An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Nov. 4, 2014

Commentary: An Airman who waited too long to obtain crucial documents

By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith I.G. Brown Training and Education Center

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - I learned these past months that having "advanced medical directives" and other documents make a family emergency more manageable. It is one less issue to fix when emergencies arise.

I remembered that someone called them advanced directives during an event held to provide them for families here at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center. My first sergeant announced it many months ago in an email. It was easy to shrug them off - powers of attorney, living wills, wills, health care proxies and a plan.

You service members who believe you will see emergencies coming and you have another day: you should know that I thought that too. I ignored it, until it was too late.

I was 800 miles away from my loved one in September when they needed my help, but the hospital could not tell me about their medical situation or their medications. "I'm their family member," I said.

The nurse said that unless I had a medical power of attorney, they could not share their information until my loved one signed a medical release with my name.

I tried to manage their household finances too, but the banks and companies would not give me their account information. I had to provide a financial power of attorney in order to see their mortgage and car payments as well as access what bank accounts had money to pay them.

I felt powerless to help someone I loved.

Our truisms are that everyone will face a family emergency at one point in life. We all have a mom and a dad, and some of us have brothers and sisters. Some of us also have wives or husbands, sons and daughters.

I believed that hugs and saying, "I love you," or just listening would make the difference in someone's recovery. I did not plan how I would take care of a loved one's health care and finances or how they would take care of mine.

While I help defend a nation, there are some simple, boilerplate legal documents that can help protect my family and me.

  • The National Healthcare Decisions Day web site, which holds awareness campaigns, states that a Health Care Power of Attorney documents the person to be your voice for your healthcare decisions if you cannot speak for yourself.
  • A Living Will documents what kinds of medical treatments you would or would not want at the end of life.
  • The American Bar Association states on their web site that a Financial Power of Attorney helps manage titles property, like financial accounts, a house and a car if you cannot.
  • A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that provides for the distribution of some or all of your property after death.
  • Service members should see a base legal office or a lawyer because this article provides only a personal perspective. The Air Force Legal Assistance web site for Airmen, https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil, lists more to consider if you or a loved one become incapacitated.

The attorney gave my problem a look of familiarity in his office. He was genuinely concerned as he talked about those legal rights that I required to help my loved one. "I'll drive out there to get them if it helps," I said.

The problem, I thought, was not the 13-hour drive or the emergency leave but rather if my loved one could sign legal papers at that point. I worried if they would understand their rights or if I could visit them.

It could be a long trip for naught, I prayed not.

I had another battle ahead just knowing monthly bills, health insurance, lawns to cut, taxes and going, on and on. I felt sunk down from the concern of it all. I would sit and sigh at the situation, pray and call other family members for their support.

I realize now that a plan or a discussion that identified all of that and any personal wishes ahead of time would have helped me.

"You are so strong," someone told me. "'I can't imagine going through it' or ‘take care of you too,'" I heard.

My commander visited with me, my chaplain ran with me, my supervisor allowed me time off, and my coworker cut my grass. I was grateful for their support, but as my loved one's supporter, I realize now that I could have done more ahead of time.

 

 

Related Articles
A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing marshals a C-130H Hercules at the Combat Readiness and Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi, Feb. 5, 2025. Exercise Sentry South-Southern Strike is a joint military training focusing on contingency response operations, agile combat employment, aeromedical evacuation, maritime training, specialized fueling operations and strategic airlift and airdrops.
Air Guard Conducts Sentry South-Southern Strike Exercise
By Senior Airman Shardae McAfee, | Feb. 7, 2025
GULFPORT, Miss. – Approximately 500 service members from the Active, Guard and Reserve components of the U.S. military participated in exercise Sentry South-Southern Strike 2025 at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training...

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jack A. James Jr., right, the commander of the New York National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division, speaks with Swedish Army soldiers during the division’s Warfighter 25-3 exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Jan. 31, 2025. The Swedish soldiers’ participation with the New York Army National Guardsmen during Warfighter Exercise 25-3 marks their second visit with the 42nd Infantry Division and their first experience working with the United States in a division-level warfighter exercise.
Swedish Soldiers Train with 42nd Infantry Division Partners
By Sgt. Grace Nechanicky, | Feb. 7, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Four Swedish army service members spent time with the 42nd Infantry Division learning about large-scale combat operations during a warfighting exercise from Jan. 24 to Feb. 8.The Swedish soldiers’...

Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Day retrieves simulated blood supplies delivered by a blueflite drone while Sgt. Benjamin Keikkala provides security during a field training exercise at Camp Rilea, Oregon, Jan. 30, 2025. The innovative drone delivery system demonstrated rapid resupply capabilities for combat medics in tactical environments.
Oregon Guard Combat Medics Test Drone Delivery of Supplies
By Maj. Wayne Clyne, | Feb. 6, 2025
WARRENTON, Ore. - Combat medics with the Oregon National Guard are adapting their battlefield medicine skills for large-scale combat operations through innovative training, including drone-delivered medical supplies at Camp...