Can the languages i speak influence where I'm stationed when I join the Navy?

I disagree wholeheartedly with all the previous answers. The JAG community is quite small and therefore very closely observed and managed. You will likely be assigned during your first tour to an American base so that they can observe your performance as a JAG officer first, and as a linguist as a secondary skill. Your subsequent tours could be often in Japan especially, if that is your desire. The American JAG corps has very few officers that are fluent in Japanese and your presence helps to facilitate negotiations, plea agreements, status of forces issues etc. They are not foolish enough to ignore the asset you represent, however, first tours in JAG are almost always domestic. The JAG corps has 10 Spanish fluent lawyers for every Japanese fluent lawyer.

Knowledge of the nuances of Japanese culture that you possess as a result of your parents and grandparents is also an invaluable asset to the JAG Corps and they are not ignorant of this fact. Nuance is the hardest level of cultural understanding, and small gestures/overtures can mean a great deal in the success of any negotiation with foreign governments. Japan is a vital US ally and we accord them a huge priority in assignments and negotiations.

Hey, I'm not a JAG, but I've worked with them on JAG investigations and have worked closely with the JMSDF on several occasions. Good luck to you and thank you for your interest in serving our great nation.

I can't tell you how much I admire the Japanese culture. I cannot repay all the kindnesses they showed me when I was there. Domo arrigato.

Your language skills will have little to do with where you are stationed. It mainly is determined by your job.

If your going into the navy remember that 70% of the earth is ocean. I see alot of water in your future.

NO. The needs of the Navy come first and unless you enter the Navy as a linguist the languages you speak mean nothing to them. You can get stationed on nearly any ship in the fleet and any base the Navy still has open. Japan has lots of ships and lots of bases that have Navy Legal. Spanish really means little to the Navy. You will be conducting ALL business in English so hopefully your English is as good or better than your Japanese or Spanish. They are looking at your knowledge of the law and your ability to learn the UCMJ as it pertains to the military, not your language ability. If you want to keep it up as a hobby while you are in, great, but you will be VERY busy being the Mini Judge below a LCDR, CDR or CAPT for many years and they will tell you what your duties will be each day. Being a JAG is not like the show JAG in anyway. You will spend a lot of time babysitting people that get busted for stupid things, processing their paperwork and going to Captain's Mast and Court Martials. No need for Spanish or Japanese in any case. Sorry, but I think you should know the truth before you decide to join based on the thought of using foreign languages. If this is more of what you want look into Navy Intel instead of Navy Legal as your job.

Your Japanese skills will come in handy at Yokosuka, Sasebo and Okinawa Japan. Your Spanish language fluency will be of service in Rota Spain and with the staff of U.S. Southern Command which deals with the Spanish-speaking nations in this hemisphere.
In addition, there are positions as hospital counsel at Yokosuka, Okinawa and Rota.

The navy has some operations in Spain at Rota. There might be a JAG office there. But believe me, if you are a JAG officer and speak Japanese you're going to do a tour in Japan fairly fast. Don't be surprised if you get assigned to a Flag Officer's staff.

You've got a good chance of going to Hawaii on a staff too.

Believe me, you're 24 karat gold.

well having knowledge in speaking different language is an advantage and can influence you to become a JAG Officer... and i think its not your decision as to where you want to be stationed at... as an officer.. you have to follow where they will assign you... and you are duty bound to do so...

The Navy will send you where you are needed.

An electrician on my ship was fluent in Japanese, but was never stationed in Japan. When he left EM A school, he was sent to an oiler that needed an electrician. However, he did get to use his language skills when we refueled Japanese warships, as the captain let him communicate with the JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force) ships that came along side.

Reading through most of the answers, it is clear to me that most that are trying to be helpful are unfamiliar with the officer detailing process which is quite different from the enlisted one. Z-man is right about JAG assignments being a lot more carefully managed than junior enlisted technician assignments.

Junior JAG officers are handling the bulk of rather straight-forward enlisted courts-martials. But second tour JAGs also do get assigned to staffs and foreign bases where foreign language abilities are in high demand. Assignment to Okinawa would be pretty easy, because few request it. Those assignments may also be "unaccompanied" and family dependents are often not permitted.

Good luck and thanks for joining the service.

nope not unless you are a CTI. Spanish is everywhere so nobody really cares that you speak that either. In fact Officers do not utilize foreign language on a daily basis unless they are on special duty(typically Embassy duty). as a JAG, that will not be an option for you normally, but you can expect to get stationed in Yokosuka I bet.