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380AEW Article

Justice 'downrange:' Deployed legal Airmen lead legal effort at Southwest Asia base

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  At a deployed unit such as the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing here, all sorts of legal issues can be raised. However, Lt. Col. Natalie D. Richardson and her staff are on hand to make sure those things don't become an "issue" in getting the mission done.

Colonel Richardson, the 380th AEW staff judge advocate, and Master Sgt. Shawn Brooks, legal office superintendent, handle all legal issues great or small.

"These include preparing and notarizing powers of attorney, advising clients on personal civil legal matters, advising units about fiscal law and ethics issues, advising investigating officers about giving rights advisements, and advising commanders about action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice," Colonel Richardson said.

The base's only staff judge advocate is a native of Orange County, Calif., deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. She said her deployed duties are critical in maintaining good order and discipline.

"Militaries will fail without good order and discipline," Colonel Richardson said. "We help commanders maintain good order and discipline within their units. Personnel will fail if they are distracted by legal problems. We help our clients deal with those problems and focus on the mission. I'd say that's pretty important."

Sergeant Brooks, deployed from Air Education and Training Command Headquarters at Randolph AFB, Texas, and whose hometown is Brooklyn, N.Y., said their office keeps an open door for all military members at this deployed base whether they are Airmen, Soldiers or from another service.

"People come here with all sorts of life's legal issues," Sergeant Brooks said. "We are always here for them - ready to help with whatever comes along.

Sergeant Brooks added that being a legal office of two people can have its challenges, but together he and Colonel Richardson with their decades of legal experience "can answer just about any question."

"Being a staff of two means we are busy every day," Sergeant Brooks said, "but between us we balance it out."

Both Colonel Richardson and Sergeant Brooks said they are proud to be able to serve in the Air Force and the military in a deployed environment. The lieutenant colonel may have said it best for both of them.

"Three words come to mind -- proud, honored, fortunate," she said.

The 380th AEW is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and more than 2,000 personnel. The wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia to include Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.