LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
"Our mission is to generate rapid, deployable air superiority for America and its allies," said Col. Matt Molloy, 1st Fighter Wing commander.
One of the first steps in preparing Airmen for deployments is to ensure peace of mind for them and their families, to include establishing a will, an advanced medical directive and appropriate powers of attorney.
"A
will is a legal document that governs your estate, which is a collection of all your assets and all your debts, when you die," said Capt. Eric J. Morley, 1st Fighter Wing Judge Advocate General Office assistant staff judge advocate. The will distributes a person's belongings and liabilities to those that he or she selects and in a manner in which he chooses.
In a will, an executor is appointed to govern the estate of the deceased, and is responsible for the distribution of assets as well as the satisfaction of any outstanding debts, said Captain Morley.
Without a will, state law determines how a person's estate is distributed and to whom, said Captain Morley. By establishing a will, Airmen can ensure their belongings and earnings are delegated to the people they desire.
If an Airman has children, it becomes even more important to have a will. Those Airmen are encouraged to appoint a trustee to hold assets on behalf of their children in order to provide care, such as welfare, education and medical costs.
"It's important to make sure the children are taken care of," Captain Morley said.
In addition to wills, servicemembers should also apply for an advanced medical directive. An advanced medical directive allows the servicemember to appoint a person to make decisions for them if they become incapacitated, a realistic possibility during deployments.
Advanced medical directives give the appointee full access to healthcare and medical records and allows him to make decisions on the servicemember's behalf regarding critical care issues, to include removal of life support, said Captain Morley.
Airmen are also encouraged to obtain either a general or specific powers of attorney, which grant another person the ability to handle their affairs for them while they are away, said Tech. Sgt. Samantha M. Lyman, 1st FW/JA General Law non-commissioned officer-in-charge.
General POAs appoint someone to perform a wide array of functions, while a specific POA pinpoints a specific activity for the appointed to handle, said Sergeant Lyman.
An example of a specific POA is permission to access personal finances to adjust allotments and pay issues. Another example would be access to banking accounts to draft checks, or deposit and withdraw funds. Specific POAs also allow access to non-financial transactions.
"You can grant a power of attorney for a friend or family member to register your vehicle (for example)," said Sergeant Lyman.
The best part of visiting the law center is that all services are free of charge to servicemembers.
"There is no cost to eligible personnel to use our services," said Captain Morley. Eligible personnel include all active-duty servicemembers, Guardsmen and Reservists, military retirees and civilian employees preparing to deploy.
Based on average costs charged by private attorneys, the Langley Law Center saved eligible personnel more than $1 million in 2008, in which the center accomplished more than 700 wills, 600 advanced medical directives and 3,600 POAs, said Sergeant Lyman.
Expeditionary preparedness doesn't end at operational readiness exercises and physical fitness testing. Airmen need to ensure their affairs are in order before deployments, allowing for peace of mind for them and their loved ones.
"People who are going to deploy really need to come see us sooner rather than later," said Captain Morley.
The first step for Airmen to take advantage of these services and begin preparing for the unexpected is to visit the Langley Law Center during legal-assistance hours, which are Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays from 8 to 9:30 a.m., and Thursdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
Servicemembers with any questions are encouraged to contact the center at 764-3277.