Grissom JAG receives Rasher award for education Published July 4, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Carl Berry 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," and wielding such a weapon has earned one Grissom Airman top-level recognition. Lt. Col. Stephen McManus, 434th Air Refueling Wing staff judge advocate, was recently awarded the Donald C. Rasher Award for his outstanding contributions to the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps. "The award recognizes the Air Reserve Component attorney who contributed the most to the education and training of the JAG Corps during the year," said Col. Kenneth Theurer, The Judge Advocate General's School commandant. One of McManus' major contributions to education in the last year came from his tenure as a director of the Training by Reservists in Advocacy and Litigation Skills, or TRIALS, program. Serving as director for more than five years, he led a team of 25 staff judge advocates in managing the two-and-a-half day program that provided training to newly appointed staff judge advocates through student exercises in pretrial preparation, motion practice, jury selection, direct and cross examination of witnesses, proper handling of evidence, and closing arguments. His approach fosters cohesion in training and skills between the active duty and Air Reserve Component communities, said Col. Don Buckley, 434th ARW commander. McManus said running the program was no simple task as his team members live in different areas around the country and have different civilian employment responsibilities. "I have to coordinate the training through correspondence and a lot of the planning is done after we have completed a full day at our civilian jobs," he added. Despite the challenges, under McManus' direction, the program has expanded beyond its Air Force roots. "In the last few years we have seen the program evolve from training only Air Force SJAs to training attorneys that work in the Department of Justice, Department of Defense and other branches of the military," said McManus. "In 2012, we trained 148 people." The value of the training and his hard work has not gone unnoticed by McManus' peers and students. "I have gone through the program two times, and I have learned practical litigation and advocacy skills," shared Capt. Mary Wood, Area Defense Counsel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "The program enables active JAG members to tap into the unique skills, breadth of knowledge and wisdom of reservists. "One of the best parts about the program is that you are videotaped throughout the program, so you are able to correct mannerisms or mistakes on your own," continued Wood. "I believe you have to see yourself perform so that you are able to improve your craft." Not only did the program help improve JAGs' skills, McManus also worked to ensure the training counted toward continuing education requirements needed by many attorneys to maintain their bar licenses. Though his award recognizes his personal accomplishments, especially with the TRIALS program, McManus said his success was due, in large part, to his teammates. "After five years of running the program it is an honor to be selected for this award," he said. "The TRIALS program would not have been a success if it were not for all the great team members." And, while his directorship of the TRIALS program was a hallmark of his award, McManus' nomination package also included several other notable contributions he has made as the 434th ARW SJA. Over the last year, McManus trained 434th ARW leadership and made himself available to them, even off duty, so commanders, chiefs and first sergeants could reach out to him for timely advice. He ensured leaders were up-to-date and ready to 'answer the bell' at a moment's notice with his proactive training methods, said Buckley. He took every occasion to train the Grissom community...and went above and beyond to ensure wing members were equipped to deploy and focus on the mission when needed, he added. In that role, McManus prepared a handout for deploying reservists on new, 4-percent mortgage rate reductions; briefed the entire wing on Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and Servicemember's Civil Relief Act protections in preparation for deployments; and researched and drafted a pamphlet for Airmen on pro bono legal services available in numerous surrounding states. And, as head of the only reserve legal office on Grissom, McManus provided deployment readiness and military justice advice for the base's Army Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve units. "The Rasher Award is tailor-made for Stephen McManus," said Buckley. "He is the consummate ARC trainer, educator, and mentor." The Rasher Award is named after Col. Donald Rasher who served as The JAG School commandant from 1986 until 1991. Grissom is home to the 434th ARW, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps Reserve Communications Detachment. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter. (Editor's note: Tech. Sgts. Doug Hays and Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner contributed to this article.)
