The Judge Advocate Division at HQMC has released the FY27 military justice training calendar. It covers courses for trial counsel (including special trial counsel), defense counsel, VLC, and legal support personnel from October 2026 through September 2027. If you work in one of those roles, this is your roadmap for the year.
Heads up: You cannot self-register for funded courses. All training requests go through your regional counsel and up your organizational chain of command.
Who it affects
This bulletin is for judge advocates and legal support personnel assigned to or affiliated with three organizations:
- PSO (Prosecution Services Organization): trial counsel and special trial counsel
- DSO (Defense Services Organization): defense counsel
- VLCO (Victims Legal Counsel Organization): VLC attorneys and support staff
If you're not attached to one of those organizations but want to attend a listed course, contact the Military Justice Branch, Judge Advocate Division for guidance. The vast majority of reservists can stop reading here.
What you need to do
If you're in the PSO, DSO, or VLCO:
- Review the course list for your organization below.
- Identify the courses you need for FY27.
- Coordinate attendance through your regional counsel, not directly with the course provider.
- For online enrollment and additional course listings, visit the JET (Judge Advocate Education and Training) website:
https://usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/SJA_JET/SitePages/44XX.aspx
If you need to cancel after registering, you are personally responsible for cancelling any travel, lodging, or rental car reservations you booked.
Funding guidance will be published separately. Watch for that follow-on message.
Key dates
PSO courses
| Course | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Military Justice New Developments Course | 20-22 Oct 26 | Charlottesville, VA |
| DOD Cyber Crime Center Digital Forensics for Prosecutors | 26-30 Oct 26 | Fort Belvoir, VA |
| Military Justice Orientation Course | 9-20 Nov 26 | Newport, RI |
| PSO Worldwide Training | 1-5 Feb 27 | TBD |
| Military Justice Orientation Course | 12-23 Apr 27 | Newport, RI |
| Special Trial Counsel Certification Course | 19-30 Apr 27 | TBD |
| DOD Cyber Crime Center Digital Forensics for Prosecutors | 21-25 Jun 27 | Fort Belvoir, VA |
| Advanced Cross-Examination for Prosecutors | 27-29 Jul 27 | Minneapolis, MN |
| Military Justice Orientation Course | 19-30 Jul 27 | Newport, RI |
DSO courses
| Course | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Military Justice Orientation (Fall) | 8-20 Nov 26 | Newport, RI |
| NACDL Defending Sex Cases | 11-13 Nov 26 | Las Vegas, NV |
| DSO Worldwide Training | 1-5 Feb 27 | Phoenix, AZ |
| NCDC Cross-Examination Workshop | TBD Mar 27 | Iowa City, IA |
| Military Justice Orientation (Spring) | TBD Apr 27 | Newport, RI |
| NACDL Forensic Science | 1-3 Apr 27 | Las Vegas, NV |
| NITA Trial Advocacy (Online) | 8 Apr 27 | Online |
| Joint Capital Defender's Course | 7-9 Apr 27 | Fort Belvoir, VA |
| NDIA Investigation Academy | 13-16 Apr 27 | Minneapolis, MN |
| NACDL AI & Tech in Law | 28-29 May 27 | Philadelphia, PA |
| NCDC Trial Practice Institute (Session 1) | TBD Jun 27 | Fairfax, VA |
| Bronx Defenders Academy | TBD Jun 27 | Long Island, NY |
| NCDC Trial Practice Institute (Session 2) | TBD Jul 27 | Fairfax, VA |
| Military Justice Orientation (Summer) | TBD Jul 27 | Newport, RI |
| Advanced Defense Advocacy Course | 10-14 Aug 27 | Arlington, VA |
VLCO courses
| Course | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| VLCO Worldwide Training (Q2) | 1-5 Feb 27 | TBD |
| Army Special Victims' Counsel Certification Course | 8-12 Feb 27 | Charlottesville, VA |
| Air Force Special Victims Counsel Course | 12-23 Apr 27 | Montgomery, AL |
| Navy/Marine Corps VLC Certification Course | 26 Apr-5 May 27 | Newport, RI |
| NCVLI Crime Victim Law Conference | 25-27 May 27 | Portland, OR |
| Army Special Victims Counsel Course | TBD Aug 27 | Charlottesville, VA |
| Joint Appellate Advocacy Training | TBD Sep 27 | Washington, D.C. |
Regional training dates (all organizations)
- 10-11 Dec 26
- 20-21 May 27
- 16-17 Sep 27
Regional counsel may adjust these dates after coordinating with their chain of command and the chief judge of the relevant judicial circuit.
The official version
This is MARADMIN 476/26. References include Article 6, UCMJ (10 USC 806); 10 USC 1044E (statutory authority for VLC programs); and the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (Sections 532 and 549D).
POCs: Maj J.A. Stovall (PSO) at joseph.stovall@usmc.mil, 703-693-6643; Maj J.M. Ortiz (DSO) at jose.m.ortiz@usmc.mil, 732-642-3912; Maj L.E. Neal (VLCO) at lauren.neal@usmc.mil, 703-955-1421.
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.