This United States Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center & School National Security Law Department deskbook, the 2021 Edition US Army Operational Law Handbook, is a "how to" guide for judge advocates practicing national security law. It provides references and describes tactics and techniques for the practice of national security law. Like national security law itself, the Handbook is a focused collection of diverse legal and practical information. It helps judge advocates recognize, analyze, and resolve problems they will encounter in the operational context.
The Operational Law Handbook was originally published in 1987. It is designed and written for junior and mid-level Judge Advocates practicing national security law. The size and contents of the handbook are controlled by this focus. Frequently, the authors were forced to strike a balance between the temptation to include more information and the need to retain the Handbook in its current size and configuration. Simply put, the Handbook is made for the Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen of the military Judge Advocate Generals' Corps who serve alongside their clients in the national security context. Accordingly, the Operational Law Handbook is compatible with current joint and combined doctrine.
