Your ADC office is here for you Published Sept. 9, 2009 By Capt. Peter Kezar Base Area Defense Counsel LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The Little Rock Air Force Base Area Defense Counsel office provides numerous services for Air Force members facing adverse administrative or criminal action. We assist members facing courts-martial, Articles 15, letters of counseling, admonishment and reprimand, unfavorable information files, control rosters, referral enlisted and officer performance reports and other adverse actions. Very importantly, we also assist members who have been questioned and read their rights, which leads me to my next point. If you have been questioned and read your rights by an Air Force Office of Special Investigations agent, security forces investigator, your commander or first sergeant, or anyone else whatsoever in any way, shape or form, I strongly urge you to remain silent and request the assistance of an attorney. Too often, members being questioned make statements - verbally or in writing - that can be construed as confessions or admissions. This undoubtedly makes your case more difficult to defend. Often members make statements that may seem harmless to them, but these statements can be misconstrued, misinterpreted or blown way out of proportion. You have a constitutional and fundamental right to remain silent, and we highly recommend you do so. If you make statements, however harmless you think they are, you do so at your own peril. Please do not think, "Well, if I remain silent I'll look guilty, so I might as well make a statement." Also, if you're in an interrogation room waiting and "sweating it out" a while, please don't think, "I've been here so long already. I just want to get out of here so I'll make a statement." This is rubbish - and dangerous. If you make a statement, it can and will be used against you. Statements can be misinterpreted and taken out of context, and their true meaning as you understand it may not be accurately captured by the investigators or other people receiving your statement. Your reputation and career are on the line; please don't leave them in the hands of investigators or people who have a job to do that's contrary to your interests. Our defense paralegal, Staff Sgt. Anitra Tull, and I are here for you. We are not attached to any wing, numbered Air Force or major command. We fall under a separate defense command, so we are able to independently and vigorously represent you. We're here to ensure that necessary check and balance in our military justice system and to ensure the process is fair. I am a licensed attorney, certified by the Air Force as a judge advocate, and Sergeant Tull is a certified paralegal. We are your defense team. Please don't ever hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Our number is 987-3260. If you have anything to say about some adverse action against you, I ask that you please say it to us first.