Can an NCO tell you not to schedule appointments Monday through Wednesday?

2019-11-15T16:15:55-05:00

A soldier with me has newly discovered a heart condition, prior to this our chain told us only appointments are on thursdays and fridays but also stated case by case basis. Now she has lots of tests to get done is a short span of time and her appointment follows on a Monday her nco is telling her to reschedule it but we all know availability isn’t on the soldiers time it’s on the facilities so if she rescheduled it she might now see another apppointment for a couple of weeks. A sfc told us today that a commander or anyone below him cannot tell you to reschedule appointments already made and can not tell you when to schedule them, being pulled left and right with there being no regulations pertaining to this but a sfc saying different I seek the public for a legitimate answer

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Nov 15 at 2019 4:22 PM

2019-11-15T16:22:37-05:00

The NCO needs some remedial training on headwork after the SgtMaj or 1st Sgt allows the soldier to comply with the medical schedule

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Nov 15 at 2019 4:47 PM

2019-11-15T16:47:45-05:00

The soldier has a heart condition. The soldiers NCO, nor any NCO, can not tell them they can't make an appointment. The doctors orders are the doctors orders. If the NCO, saying they cannot make a mon-wed appointment, has a concern about the legitimacy of the heart condition or appointments then he can bring it to the commander and the commander can look into it.
The NCO can not dictate the medical professionals schedule, nor can the NCO dictate the heart condition.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2019 6:18 PM

2019-11-15T18:18:22-05:00

Case by case basis. Sounds right up this alley. The best you can do is TRY to abide by such a strict schedule. The appointment is scheduled between the indivudual and the officer (doctor). A reschedule would require an agreement between those 2 parties. If an nco has N issue with it they can take it up with the doctor. An nco can request that you change it based on workload but not force you to. Thats why they add in " case by case". They cant even enforce that really, just stomp their feet. The Soldier in question has a deployment limiting condition. An nco who cares about readiness metrics at all would want that issue resolved in a timely manner not waiting for those rare thurs fri appointments. Do your best to comply. If you cant, dont be disrespectful when you tell them to effectively shut up and color.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Nov 16 at 2019 7:23 PM

2019-11-16T19:23:46-05:00

She is critical need to get her appointments whenever possible. Anyone suggesting otherwise needs their head examined and a visit to the unit CSM

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2019 7:47 PM

2019-11-16T19:47:38-05:00

This is one of those situations where the best response is, "This is the appointment I was given, feel free to write your counseling statement", and just drive on.
Specialty care like a cardiologist is extremely difficult to get scheduled and if she is being evaluated for one appointment after another it's because she needs to be. Usually it's the buildup for an MEB or to determine if one is needed. That NCO who is telling her to reschedule doesn't outrank that COL cardiologist handling her case.
Usually I would tell you in writing where to find an answer, in this case your BDE/BN/CO should have a written policy about appointments. If there is not a written policy, then there is no policy. If there is, the easiest fix is to go to the CDR at that level and ask for the exception. Example : if the Company Commander had a policy that says only appointments on certain days, go to them to authorize it. If they say no, go to the BN CDR or CSM to override it.
I seriously doubt there is a written policy about appointments. Telling Soldiers they can't utilize the resources that are made available for them is a giant IG no-no.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Nov 17 at 2019 4:02 PM

2019-11-17T16:02:00-05:00

As a former commander, my position is medical needs, especially like this, Trump usual scheduled events

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Nov 19 at 2019 12:26 PM

2019-11-19T12:26:46-05:00

Technically Yes if the commander puts it in a policy letter.
I would strongly advise the Commander not to do this as anything outside the BN aid station is totally out of the units control. This also could cause the command issues meeting their medpros standards, so it's kind of shooting themselves in the foot.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2019 3:35 PM

2019-11-19T15:35:09-05:00

I'm having the same issue. My command team is telling me that I can't have an appointment until after 1300 on most days. I am also going through an meb and that makes it difficult and scheduling my appointments because most of the doctor's office is closed by 1500. I was told when I asked to see the policy letter that it wasn't a policy letter and it was a direct order from my commander for everyone in the battery/ company.