DIILS conducted a three week seminar in June on the International Law of Military Operations (ILOMO) for some 70 lawyers and legal advisors at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island.  ILOMO, held in partnership with the Naval War College and the Naval Justice School, both of which are also located on the Naval station in Newport, is one of only a few security cooperation programs where American and international students follow the same course of instruction for much of the course.

The ILOMO program is an advanced course to enhance participants’ capacity to advise commanders on the legal aspects of military operations and play a constructive role in operational planning.    It focuses on the application of international legal standards to military operations, particularly the Law of Armed Conflict, Law of the Sea, rules of engagement, status of forces agreements, environmental law and counter-terrorism and counter-piracy.

ILOMO participants also attend the annual International Law Conference at the Naval War College that attracts leading operational law scholars and practitioners from around the world.  In addition to presentations by instructors from DIILS, the Naval War College and the Naval Justice School, senior military legal advisors from the U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway and Thailand presented the most current developments for legal advisors.

These legal advisors will support operational commanders as they endeavor to respect the Law of Armed conflict and International Law out in the field.  At the ILOMO graduation, the Deputy Director of DIILS, CDR Jonathan H. Wagshul, offered that “the role of the legal advisor is critically important and it’s necessary to do it well.” He added, “in a world of CNN, we know that what we do will be scrutinized and therefore it’s more important than ever to be sure we’re legally solid.”

One participant from the Philippines declared “bringing together people from so many different nations to learn from each other and to learn how and why Americans – the biggest power – do their system is valuable to us.”  Another from Colombia acknowledged, “…sharing this experience with JAGs from all over the world was awesome.”    After presenting a gift to the course director, Bill Aseltine, a German participant said, “One of the best things about this course was the camaraderie from everyone – so thank you again and if it weren’t for America, there would be no Berlin.

A Pakistani Commander, selected by his peers to be the student speaker at the ILOMO graduation, offered, “when I came to Newport from Pakistan, I was a Pakistani naval officer, but now I leave as an international military law officer.”  He added, “To take people from all different countries and backgrounds….and bring them all under one roof to learn is a unique attribute of DIILS and I think it’s commendable. “   He declared the DIILS ILOMO course “a total success”, after stating “this is the best nation of loving people and caring people that I’ve ever seen.”