Malmstrom legal office wins best in Space Command ... again

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon White
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The 341st Space Wing legal office won the 2007 Air Force Space Command Legal Office of the Year Award officials announced Oct. 26. 

The Malmstrom legal office competed against nine other legal offices in AFSPC for the award. "It was a combined effort of the entire office," said Lt. Col. Sean Sabin, 341st SW staff judge advocate. "Most people are aware of the military justice work we do, but we also provide a tremendous amount of legal assistance and legal services for our clients, such as wills, powers of attorney, legal advice and handling personal property claims." 

This year, the staff drafted more than 3,000 documents; notarized another 3,600; and drafted and executed 465 same-day wills. 

The legal team also processed personal property claims faster than any other office in AFSPC and was complimented by Col. John Dyer, AFSPC senior staff judge advocate, for their innovative leadership and for winning the award two years in a row, Colonel Sabin said. 

Despite having the highest number of appeal actions in the command, the office staff also topped AFSPC by processing and completing 121 Articles 15 in an average time of 11 days. 

The legal office put their training to use in an emergency situation this year as well. Following the Canadian Snowbird crash in May, the judge advocate personnel responded immediately and utilized their NATO training to provide the on-scene commander guidance on evidence preservation. 

The legal team also trained Malmstrom Airmen on critical incident stress management and provided on-scene counseling to responders. 

"We debriefed each team of responders following the accident," said Tracie Hocevar, 341st SW victim witness assistant program coordinator. "We had conducted an exercise with the Airmen from the 341st Services Squadron a week before on a crash-related incident and then the real-world incident occurred. It was traumatic for the Airmen." 

The judge advocate's office staff also established new first's this year by drafting the Air Force's first policy prohibiting the use of Salvia Divinorum, a hallucinogenic plant. 

"We became aware of the mind-altering effects of Salvia and worked with the wing commander to establish the wing's policy. Other bases in the Air Force have instituted similar policies since then," Colonel Sabin said. 

The legal team also drafted AFSPC's first wing policy to automatically retest positive urinary analysis results thereby resolving a program loophole. 

"I'm really proud of all the hard work done by every member of the legal office this past year. It was a particularly challenging year due to a number of extended personnel absences resulting from deployments, TDYs, and medical leave, and we really came together as a team to overcome these hurdles," He said. "With the great attorneys, paralegals, and support personnel that we have, I think we have a good chance of winning again next year."