Active duty physical requirements on Reserve component Soldiers (SMs); is there a contradiction in medical treatment/benefits?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 10:43:51 -0500

A friend (seriously, not me) is on the Army's borderline for HT/WT. He has to maintain his physical fitness, appearance, and HT/WT standards for the National Guard as if he were an active duty Soldier. Injuries, some sustained while on active duty (82nd), make physical fitness maintenance near impossible. Here is the contradiction.

If he fails a PT test, he can be chaptered out, so he must do PT outside of drill because "you are a Soldier all the time." He cannot get military medical benefits, e.g. active duty Tricare, because "you are only a Soldier during drill." So, what are the limits of LOD? I should know, but I don't and I'll take anyone's advice or information on sources.

You might say "he should go to the VA," but that is not really an option. Should Reserve component healthcare be privatized? How is the line drawn between LOD and non-LOD? How should it be drawn? Any advice for my friend?

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 11:05 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 11:05:39 -0500

Wow, that's a tough one! I would have him call the IG just to see what his options are.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 5:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 17:17:29 -0500

I'd say he needs to get a permanent medical profile, goodness knows there are plenty of Soldiers who have them, no dishonor to them at all.

Response by SGT Kris Jacobson made Nov 7 at 2014 8:31 PM

SGT Kris Jacobson — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 20:31:09 -0500

Try calling the Defense Health Agency (previously the Military Medical Support Office). The DHA approves and directs LOD healthcare for Guard and Reserves when not "on duty". DHA [login to see]
At the very least, its a good place start. That's what the MMSO did (prior to the DHA name change). We all know how that goes.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 9:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:24:48 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member you do bring up a good point Sir. I would also ask your friend what kind of physical training he is engaging in. I've found that I have to train much differently now than I did while I was on AD. (I fractured all four of my limbs in a motorcycle accident and have metal in each)

There are low impact and less stressful exercises that will (coupled with a healthy diet) allow a soldier to maintain active duty standards without sacrificing money to the injury train. From a cardiovascular perspective, I alternate between an elliptical set to 6 or 7 on the resistance scale (to give me a similar experience to being on a road) and swimming. Both exercises have cut my injury problems to zero, and actually improved my APFT scores.

So the bottom line is, train smarter as you grow older.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2015 4:06 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:06:48 -0500

I feel for your friend because the processes related to medical treatment, LODs, profiles, and medical boards in the reserves isn't universally understood and is much different than active duty where it is fairly straight forward. If the Soldier's first line leader doesn't know the answer, the full time unit administrators should be able to explain his options.

If he is injured, he should obtain a temporary and/or permenant profile that would outline the limitations of his physical fitness program and APFT events and give him the time he needs to recover without fear of not being able to pass the APFT (for temp profiles). In the USAR (don't know about ARNG), we can use documentation from our civilian medical provider or the unit can schedule an appointment with LHI (a contractor). If the injury occured while on active or reserve status, then the unit should complete the LOD paperwork. It sounds like these are lingering issues from previous event(s). If he is injured to the point of not being able to do his job (and/or the individual physical fitness program to at least to be able to pass an APFT), then a medical review board may be appropriate. He can go to the VA. It is an option even if not the preferred option. He also can sign up for Tricare Reserve Select. It's not "free," but the monthly fee is much lower than a private plan.

Are the benefits for active duty and reserve Soldiers equitable given that reserve component Soldiers have to meet the same standard (with less time to do it)? That's a question that hasn't been answered.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2016 12:56 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 00:56:56 -0500

Sir, I am not sure how it works in the guard but for me, reserve, and from my understanding, he should be able to at least get tricare. I don't know if it's offered for the NG though .We get it at $50 a month. It is tailored for us mainly to go and see civilian doctors but it's available. Now, before I got that I had no insurance and I was told that I could still go to an active duty post and be seen as a SM. I've done that twice actually. I was seen and taken care of. As others have stated, getting a profile is definitely needed. I just recently finished my first one after getting a plate in my foot. If he needs a permanent one then so be it. I went to a VA before and was turned away because at the time I did not have 180 active duty days or a deployment. If he has either of those then he can go to the VA.