Legal services: providing balance

Published Jan. 27, 2016
By Senior Airman Solomon Cook
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- One of the symbols of the American legal system is Lady Justice, a figure who took her inspired image from Justitia, the Roman goddess of justice. Although in a different form, Airmen are still beholden to Justitia's scales and sword under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Enter the need for the professionals of the 325th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate. Their tireless work and dedication ensure that the scales of justice zero out.

The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate provides full-spectrum legal services that support the entire Tyndall community and its mission. Primarily, this involves assisting commanders, first sergeants, and supervisors in fostering morale, good order and discipline throughout the wing. The legal office also provides other decision-makers at all levels with advice and counsel needed to best evaluate options and properly resolve complex issues.

"Our mission is to make Airmen's lives easier and better allow them to focus on the mission," said Capt. Matthew Pellegrine, 325th FW/JA chief of legal assistance. "This is paramount, no matter what your job is, we ensure Airmen can put forth 100 percent into their duties. The legal office is located in the Base Support building for a reason."

Making the visit easier, Airmen who enter the legal office are met with professionalism and a friendly face.

"Most assistance starts with Debra Monroe, 325th FW/JA legal assistant, she is the central hub of the office, and everything is filtered through her and filter to interpret if the needs qualify as something the legal office is authorized to assist with," Pellegrine said. "There is an additional step that helps expedite services. This is in the form of a worksheet located at https://AFlegalassistance.law.af.mil."

The website helps streamline the process, increasing the legal office's abilities to get to aid Airmen and their families, Monroe added.

Services rendered at the legal office are free to Airmen, retirees and their families in contrast to off-base legal services that charge fees.

Customers can call the legal office to inquire about how to specific receive services, but there are also walk-in hours available from 2 to 3 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, and 10:30to 11:30 a.m. Fridays, to better assist Airmen with their legal needs. Additionally, the legal office drafts living wills 1 to 3:15 p.m., Tuesdays and 9 to 11:15 a.m., Thursdays, Monroe said.

Airmen may be under the impression that not all legal documents are final and permanent, but this is not always so, making it important to make time for a legal "check-up."

"Our customers should make it part of their routine to review their legal documents regularly for accuracy," Pellegrine said. "They may not be aware that certain documents expire or need updating, such as military-to-military spouses power of attorneys for family care plan for children. It is also recommended after getting married, divorced, having children or receiving orders to deploy to update your will."

Although the attorneys in the legal office are not authorized to go into civilian courts and represent you, they do have mechanisms in place to help Airmen deploying or have a permanent change of station settle out legal matters.

"The legal office will assist Airmen with issues related to the Service Members' Civil Relief Act," Pellegrine said. "This act's main purposes are, 'to provide for, strengthen, and expedite the national defense through protection extended by this act to service members of the United States, to enable such persons to devote their entire energy to the defense needs of the nation; and to provide for the temporary suspension of judicial and administrative proceedings and transactions that may adversely affect the civil rights of service members during their military service.'"

What this means in layman's terms is that there are certain previsions and avenues to allow Airmen to break legal obligations, such as landlord leases, in situations of permanent change of duty station or deployments exceeding 90 days, Pellegrine added.

Pellegrine concluded with noting a "season specific service" the legal office provides - free tax services.

"An issue that may be more prudent to Airmen given the time of year, is tax processing," Pellegrine said. "The legal office has put volunteers through classes to obtain certification to do Airmen's taxes on base. We just completed the classes and we will have more information coming soon."

For information on the legal office, contact (850) 283-4681.

Jury still out