Top five ways JAG can help you

  • Published
  • By compiled staff reports
  • 354th Fighter Wing Legal office
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Have a car you need to sell in Texas while living in Alaska? Are you deploying and a friend will be caring for your children? Or perhaps you are having trouble with your landlord, and you don't know what to do? These are all issues the legal office can help with.

The 354th Fighter Wing Office of the Staff Judge Advocate does more than just carry out courts-martial and non-judicial punishments. One of the most important jobs the legal office has is to provide services to Airmen, dependents and retirees. There are many helpful services that the legal office provides for free.

1. Wills
The legal office provides free wills to Airmen, dependents and retirees on a by-appointment basis. Wills are essential life-planning tools. A will allows you to plan for guardianship of your children, and to decide where your property will go. If you do not have a will, consider getting one. If you already have one, you should review it periodically to make sure it is up to date.

2. Powers of Attorney
The legal office can help you by drafting and notarizing various powers of attorney. A power of attorney allows a person to give another the authority to act in their name. The authority can be for one simple act, or for many acts. Powers of attorney are done on a walk-in basis from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can walk in for the service, or you can visit https://www.aflegalassistance.law.af.mil to fill out a worksheet and get a ticket number before coming in to speed the process of creating the document.

3. Legal Assistance
Legal assistance allows a person to meet with an attorney to discuss civil legal issues. Common issues are divorce, child custody, landlord-tenant problems, or various consumer issues. Legal assistance is conducted on a walk-in basis, on Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you cannot make these times, alternate arrangements can potentially be made on an as-needed basis.

4. Household Goods Claims
If any property was damaged on the move to Alaska the legal office can help fill out paperwork and give information on filing a claim for reimbursement.

5. Free information
The legal office is a fountain of information. There are brochures on a wall inside the office with legal topics ranging from adoption to identity theft. There is another rack of legal forms and packets for various topics, including divorce proceedings. In addition, the legal office can connect you to those who can help.

The JA staff is very knowledgeable about local resources on base and downtown, and can advise some very helpful websites. There is a wealth of information waiting to be accessed about many different topics.

In addition to calling or visiting the legal office, another way JAG helps airmen is through its legal assistance website. Visit https://www.aflegalassistance.law.af.mil for information on a variety of topics affecting members and military families.

The Eielson legal office is happy to help Airmen and their families whenever possible. The office is located on the third floor of Amber Hall, and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 377-4114.