Greenwood said.

For ADC questions or legal assistance, call 456-8355. After hours, the ADC may be reached through the command post at 456-2151.