Legal office helps Airmen stay prepared for deployment

  • Published
  • By Capt. Denise Burnham
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (USAFENS) --  Combat readiness is key in the post-9/11 military environment. Since the terrorist attacks more than four years ago, thousands of Air Force members have deployed to locations all over the world. Some have even deployed two or three times.

A key component to ensuring combat readiness is to make sure one’s legal affairs are in order. This can be accomplished by a visit to the base legal office.

“It is imperative that military members visit with a legal assistance attorney before deployment,” said Lt. Col. Rob Ramey, 39th Air Base Wing staff judge advocate. “In addition to personal and family readiness checklists provided by other offices, we will assist deploying members with various legal readiness preparations.”

The legal office advises customers about readiness issues and preventive measures to take care of military and their dependents.

“We are the catch all,” said Master Sgt. Tywanna Frazier, 39th ABW Legal office general law NCO in charge. “’JA’ stands for just ask.”

The legal office keeps busy day-to-day by assisting Airmen with simple, routine matters such as claims and notaries, but they are also equipped to deal with the more complicated issues such as power of attorneys, wills and/or non-combatant evacuation or “NEO” paperwork.

When the next AEF rotation begins, hundreds of family members will be left behind in base housing here.

“It’s important for military members to have all their affairs in order before they deploy,” said Sergeant Frazier. “Because it’s the spouse and kids left behind who will be affected.”

The staff is ready to assist deployers with important issues such as wills, powers of attorney, providing for incapacity, planning for personal finances, life insurance, dependent care arrangements and personal documents.

According to the legal office there are many good reasons for all adults, active duty or not, to have wills. A will can assist in ensuring wishes for property division are carried out and much more.

“This may seem like a particularly difficult thing to do, but you will want to take control, instead of letting the courts decide for you,” said Colonel Ramey.

Powers of attorney are an effective way of permitting others to act on your behalf. Whether it’s taking a child to the hospital for a medical appointment or allowing a trusted agent access to your bank account, a power of attorney can alleviate the headaches of deployment, and allow the war-fighter to focus on the task at-hand.

“In most cases, powers of attorney are simple documents that we will create for you while you wait,” said Colonel Ramey.

Dependent care plans help single parents or dual-military households develop a contingency plan for children in the event they both deploy or have military duties which affect their ability to care for their children either short-term or long-term.

“Something as simple as a power of attorney can make sure deploying member’s children are taken care of when it comes to enrolling in school and so forth,” said Sergeant Frazier.