Can you be flagged while undergoing an MEB? What would happen?

2020-06-04T22:26:42-04:00

I’m currently in the initial phases of an MEB (I’m waiting on physicians to start seeing patients again so I can start scheduling appointments). I’ve been on a temporary profile for the last year (my last for-record APFT was in March of last year), but with the initiation of the MEB it was converted to a P3, and I am unable to do any part of the APFT or any alternate events. As a result, I have gained about fifteen pounds over the last year.

I have an annual NCOER due, and my leadership wants to do a tape test as part of it, which I will almost certainly fail. I understand that the MEB process trumps almost any other administrative actions, but it will still log me as being flagged. I am only four months away from my official ETS date (which of course gets superseded by the MEB timeline), and I am trying to set myself up for transition by participating in an internship with the Corps of Engineers as part of the SFL-TAP process, and I’m currently enrolled in online college courses funded by tuition assistance through GoArmyEd. Are those considered favorable personnel actions? Would my commander be justified in refusing to allow me to participate in that internship, or cutting off my tuition assistance, if I’m flagged for no other reason than HT/WT failure (because I can’t exercise at all)? Will this mean no ETS award either? This does not seem right at all.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2020 10:55 PM

2020-06-04T22:55:50-04:00

Short answer, yes.

Textbook answer:
AR 600-9, Ch 3-17, b and c:
b. Soldiers with temporary or permanent physical profiles that they are still required to meet the body fat standard established in the regulation; the Soldier may be referred to an appropriate specialist for nutrition and exercise counseling as indicated.
c. Chronic medical conditions will not be used to exempt Soldiers from meeting the standards established in this regulation.

AR 621-5, Ch 4-5
TA funds will not be authorized for-
i. Soldiers flagged under provisions of AR 600–8–2.

Unfortunately, it won't matter if it doesn't seem right, AR 600-9 has always said this, and the flag issue for TA has been in place since 2014.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2020 12:39 AM

2020-06-05T00:39:15-04:00

I have been reading FRAGO 2 to HQDA EXORD 164-20, current as of 19 May, regarding COVID-19. Sec. a.(3.B.2) reads, “In instances where a soldier was unable to take an APFT within the [previous] 12 months (pregnancy, surgery, or injury profile) but passed their last record APFT [which applies in my case], the Soldier’s last record APFT remains valid until further notice.”

Sec. b.(3.B.7) reads “the height-and-weight and ABCP assessment conducted in conjunction with record APFT/diagnostic ACFT testing for all components is temporarily suspended until further notice.”

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2020 1:26 AM

2020-06-05T01:26:58-04:00

Even in a MEB you have to maintain your weight. When you get older, and more broken, you can’t eat like an Infantryman in his 20s anymore. It’s a harsh reality we all face when we get closer to retirement and those beer calories start sticking around longer. The fact you can’t exercise at all is not a valid reason to fail ABCP because weight is still a matter of calories in vs calories out. Chances are you can still exercise in some manner unless you’re going through chemo right now or have a bad flare up of Lymes disease. It may not be the PT you knew, but any exercise is good exercise.
You probably won’t be able to take part in any of the longer SFLTAP courses just because when your ratings come back you will have a new ETS date. When your MEB is finished you must be separated within 90 days, and the new MEB timeline has the guidelines to be completed in between 2 weeks and 6 months. COVID may have slowed that down, but it is also impacting SFLTAP programs as well. Not to say it can’t ever be done by MEB participants, only that you have a much smaller window to work in. You can’t extend for SLFTAP. You can do the SFLTAP programs after you ETS though.
The flagging action will prevent you from getting an award or TA. The award has absolutely no affect on your civilian life after the Army, and you can still use your GI Bill for the courses you are taking. It’s not your commanders call to cut your TA, that’s an automatic action once you are flagged. Also, it’s future classes you can’t use TA for. The ones you are enrolled in now are already paid for and the money can’t be revoked.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 5 at 2020 1:50 PM

2020-06-05T13:50:00-04:00

Is there a WTB/WTU at your post? From my perspective focus on your MEB and the necessary medical/therapy treatments. That is the major muscle move.