JOINT BASE ANDREWS MILITARY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

Hiring a military criminal defense lawyer can better your chances of defending your case in the court of law. If you have been charged with a military crime, it will be a smart decision to consult an attorney who is knowledgeable and knows the difference between civil law and military law.

HISTORY OF JOINT BASE ANDREWS NAVAL AIR FACILITY

Earlier known as Camp Springs Army Air Field, the history of this air force base goes back to the days of the Civil War. The Union took over a small church, and used it as headquarters for soldiers who were camping nearby. The chapel still exists on base grounds. It is now called Chapel 2, where worship services are still held. In 1942, the Secretary of War was ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to take over the acres of land and turn it into a military airfield.

Once the airfield was built, the first permanent units to arrive at the base were the 463rd Base Headquarters and the Air Base Squadron from Westover Field, Massachusetts. There were about 105 men enlisted in these units along with five officers. In 1943, the airfield received its first Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and in the same month, received an additional 75 P-47 Thunderbolts. The main mission of the units at the base included training fighter pilots for combat duty overseas.

Camp Springs Army Air Field was renamed Andrews Field in 1945. The base was named in honor of Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, who is considered to be one of the founding fathers of Air Force. Ironically, Lt. Gen. Andrews, died in a plane crash on May 3, 1943, which is just a day after the activation of Joint Base Andrews.

After the Air Force became a separate entity in 1947, the name of the base was changed to Andrews Air Force Base. It was the headquarters of Continental Air Command, Strategic Air Command and the Military Air Transport Service. From 1950 to 1992, it was also the headquarters for Air Research and Development Command, later succeeded by the Air Force Systems Command.

The base is famous for its main mission, which was to transport military and government officials. The first government official to fly from Andrews Base was President Harry S. Truman on November 24, 1946.

Joint Base Andrews was also a host to many happy occasions such as the return of POWs of the Vietnam War in 1973, U.S hostages in 1981 as well as the return of POW Pfc. Jessica Lynch in 2003 from Iraq.

The air force base became Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility or Joint Base Andrews in 2009, when it merged with the Naval Air Facility in Washington.

PRESENT DAY JOINT ANDREWS BASE

Proudly known as "The Gateway to the Capital," Joint Andrews Base has been a witness to many unprecedented events including the arrival of Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev, and the welcoming of Pope Benedict XVI by President Bush.

Joint Andrews Base is located in Prince George's County in Maryland and it is headed by the 11th Wing. The wing offers finance, infrastructure, security, personnel and contracting services to the other wings, and two of the headquarters at the base. The 11th Wing provides assistance to contingency response operations in the nation's capital. The United States Air Force Band, Honor Guard and the Air Force Arlington Chaplaincy, are all supported by the 11th Wing as well.

A military employee of Joint Andrews Base was convicted of aggravated sexual assault, attempted aggravated sexual assault and abusive sexual contact. While posted in Ukraine, MSgt Ratusny asked an American female soldier to stay over. He then began to sexually assault her in her sleep. However, she woke up and stopped the assault. He was sentenced to confinement for two months, given a demotion grade of E-6.

EXPERIENCED LEGAL ADVICE AT JOINT ANDREWS BASE

Whether you have been charged or convicted with UCMJ crimes, sexual assault, and other violations in the military, Joint Andrew Base military criminal defense lawyer can help you with your case. Joseph L. Jordan is an experienced military criminal defense attorney, who has successfully fought many cases where servicemen have been charged with military crimes.