liberia_africa military legal conference 2010

8/9/2019 Liberia_Africa Military Legal Conference 2010

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Presented byFirst Lieutenant Geraldine George

Legal Officer

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL)


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Overview

AFL Military History & Heritage

AFL Military Training

Liberia Defense Sector ReformOperation

ONWARD LIBERTY AFL Military Justice System


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Military History & Heritage

Liberian military established in 1908 Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) created in 1962

1989-2003: AFL entangled in conflict during civil war period

2003: AFL disbanded

2006: New AFL Army formed

AFL trained by U.S. Military Contractors using U.S. Army

Doctrine

2007: First soldiers graduate from initial training

January 2010: Onward Liberty formed

February 2010: Activation of Coast Guard


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Military History & Heritage

AFL consists of Army and

Coast Guard

Military service eligibility

Must be at least 18 yrs Both male and female

Officers must be a college

graduate

Enlisted must be a highschool graduate

Fitness Standards


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Military Training

ECOWAS OCS Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria

Jungle School in Nigeria

US Military

Basic Training by U.S. Military Contractors (2006-2009)

Various technical training in U.S. (Army, Marine, and CoastGuard)

Other Military Training China (IT and Engineering)

AFL

Initial Entry Training (IET)

Advanced Individual Training (AIT)

LOAC Training


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MONROVIA:

Barclay Training Center Camp Ware

EBK

Camp Tubma

Camp Todee

Barclay Training Center (BTC)AFL HQ and MOD Future site National MilitaryResponse Center (NMRC)

Camp WareArmed Forces TrainingCenter Maneuver areas Small arms training Potential sniper course

Edward Binyah Kesselley (EBK) 23rd BDE (2 Bns, MP, ENG) Barracks , armory, motorpool Small arms training

Camp Todee Historical significance to

AFLAFL develop plan torevitalize UNMIL train and work

w AFL


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AFL Structure

AFL HQ

Armed Forces

TrainingCenter 23rd

Brigade

1st BN 2nd BNMilitary Police

Company

EngineerCompany

Support (CSS)

Coast Guard

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Personnel:

2120 AFL Personnel

16 ECOWAS seconded officers

(Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Benin)

10 ECOWAS Enlisted (Nigeria)

56 U.S. Mentors

MLC

*Note: AFL COIC is a Nigerian General


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Presented by

Major Arthur A. Ayo-Aghimien II

Judge Advocate

United States Air Force


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Agenda

ONWARD LIBERTY Mission Statement

Staff Capabilities

Objectives

Accomplishments

AFL Military Justice System


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ONWARD LIBERTY

Mission StatementAdvise and mentor the Armed Forces of Liberia in order

to develop the AFLs ability to build and maintain a

professional and capable military force that is subservientto a democratic government.


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OL Mentors Capabilities

Infantry

Combat Engineer

Administration Legal

Doctrine &

Education

Intelligence

Communications

Medical Doctor,

PA, and medics

Military Police

Scouts

Logistics

Supply

ONWARD LIBERTY


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ONWARD LIBERTY

Objectives Develop AFL into an operationally capable force respectful of the

Rule of Law

Mentor ethical and respectful officers and enlisted personnel

Facilitate AFLs staff to assume command responsibilities

Establish a military justice system and judicial staff

Assist AFL to match budget to mission requirements

Improve AFL logistical support

Assist AFL to repair relationship with the Liberian people Enhance AFLs ability to vet and train future recruits

Advise AFL on how to improve operational relationships with

Liberian National Police


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2010 Accomplishments Engineers

Developed proficiency in basic engineering Developed skills for combat engineering

ENG Co worked alongside Sea Bees

Medical

Trained on suturing, oxygen tanks, and minor procedures. Developed Career Development Course (CDC) guidebooks

Conducted medical outreach in local communities

Logistics

Established system to receive and issue supplies Enhanced motor transport operations and maintenance

Prepared for fiscal year closeout (30 JUN)

Established SOPs for warehouse and Motor-Transport


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Communications Restored communication equipment operational

Trained operators

Public Affairs

ReestablishedAFL Guardian (newspaper)

Improved partnership between AFL and MoD Public

Affairs

Established partnership for Public Affairs betweenMoD, AFL HQ, and BDE

2010 Accomplishments


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Operations Established an Expert Infantry Badge program

Established an MOU for training with UNMIL

Increased coordination between AFL HQ J3, J5, J7 staff

Assisted in developing National Military Response

Center

AFL Professional Development

Established PME program at AFL HQ and 23rd BDE

Military Ethics

Officer Command Responsibility


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Military Police/Force Protection Developed a Quick Reaction Force capability

AFL assumed security EBK, minus armory andammunition supply point

Established SOP for EBK Interior Guard Force

Legal

Created a Military Legal Center (MLC)

Selected and trained legal officers and clerks

Eliminated old AFL practices such as arbitraryconfinement

Instituted a Magistrate program to direct searches,seizures and confinement


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AFL Military Justice

Sources of AFL Military Justice

Liberian Constitution

International Law

Uniform Code of Military Justice

Adopted U.S. UCMJ in 2008


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Military Legal Center

MLC established in February 2010

Mission: To assist commanders in maintaining good order anddiscipline within the AFL

Train AFL personnel on UCMJ, Ethics, LOAC, etc

MLC consists of 6 legal officers & 7 legal clerks Initial training by OL Legal Mentors

5 Week course on legal principles, doctrines, and MJ processes

Partners for MLC training American Bar Association

International Red Cross USAID

Liberia Law School

Ministry of Justice


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Challenges of MLC

AFL developed without a legal system for discipline Soldiers lack basic knowledge of the principles of law

Commanders conforming to the Rule of law

Conflict of Doctrines (i.e. U.S., ECOWAS, British, and

Chinese) Detention & Confinement Facility

MoD involved in MJ issues

Corruption by Commanders and senior officers

Lack of financial resources

No lawyers Cannot try cases via courts-martial

Must refer felonious crimes to MoJ for civilian trials

Working with the judicial sector


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Military Justice System

Administrative Process Nonjudicial Punishment under Article 15, UCMJ

Minor Disciplinary Infractions such as

i.e. Dereliction of duty, tardiness, or false statements

AFL Disciplinary Board

Used for more egregious crimes, but not felonious

i.e. AWOL, larceny, disrespect officer/SNCO/NCO

Both officers and enlisted allowed in this forum

Panel of three officer members

Enlisted Boards have two officers and one enlisted member Ministry of Justice

Serious (felonious) crimes are handled via civilian judicialsystem

i.e. Murder, sexual assault, or drugs


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CIVIL

COMPLAINT

IMMEDIATECOMMANDER

MEMBER COURT ORDER

FINES

CIVIL WARRANT

SUMMONS

LEGAL

INVESTIGATION

REPORT OF

INVESTIGATION

NOTIFY MEMBER

LEGAL

RECOMMEND

ENFORCEMENT

ADMIN PROCESS

NOTIFY MEMBER

REFER MEMBER TO

PROPER PROCESS

LEGAL MONITORING

MEMBER SHOWS

DISPOSITION

LEGAL

RECOMMENDATIONREPORT OF DISPOSITION

REPORT CLOSURE COMMANDERACTION


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LNP Detains

Soldier

Before confinement

or w/24 hrs of

confinement

AFL Soldier

Witnesses Crime

If Turned Over to

AFL

MP/PM

Detains Soldier

CDR

Officer Through

C/O of Soldier

Legal Officer

Reviews/Advises

the Magistrate

Detention/Confinementof AFL Soldier

Legal Officer

Reviews/Advises

the Magistrate Detain

Magistrate

Review w/24 hrs

CDR Consult

Legal Officer

Magistrate Makes

Determination

Determine/Continue

Detention/Release

Yes No

Release

Accused

Continue

Detention

Adjudication

of Crime

PROBABLE CAUSE DETERMINATION

To avoid arbitrary and capricious confinement

CDR

Major Minor

Internal

DispositionRefer

To MP

If exigent circumstances,

detain and seek legalopinion

MLC Monitors LNP

Investigation/Disposition

After

48 Hours

MoD Decision

?????


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AFL Legal Team


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Questions?

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liberia_africa military legal conference 2010

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