United States Army Colonel and east-suburbs resident David Trautman has been involved with the U.S. Army's Reserve Legal Command, or USARLC, since its activation, and beginning in January, he was given the chance to lead its 154th Legal Support Organization.
Trautman was installed as the commander of the 154th after a tour as a deputy chief of staff in the USARLC, during which time he supervised the USARLC's activation and training of more than 1,700 personnel in legal units throughout the country.
Now, Trautman commands a unit dedicated exclusively to representing soldiers who have been accused of violation the Uniform Code of Military Justice or who are facing adverse administrative action.
Trautman spoke with the Progress recently about his new position, as well as receiving the Meritorious Service Medal, presented to both Trautman and the outgoing 154th LSO commander:Q: What will be your day-to-day responsibility in this new position?
A: I will be the Commander of the 154th Legal Support Organization, or LSO (trial defense), which is a subordinate command under the USARLC. ? We provide these trial defense services to soldiers from hundreds of units in our area of responsibility, which includes all territory east of the Mississippi River. We accomplish this mission with more than 180 legal personnel, also geographically dispersed in all states east of the Mississippi River as well as Germany and Puerto Rico. As the commander, I am responsible for ensuring our soldiers are ready to deploy. This includes the basic requirements that each soldier must meet as well as legal training specific to our trial defense services function.
Q: What will be your biggest challenge in leading the 154th LSO?
A: Our unit members and clients are geographically dispersed, so we don't often meet in one place as a unit. Maintaining a high level of command, control, and esprit de corps will take a lot of effort and creativity.
Q: What got you interested in joining the military initially; and what led you to the Army Reserve Legal Command?
A: I have connected to the military since childhood. My grandfather received a Purple Heart for service in World War I, and my father served in the Navy during the Korean War. To honor that, my mother would help me place a miniature brass World War I soldier on our Christmas tree. As a child, I also wore a vest with the 3rd Armor Division patch. During law school at Duquesne, I interned for a summer with the JAG Corps in Frankfurt, Germany, where I saw the patch again. The internship led me to join the JAG Corps as an active duty officer. I was assigned to the 3rd Armor Division as a Trial Defense Service attorney, where I learned much and earned my combat patch through deployment to the Persian Gulf. I transitioned to the Army Reserve, where I served as an officer in Pennsylvania units as well as the 154th LSO. I rose in rank and position over the years, and was ultimately selected to be the first Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, of the Legal Command. The night before the change of command ceremony, my mother gave me the miniature Soldier from our Christmas tree. That, and my previous service in the 154th LSO, makes my assuming command all the more meaningful.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a member of the USARLC?
A: The esprit de corps, opportunity to serve, and the great friends I have made over the last 23 years.
ABOUT TRAUTMAN
Name: Col. David K. Trautman
Hometown: Churchill
Place of birth: McKeesport
Age: 48
Years of service: 23-plus
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