Written by Summer 2023 M-VETS Student Advisor Rebecca McGuinness.
Since the criminal justice system’s inception, rehabilitation has stood as a primary end towards which policymakers direct legislation.[1] The premise underpinning this objective is that the human person has the capacity to both abandon criminal activity and reform their behavior. Read more
The Antonin Scalia Law School Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (“M-VETS”) secured a total of $396,000.00 in Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) disability compensation payments for a veteran due to his service in Vietnam. M-VETS had previously secured the Veteran $123,000.00 in retroactive disability payments but argued at a hearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) that the Veteran was entitled to additional disability payments. Read more
(Pictured: ACBF Treasurer Jennifer Brust, M-VETS Director Timothy MacArthur and Deputy Director Leigh Winstead)
The Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (“M-VETS”) received a $1,500 grant from the Arlington County Bar Foundation (“ACBF”) to support M-VETS’s pro bono legal work in the Arlington community. Read more
In partnership with the American Legion Post 139, M-VETS opened a new office co-located in the newly redeveloped Post 139 Headquarters to provide free legal advice and referral services to the military community. The Grand Opening took place on May 11, 2023. Read more
Written by Spring 2023 M-VETS Student Advisor Connor Brantley.
Background
On December 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) into law. As part of the Act, Congress created a new remedy for DOD Service members separated on or after December 20, 2019 seeking an appeal of their discharge characterization and who have exhausted all available appeals with the appropriate Service Discharge Review Board (DRB) and Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR).[ Read more
(Pictured: Student Advisor Doug Boyle)
The Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) successfully argued a claim before the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) seeking a fully Honorable conditions discharge for an Army veteran. M-VETS filed the claim on behalf of the veteran in 2022 and secured a fully Honorable discharge, allowing the veteran to access long-overdue educational benefits. Read more
Written by Spring 2023 M-VETS Student Advisor Megan Jones.
Background
The United States military is experiencing arguably the most challenging recruiting environment since the establishment of the all-volunteer force in 1973.
In 2022, all branches of the U.S. military struggled to reach their active-duty recruitment goals, with the Army, missing its goal entirely. Read more
Written by Spring 2023 M-VETS Student Advisor Kyle Elzey.
Background
On August 24th, 2021, following the approval of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) issued the Mandatory Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination of Department of Defense (DoD) Service Members memorandum, to ensure the health and operational readiness of the Force. Read more
Written by Spring 2023 M-VETS Student Advisor Hanna-Elizabeth B. Montgomery.
The Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022 was signed into law on January 5, 2023.[1] This Act makes two major changes to the Service Members Civil Relief Act, specifically concerning military families. Read more
Written by Fall 2022 M-VETS Student Advisor Grace Roman.
Introduction
On December 27, 2021, President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA 22).[1] NDAA 22 includes many notable changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) that must be fully implemented by December 27, 2023. Read more
