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Military & Veterans affairs Committee
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Many service members likely brushed off the exercise entirely. Some believed they did not have enough assets to justify estate planning. Others assumed they were too young for such concerns. Still others simply felt uncomfortable confronting the subject. But another factor often goes overlooked.
The United States military is one of the most cosmopolitan institutions in the country. Service members come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, religions, and family structures. Some were born and raised in the United States; others immigrated here and raised their right hand in pursuit of citizenship. With that diversity comes a wide range of perspectives about legal systems and legal professionals.
In many communities around the world, there exists a longstanding distrust of lawyers and legal institutions. The sentiment is not entirely unfamiliar in the United States either. Just as some older generations still harbor skepticism toward banks, many individuals approach legal services with hesitation or outright avoidance. When those perspectives converge within a military population, the reluctance to seek legal assistance can become even more pronounced.
Yet the military possesses a unique tool for addressing the divide: training.
From the earliest stages of service, members of the armed forces are accustomed to structured education and procedural preparation. Exposure to the deployment packet introduces the concept, but it rarely answers the deeper questions that service members actually face.
How does an 18-year-old service member decide whether to grant a durable power of attorney? When is a special power of attorney appropriate? Do they understand how their home state handles intestate succession if they die without a will? These are not abstract legal questions. They are practical decisions that determine how families navigate crisis.
True mission readiness must therefore extend beyond physical fitness and occupational proficiency. A service member entering theater should do so with the confidence that their legal affairs are in order and that their families will be protected if the worst occurs.
Mission readiness is not just operational preparedness.
Mission readiness is legal readiness. n
Author: Justin Pearl – 3L, Cooley Law School & Military Veterans Law Student Association President
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