text: Chapter 5
  the demands of SVC duties, effectively distribute workload, and are not penalized for prioritizing SVC duties.
  SVCs meeting with victims of sexual assault do so in individual, private offices with full floor-to-ceiling
  walls and closable doors to safeguard the confidentiality of consultations with clients. OSJAs should provide
  each of their SVCs with a cellular telephone and a laptop with virtual private network (known as VPN)
  capabilities. OSJAs may request funding from the SVCprogram officefor these expenses. The SVCprogram
  office will provide cellular telephones for judge advocates assigned to full-time SVC billets.
  LEGAL FUNCTION: TRIAL DEFENSE SERVICE
  5-21. The provision of criminal defense services to Soldiers stands as a hallmark of American and military
  jurisprudence. It ensures that Soldiers enjoy the constitutional and legal protections that they swear to support
  and defend for others. Members of TDS, and those who support the TDS mission, provide defense legal
  services to Soldiers facing adverse actions taken against them by the Army. Trial defense counsel represent
  Soldiers at general and special courts-martial, Article 32 hearings, pre-trial confinement hearings, and before
  administrative separation boards. They counsel Soldiers suspected of criminal offenses, pending non-judicial
  punishment, and at summary courts-martial. Additionally, trial defense counsel may provide limited legal
  counsel and representation to Soldiers facing minor disciplinary actions, adverse administrative action, or in
  need of other legal assistance services depending on resources.
  5-22. All Army personnel must understand the TDS mission. Counseling and representing Soldiers suspected
  of committing misconduct may be improperly perceived as at odds with the mission of the unit from which
  the Soldier comes or even as actions that are contrary to the interests of the Army. Such perceptions have no
  merit. Any actions or comments that impede the lawful, professional, moral, and ethical responsibilities of
  TDS personnel are inconsistent with the mission, duties, and responsibilities of the JAG Corps and the Army,
  and run contrary to American systems of justice.
  5-23. TDS provides services through regional, senior, and field trial defense teams. The ranks of personnel
  assigned to individual billets may vary subject to the discretion of the Chief, TDS, and the needs of the Army.
  Usually, a regional trial defense team comprises a regional defense counsel (usually an O-5), a senior defense
  counsel (usually an O-4), a paralegal NCO (usually an E-6), and a paralegal Soldier. A senior trial defense
  team comprises a senior defense counsel, adefense counsel(usually an O-3), and a paralegal NCO(usually
  an E-6. A field trial defense team comprises a defense counsel (usually an O-3) and a paralegal Soldier
  (usually an E-4). The regional trial defense team provides operational control, training, and technical
  supervision for as many as four trial defense teams. The regional trial defense team assigns cases and trains,
  supervises, and assists trial defense counsel in counseling clients and preparing actions.
  5-24. Local commanders and their respective OSJAs provide trial defense teams with administrative,
  logistics, and paralegal support in accordance with AR 27-10. Trial defense teams receive all other support
  from U.S. Army Legal Services Agency. The Chief, TDS, exercises independent supervision, control, and
  direction over the defense counsel and the TDS mission. The Commander, the Judge Advocate General’s
  Legal Center and School, supervises and provides technical guidance to TDS, in accordance with AR 27-1.
  5-25. The TDS provides services on an area basis under the independent supervision and control oftheTDS.
  The Chief, TDS, supervises defense teams and is solely responsible for determining their places of duty and
  caseloads. Under the direction of the regional and senior defense counsel, trial defense counsel travel as far
  forward as required. Prior planning, mission training, staff augmentation, and the provision of sufficient
  paralegal assets and logistic support to defense counselare critical to success.
  5-26. While in reserve status, Army Reserve trial defense personnel are assigned to trial defense teams and
  regional trial defense teams, under the command and control of the headquarters, legal operations
  detachment-trial defense (LOD-TD). These teams operate under the technical supervision of the Chief, TDS,
  through legal support organization commanders. Similarly, while functioning under the authority of Title 32,
  United States Code, Army National Guard (ARNG) regional and trial defense teams are assigned to their
  respective states, and they operate under the technical supervision of Chief, TDS, through the Chief, ARNG
  Trial Defense Service. Upon mobilization, both United States Army Reserve and ARNG trial defense
  personnel fall under the operational control of TDS.
  5-27. JAG Corps personnel providing military defense services to Soldiers carry significant responsibilities
  to conduct their affairs in accordance with AR 27-26. Judge advocates and paralegals charged with the TDS