PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- Since August, staff of the Presidio of Monterey Staff Judge Advocate has been making the rounds around the POM and Ord Military Community areas.
"It's almost like making a house call," said David Riddle, Legal Assistance chief, in describing the new mobile service his office provides.
"We saw the need to make it as easy as possible to be seen, and now that we have the manpower and time, we can provide that (mobile) service," Riddle said.
Riddle said some patrons have difficulty getting to the SJA office because they are either students with full schedules and coordination issues or they are stationed at Ord Military Community.
A relatively new program, the SJA originally began by offering services on Saturdays and then took the program to popular areas such as the Java CafAfA and the medical clinic.
"We had a great reception from the clinic, even the clinic personnel took advantage," Riddle said.
The program has been going out as all-POM e-mails and word-of-mouth announcements, and because of its popularity and benefits, has seen growth.
"We get more phone calls on what they need when they come see us for the outreach program," said Vellis Weathers, POM SJA.
"I think it has had the intangible effect (for us) to do what we can for the (service members)," Riddle said.
Service members are encouraged to check out the services the SJA staff provides when military personnel hear about the next time the mobile service starts up, Riddle said.
"It's not just helpful, but educational," Riddle said of his office's services, from tax preparations to notary publics. "It is a reminder of what type of free legal help they can get from our office."
The next SJA mobile service will be at the Monterey Road Child Development Center on OMC from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 4.
"We try to have one every month," Weathers said, adding that the schedule is subject to change and are "based on mission requirements."
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