Legally fit to fight Published Oct. 14, 2015 92nd Air Refueling Wing Staff Judge Advocate FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- A central focus in today's Air Force is being "fit to fight." When you hear those words you tend to think of physical fitness, but is that all you need? In order to be 100 percent "fit to fight," you have to be ready physically and mentally. By having your personal affairs in order, you will have one less thing that could take your mind out of the game. Before you deploy, take these things into consideration: (1) Wills. Find your will and take a look at it. Did you have any kids since it was last drafted? Did you happen to get married or divorced? Significant changes such as these probably mean you need a new will. Without a will, you may leave behind confusion or set your family up for a lengthy probate process. Having a will helps prevent this. (2) Powers of Attorney. The two common types of POAs are General POA and Special POA. A General POAs allow a person to do anything and everything you are able to do. The downside is a lot of agencies do not accept them because they are too broad. It is also a significant amount of responsibility to give someone. Special POAs, on the other hand, allow a designated person to do a specific act in your absence. Below are some examples of why you might want to give someone a Special POA: (a) Vehicles. If someone will be operating, registering and/or maintaining your vehicle, they will require a Special POA. Are you parking your vehicle or leaving it unused? If so, don't forget to contact your insurance agency to get a possible reduction in rate. (b) Dependent identification cards. Make sure they are good to go. If your dependent's identification cards are due to expire or if they are lost, they may not be able to get a new one without a Special POA. (c) Taxes. Are you going to be deployed during tax season? If so, you have a couple of options. You can give someone a POA so they can file your taxes for you. However, if you want to file taxes yourself, you can request an extension. (3) House/Apartment Lease. Do you have a lease on your apartment or house? If so, make sure that the lease is not set to end while you are deployed. Consider whether you should terminate a lease under the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act. (4) Life Insurance. Are the Beneficiaries of your life insurance policy accurate and up to date with the correct information? Does it reflect the appropriate amount? This includes both Servicemembers Group Life Insurance and any private insurance policies you may have purchased. Having these affairs in order before you deploy will help you and your family's peace of mind. All POAs and wills from the legal office are FREE. If you are unsure if any of these documents are needed, swing by our office and talk. We are located in the Wing Headquarters building, Suite 121. Below are our office hours of operations and services provided: Wills for Active Duty members and Dependents -- Every Wednesday, by appointment only. POAs and Notaries - Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Legal Assistance (walk-ins) - Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.