POAs – a must have prior to deploying

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott King
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs
With no end in sight for future deployments, people need to carefully consider their options when it comes to being “legally” prepared during their deployment. 

Having powers of attorney is one way to ensure families, business and other interests can be taken care of while away. 

“A POA is a written instrument that allows you (the principal) to authorize your agent (your attorney-in-fact) to conduct certain business on your behalf,” said Tech. Sgt. Charlene Pullum, 92nd Air Refueling Wing NCOIC of Civil Law. “It is one of the strongest legal documents that you can give to another person.” 

There are two types of POA; general and special (or limited). A general POA gives agents very broad powers to act on one’s behalf; and a special POA limits agent’s authority to act only on certain matters. 

A power of attorney can be written either to take effect immediately or to take effect at some time in the future. The future time may be a specific date or may be defined by the occurrence of some event. For example, a certification by someone’s doctor that they have become mentally incapacitated.Powers of attorney end when people die, -- so, it is not a substitute for a will. 

“POAs are important for people to utilize for deployments because they allow you to authorize your agent to conduct certain business on your behalf in your absence,” Sergeant Pullum said. 

“For example, an Airman’s spouse may use a power of attorney to: clear government quarters, receive or ship the family car, receive or ship household goods or stop or start an allotment.” 

According to Sergeant Pullum, s special power of attorney is the type normally given. 


"You may hear that you need a general POA so that someone else can take care of all your affairs if you are absent,” she said. “This is probably not true. In fact, it is highly unlikely that you will ever need a general power of attorney.” 

A general POA is very broad and may not be accepted for the performance of certain acts, such as cashing government checks, or conducting real estate transactions. In these cases a special POA is needed. 

“Since a POA is such a powerful document, give it only to a trustworthy person, and only when absolutely necessary,” said Sergeant Pullum. 

A POA can be accomplished fairly quickly so anytime before people are scheduled to deploy they can visit the legal office. Their office hours for POAs are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on a walk-in basis. They also make special arrangements for people deploying if they can not make the walk-in hours. 

For more information concerning POAs or any other legal matters, call 247-2838 or 2839.