SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill – At Scott Air Force Base, mission readiness begins with caring for Airmen and their families. From legal counseling to estate planning, the team prepares Airmen—both personally and professionally—to deploy when called.
“Put simply, our office stands ready to assist Airmen with resolving their legal issues so they can focus on mission success,” said Capt. Grant Jones, 375th Air Mobility Wing assistant staff judge advocate.
Legal readiness provides Airmen with peace of mind before, during, and after deployment. By completing wills, powers of attorney, and other legal documents, Airmen can deploy knowing their families have what they need at home, reducing stress down range.
Jones said that deployments demand complete focus, and unresolved legal matters can pull attention away from the mission.
To stay focused, the Scott AFB Legal Office regularly hosts and participates in legal readiness events for Airmen and their families. Over the past year, these events included estate planning workshops, pre-deployment briefings for deployers and family members, and Law of War briefings.
Airman 1st Class MacKenzie Meagher, a paralegal at the 375th AMW, expressed that through these events, their team educates the community on important legal topics and directs them to resources to ensure legal readiness.
Accessibility remains a priority, particularly for Airmen facing short-notice deployments. The Legal Office coordinates directly with units and, when needed, offers after-hours, weekend appointments and travels to geographically separated units to meet deployers’ needs.
These efforts resulted in the completion of approximately 150 wills and legal counseling provided to more than 200 Airmen and family members in 2025.
“The law is a road, not a destination,” said Maj. William Phillips, 375th AMW deputy staff judge advocate. “Effective legal assistance means that a military member has the legal tools in place to create the outcome they want, within the bounds of the law.”
For the Legal Office team, supporting Airmen through high-tempo operations is a source of pride.
“Legal assistance gives us a unique opportunity to solve problems before they happen,” said Capt. Brandon Loera, 375th AMW assistant staff judge advocate. “Seeing a deployer leave with confidence makes the work meaningful.”