Are you a Reservist or National Guard? Visit Reserve Affairs (RA) Web site for more information. Looking for mobilization and demobilization resources? Visit the RA Mobilization and Demobilization Web page

For service members preparing to deploy, you often have little time to put things in order before leaving. The following are several suggestions/tips to help you prepare for deployment:

Bills - Service members are responsible for their household expenses/bills while they are deployed. These expenses could include rent, mortgage payments, car payments, credit cards, etc. Before deploying you should ensure that you have made arrangements for these payments to be taken care of. You may wish to appoint your spouse or family member with power of attorney, so that they can handle your finances while you are deployed.

Direct Deposit - Direct deposit is the fastest and most convenient way to receive your pay while you are deployed. By utilizing direct deposit your pay will be automatically credited to your checking or savings account. For more information check with your bank or credit union.

Income Tax - If you will be deployed when your taxes are due, decide in advance how income taxes will be filed and who will do it. You may wish to file for an extension through the Internal Revenue Service by filing Form 2350: Application for Extension of Time to File U.S. Income Tax Return.

Power of Attorney - A power of attorney is a legal designation by an individual that grants to another the authority to execute documents in the name of the grantor, as if he or she actually signed the documents. While you are deployed it may be necessary for your spouse, a parent, or another competent person to act for you in your behalf. Before you execute a power of attorney, be sure you understand exactly what you want your attorney-in-fact to do in your place. For example, you may want to limit the duration of the power of attorney to the period of time you expect to be deployed. For assistance in preparing a power of attorney will you should contact the legal office at your installation.

Service members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) - Each active duty service member is eligible to be insured under SGLI up to a maximum of $400,000 in increments of $50,000. Before deploying you should verify who you have designated as beneficiary on your SGLI and make changes as necessary. An eligible beneficiary can be any person or legal entity designated by the service member. To make any change the SGLI Election Form (VA Form SGLV-8286) must be completed. For more information about Service members' Group Life Insurance, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs group life insurance information page.

Will - A will is a legal expression or declaration of an individual’s wishes concerning the dispositions of his/her property after death. It is always easier for one’s survivors to take care of things if there is a legally executed will. If one dies without leaving a will, personal and real property are distributed by state law, which might not necessarily coincide with the way the individual would have wanted it. For assistance in preparing or updating/changing your will you should contact the legal office at your installation.

Army Legal Assistance. The Army Legal Assistance Web site provides information about military legal assistance services, offices, and general information and links to help prevent personal legal problems. You may also use this site to obtain general information about Army Legal Assistance, to find an office near you, and to learn more on a particular topic before you visit your local legal office. This information, including the links to other law-related information sites, is provided as a public service for your education, convenience, legal well being, and to help you keep your legal affairs in order.

Navy Legal Assistance. The Navy Legal Assistance Office provides legal assistance services to Active Duty members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard, and their dependents. Assistance is provided to retirees as resources permit. Among the services provided are adoption, consumer issues, landlord-tenant issues, military rights and benefits, domestic relations and powers of attorney.

Marine Corps Staff Judge Advocate. The Staff Judge Advocate's Web site provides the Marine Corps with a central source for legal information on immigration, taxes, consumer and economic matters, estate planning, family and domestic matters, real estate, and military rights and benefits. Legal assistance is available in several locations, including Albany, Barstow, Cherry Point, Hawaii, Miramar, Quantico, and Yuma, among others.

U.S. Coast Guard Legal Assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard Legal Assistance Web site has information on consumer and contract matters, creditor and debtor relations, family law, adoption, real estate, taxes, wills and estate planning and the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act. The site's "Find a Lawyer" service also provides referrals by Coast Guard district to legal assistance attorneys.