(Nearly) fixed terms for Israeli TJAG

Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek
Military Advocate General

From this Times of Israel article we learn several interesting things. First, that the incumbent Military Advocate General, Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek, is to be promoted to Major General in October. The position was previously a two-star billet but was reduced to one-star as part of an overall pruning of the number of IDF general officers. But Gen. Afek will nonetheless be a record-breaker in another sense: he will be the first openly gay officer to reach that rank. The billet will now have a fixed term of five years -- but possibly six, depending on “depending on the needs of the IDF chief of staff and the agreement of the military advocate general.” In the past, MAGs have served for four or eight years. The idea of a fixed term is sound, of course, because it encourages independence (see also: military judges), but adding the possibility of a bonus year at the discretion of the Chief of Staff is not because it subverts that goal, leaving a Sword of Damocles dangling over the MAGs head. Be that as it may, mazal tov, General.