Legal assistance office is ready to assist

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Waller
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  At times, Team McConnell members may be in need of legal assistance and the 22nd Air Refueling Wing Judge Advocate legal assistance office stands ready to offer their services when needed. 

"We provide wills, power of attorneys, notary services as well as personal civil legal assistance," said Capt. Ryan Ewin, 22nd ARW Judge Advocate legal assistance chief. "Civil legal assistance could be a whole lot of different things, but it mostly pertains to personal civil legal issues and questions that a member might have."

The legal assistance office, located in Bldg. 810, is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Monday and Friday the hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to noon and on Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The services are free and open to all active duty service members, retirees, anyone on title 10 status as well as dependents.

Ewin said the team of three military and one civilian attorneys all take appointments during the legal assistance hours and do their best to try and help out as many people as they can.

"If someone receives a short-notice deployment or if there is an emergency situation, we do our best to fit them in and accommodate them," said Ewin, a San Diego native.

For Airmen who work in the legal assistance office, helping out their fellow service members and veterans is one of the best feelings.

"I think the most rewarding part is helping the military members who are deploying and the veterans because a lot of them need to do power of attorneys to make sure their spouses and kids are taken care of and having the wills to make it easier on them," said Airman 1st Class Maurico Valdovinos, 22nd ARW Judge Advocate paralegal from San Jose, California.

For assistance with power of attorneys and wills, to include living wills and durable power of attorneys for health care purposes, visit the Air Force legal assistance website at https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil/lass/lass.html, to complete a legal worksheet and obtain a ticket number before visiting the legal office.

To speak with an attorney about personal civil legal issues, visit the legal assistance office during their hours of operation or call (316) 759-3590 to make an appointment.

McConnell members who may need legal assistance can also access the Legal Self-Help Center near the front desk in the legal office. The self-help center provides hand-outs on various personal civil legal issues including adoption, domestic relationships, landlord tenant issues and information about service member federal relief act.