Human trafficking is a serious problem in the United States and abroad, and even within the Department of Defense. From 2017 - 2022, DoD investigated 638 human trafficking and related cases. Those included cases of:

• Labor trafficking and sex trafficking
• International and domestic trafficking
• Adults and children
• Males and females

Each case often has multiple victims. In a 2008 case in the DoD involving labor trafficking in Afghanistan, there were a reported 1,000 plus victims.

Over the past ten years, DoD servicemembers and employees were involved in human trafficking as victims, as buyers of sex, and as traffickers. There were incidents of trafficking by DoD contractors and reports of human trafficking involving the dependent children of service members.

Judge Advocates play an essential role in combating human trafficking. Judge Advocates evaluate and advise on the scope of the violation, contact the servicing combatant command to provide legal advice on violations, and advise commanders on the proper course of action when trafficking is suspected or confirmed. It is critical for Judge Advocates to know the signs and indicators of human trafficking in all its forms, and to know how to respond appropriately. It is also critical to know U.S. laws, policies, and federal regulations, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) laws that apply to human trafficking, and international law that addresses human trafficking. Finally, it is important to know how human trafficking looks in the Department of Defense. This platform provides Judge Advocates information from Department of Defense publications on how trafficking has presented in DoD in the past 20 years, descriptions of emerging issues, and recommendations for best practices on preventing human trafficking and early intervention to address trafficking and related activities. It also presents some cases. Finally, it includes a section of trafficking survivors with a connection to the military.