Waiting for VA so I can get on with my life!

I had PM installed, went through MEB/PEB and awaiting the percentage rating. Going crazy wanting to apply for employment as I have recieved my "Unfit MEMO". Understand that once I sign my paperwork agreeing to the percentages, I have 90 days to "vacate the army". I have 18 years in service and can't believe I have to go find a "real job". What I am asking is there anyway to get a locked in date with terminal leave, so I can tell the would be employers of a estimated start date?

7 Comments

Hope yet...

by DANRAINES - 2014-03-29 01:03:21

Thanks alot DIZZY...

Nice to know that my life isn't over and this isn't a death sentence.

Don't fight it...

by donr - 2014-03-29 03:03:10

...there are significant differences between the Military & civilian worlds. You have ZERO idea of what the future holds. There are at least half a dozen vets in here - most of them have pulled a combat deployment - or two.

To the Army, you are a burden when it comes to deployment - not because they think you are worthless, but because they cannot afford to put together the medical support for people w/ PM/ICD's, That is such a specialty that the equipment & skills of the people involved to support the small numbers of PM Hosts on active duty is prohibitive.

I assume that you are being medically retired, which is dramatically different than being retired for longevity & receiving a VA disability determination.

As far as the Army Medics are concerned - they haven't the foggiest notion what a PM Host can or cannot do - they never see them! Do you have ANY idea what sort of disability rating you will be assigned?

Oh, & BTW: If you are assigned to the pool of all the retirees awaiting a VA determination, you may get your 20 yrs in before they get around to you - the VA is badly backlogged & under intense heat to reduce the backlog. I would say relax, you can work yourself into a frazzle worrying about it when there is nothing you can do to speed up the process.

Unless you are a combat arms MOS, you should be able to con someone into a temp assignment in some admin MOS. Surely there is someone who can use an extra hand at something other than ash & trash duty. Try talking to the personnel section your unit is serviced by - AFTER talking w/ the First Sgt, of course. If he is worth his stripes, he should be able to help you.

Somewhere, lurking on this site is a Signal Corps SGM awaiting papers the same as you. For some insight into what you have to look fwd to, try sending him a pvt Msg.

His screen name is Jay4. If you want to read his threads, go to the SEARCH function, top right corner of page, search on "Korea." His thread should come up first.

Donr

Frustrated also

by DANRAINES - 2014-03-29 11:03:13

Army Doctors and Civilian Doctors disgree on my "physical capabilities". Civilian Doctors encourage me to run marathons if I want... Army says just sit there and breath (by profile). I am stuck working CQ and Staff Duty over and over again because there isn't much else for them to have me do... In fact I spent most of my last 24 hour shift researching "if found UNFIT for service, wouldn't that mean all service related jobs or missions? to include CQ?" HAHA!

18 Years/with break in service

by DANRAINES - 2014-03-29 12:03:10

Before anyone posts anything assumptions of my rank... I am E6/SSG with 18 years. I left the service for a 4 year period as a promotable E5/SGT. Came back in 2004 and started over as E4/SPC. I wanted to finish what I had started... little did I know that after a couple of depoloyments and 2 promotions I would be leaving again without completing the 20 year mark.

Real Deal

by Jay4 - 2014-03-30 11:03:15

Dan, I just received my rating from my med board. The process is starting to move a little faster since they hired 20 more people at the rating site (the general came here and briefed us). You do have options that you need to tart now, start getting letters from past commanders, SGMs, 1sgs LTs whoever and do a COAD (continue on active duty) as many as you can get. They are not giving as many away as they used to because the army does not need us anymore we are damaged goods. Start working resumes, get federal done use USAJOBS they have a resume that you can write on that site. Go to job fairs the COAD might not be approved. If your rating comes back and it has a percentage that is, combat related you qualify for CRSC. Get as much knowledge as you can on that. There are not a lot of experts on CRSC and you have to apply when you get out of the Army. You are right when you get your rating take the full 10 days before you sign. Even if you get 100% take to the med board lawyers (normally located at the WTU wherever you are and let them look over the results. Milper message 09-067 also says if you want to take your leave after the 90 days, you can. Do not let them force you out or sell your leave back. Remember with leave you get BAH and BAS when you sell you do not and it is taxed at 25% rate. If you choose to go past the 90 day no later than date, do the 4187 and you have to get the first 0-6 in chain of command to sign. That milper message specifically talks about leave. Good luck with med board and remember there is life after military. 11 April is my final out and 27 May is last day.
Jay

Real deal 2

by Jay4 - 2014-03-30 11:03:40

Dan like Don said if you want anything specific you can inbox me. I have been in the Army it will be 29 years July 5th ( I wont make that date as I said in the earlier email). I have been in the MEB Started on July 22nd with Va Physical and finally package get sent up right after the Government shutdown Nov 7th. It came back stamped on 30 January. The days of it taking years are over (some people find ways to prolong). If you are in the WTU take full advantage of it, if you are not in th WTU get over to the WTU and get as much information as you can get. Go to VOCREHAB and talk to them. Know the pros and cons of VOCREHAB as opposed to your post 911 GI bill. What is better for you. Knowledge is power and there is know one on the Army, VA, Civilian or whomever that is going to advocate for you better than YOU. One other piece of advice remember you can always appeal. IF you get 30 from the military remember what that gets you, when you appeal it can increase and or decrease. A young kid where I am appealed and his military rating Inbox me for specific questions.
You do not have a death sentence, with Doctors advice you can do all. I am back to running like I did on the 13th of Dec 2012 6.5 miles a day.
Jay

Thanks for all the advice

by DANRAINES - 2014-04-04 10:04:01

Sorry I haven't logged in for awhile. Seems my unit believes that CQ and Staff Duty are all they can do with me as of late. Praying for a speedy "reprive" from VA so I can stop all this sillyness. Thank you for the PM's and all the advice!

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