Marines


Western Area Counsel Office (WACO)
MCAS YUMA LOGO
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Yuma, Arizona

MISSION
As an area office of the Counsel for the Commandant, the Western Area Counsel Office and each of its  installation command counsel offices enable western area Marine Corps commands to fulfill their missions by providing timely and candid legal advice and counsel, effective advocacy, and creative problem solving.

VISION
To operate world-class legal offices composed of diverse, talented, trained, and dedicated professionals working together within the western area to support the Marine Corps mission.

INSTALLATION COMMAND COUNSEL
WACO installation command counsel located at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar; and the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Twentynine Palms, California, represent their respective installations and tenant commands in all practice areas under the cognizance of the Office of the General Counsel for the Department of the Navy.  The WACO main office directly supporting Camp Pendleton also provides specialized legal support to installation command counsel.

PRACTICE AREAS

Environmental/Land Use
WACO supports the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCIWEST-MCB CPEN), and other western area Marine Corps command missions by providing commanders and staff accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel on highly complex and often unusual environmental and land use issues, including environmental compliance and natural and cultural resources management, water rights, and real estate.  

Ethics
WACO shares responsibility and coordinates with command Staff Judge Advocates to provide commanders and staff accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding ethics issues, including the use of government resources, conflicts of interest, logistical support to non-Federal entities, fundraising, travel and transportation, procurement integrity, and gifts.

Labor and Employment

WACO supports the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCIWEST-MCB CPEN), and other western area Marine Corps command missions by providing commanders and staff accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding civilian personnel policy and administration.  WACO proactively coordinates with and supports the Civilian Human Resources Office on legal and policy issues and serves as the agency representative on labor and employment litigation.

Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS)
WACO non-appropriated fund counsel, together with installation command counsel, provides accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel to support western area command MCCS activities and their business operations.    

Procurement
Through its civilian attorneys, contingency contracting military counsel, and installation command counsel, WACO supports the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCIWEST-MCB CPEN), and other western area Marine Corps command missions by providing the regional contracting office, contracting officers, and other government contracting officials  accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding supplies and services acquisition, litigation support, fiscal law, and ethics advice regarding procurement, use, and disposition of government resources.

Legacy

The station was established in 1928. During World War II in 1943, an air base was erected with the astounding speed which characterized the war effort. The base became one of the busiest flying schools in the nation. At the end of the war, all flight activity ceased and the area was partially reclaimed by the desert. On July 7, 1951, the Air Force reactivated the base, and the 4750th Air Base Squadron resumed training as part of the Western Air Defense Forces. In 1959, it was transferred to the Navy. In 1962, the facility was changed to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS). In November 2012, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 became the world’s first operational squadron at MCAS Yuma. MCAS Yuma's mission is to provide aviation ranges, support facilities and services that enable its tenants, other commands, visiting military and interagency forces to enhance their mission capability and combat readiness.

On 29 January 1988, the Commandant of the Marine Corps began a test program to determine the suitability, acceptability, and feasibility of instituting regionally-organized area counsel offices. Following the program’s successful completion, the Western Area Counsel Office (WACO) was established on 15 July 1988, and WACO MCAS Yuma is one of the installation area counsel office. WACO MCAS Yuma supports all installation and tenant commands by providing legal services in accordance with its mission.

 Contact Us
Area code and prefix for all numbers is 928-269-XXXX unless otherwise specified.
Counsel 6800
Deputy Counsel  5583
Paralegal None

 

 

Mailing Address

MCAS Yuma

Environmental Dept.

c/o  [insert name]

Bldg 328, E. Spears St.

Yuma, AZ 85369

 
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma