Operation Enduring LAMP

Reservists encounter financial hardships when they are recalled unexpectedly to active duty. They face a wide range of legal problems when they accept the call to serve the nation. Many reservists are employed in civilian occupations that produce higher wages than their military occupations. As reservists leave their jobs, their homes, and their families, it is critical that they leave with their legal affairs in order.

Operation Enduring LAMP began as an effort to mobilize civilian bar associations and attorneys interested in providing free legal assistance to military reserve members called up as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the United States military response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Because our nation is now engaged in two wars, one in Afghanistan and the other in Iraq, this effort has become even more urgent.

Regular military personnel are routinely offered legal assistance before shipping out to foreign shores. The objective of Operation Enduring LAMP is to ensure that the legal needs of reservists are also met. Because of the limits on the military legal system staffed by the JAG Corps, the assistance of civilian lawyers with expertise in local practice and procedure can be necessary during the deployment of a substantial number of Guard and Reserve forces.

On May 14, 2008, the nation's top National Guard and reserve officers testified to the monumental and historic response by their forces in the nation's defense since the terrorism attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz said his service was transformed "overnight" from a strategic force in reserve to an operational force that is constantly deployed. "Between 25(,000) and 30,000 Army Reserve soldiers are mobilized at any given time in the United States and in 18 other nations around the globe," Stultz said. Almost 194,000 Army reservists have mobilized since 9/11. Still, despite the mission increase, Stultz said, their funding levels have not increased much above what they were during the Cold War.

Marine Corps Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack W. Bergman said that nearly one-third of his force has deployed outside the United States. In the past year, the component has activated and deployed 6,600 Marines in two rotations to operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and is activating about 2,400 this year. "While we continue to support the long war, it is not without a cost," he said. "Continuing activations and high reserve operational tempo highlights the fact that we have personnel challenges in some areas and we are putting additional strain on reserve equipment."

Air Force Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley said that, for the last 17 years, his force has maintained a persistent presence in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. It started with Operation Desert Storm, and "we have been continually engaged, never leaving the Persian Gulf," he said.

Navy Reserve Chief Vice Admiral John G. Cotton said nearly 70,000 Navy reservists are deployed or in a strategic reserve ready to deploy with little notice. Since 9/11, more than 50,000 Navy reservists have been mobilized in support of the war on terror, and on any given day, more than 21,000 sailors, or 30 percent of the Navy Reserve, are on some type of orders as part of the total naval workforce. This includes, he said, about 6,000 sailors mobilized in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

Chief of the National Guard Bureau Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum called 2007 a year of "historic proportions" for the National Guard. At one point in the war on terror, National Guard members made up almost half of the ground forces in Iraq. He called the numbers of Guardsmen supporting the war overseas "staggering." Since 9/11, more than 400,000 Guardsmen have been mobilized in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. This is in addition to the Guard's response to state emergencies.

Calling All Attorneys - UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU!!! to provide legal help to our military reservists. LSBA is recruiting attorney volunteers to provide pro-bono assistance to military reservists who might be called to active duty. Operation Enduring LAMP is an ABA-endorsed project to render free legal aid to military personnel and their families. Legal services are needed for issues not covered by military laws, such as estate and probate, family law, and employment law. Right now, the LSBA is building a database of volunteer attorneys and using this Online LAMP system to put the reservist in touch with those offering assistance. Please help LAMP by joining and creating a LAMP Profile and help our military get much needed legal assistance. Using the Online LAMP system is easy.
To join, go to: Attorney Volunteer Enrollment

More information on Operation Enduring LAMP can be found on the ABA web site at: www.abanet.org/legalservices/helpreservists/lamphrfaq.html