For those who went through a MEB, what were your predominant thoughts?

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sat, 28 May 2016 11:42:46 -0400

I knew I changed and my utility to the Army disappeared. I had 20 years which made the process more palatable. I accepted the MEB with open arms, as staying on active duty was hell. There was no looking back for me. How about you, did you find peace after the board?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2016 11:52 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 May 2016 11:52:11 -0400

I was given the option of staying in (but only as an E-3 or getting out at 14 years 8 months and 1 day of service.

I didn't like it, but with a family I had no option but resignation.

In the end it worked out because I qualified for retirement at age 60 by service in the Army Reserves for over 8 years.

A neighbor basically experienced the same dilemma.

Our Dads were bitter. But what good would bitterness have been? Hurt - YES. I felt betrayed. But, I took the only viable option and fornd a civilian job.

Response by SSG Roderick Smith made May 28 at 2016 12:01 PM

SSG Roderick Smith — Sat, 28 May 2016 12:01:43 -0400

I've been through two. I chronicled my experience in a recent post. It was...interesting, especially because I have been found Fit For Duty twice, despite being largely useless to the Army in the grand scheme of things. The real issue is that I can't deploy. I hate that. I don't feel like I embody the "Total Soldier Concept" because of it. I can still do everything, like physical activity and whatnot. I have no limitations there. It's just the deployment aspect that rubs me the wrong way. I love the Army, and I love what I do. I just want to do it to the fullest extent.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/your-thoughts-on-the-meb-peb-process

Your thoughts on the MEB/PEB process? | RallyPoint

I'm curious about people's experience with the MEB/PEB process - whether as someone who went through, is involved in the administration, or as someone who provides input or receives outputs from the process. I know that as a commander my view could be summed up as "how can it take that long to do ANYTHING??!!" and I was stunned to find out that the military disability rating system is completely separate from that of the VA. For the record, I...

Response by SGT Destiny Klaric made May 28 at 2016 11:39 PM

SGT Destiny Klaric — Sat, 28 May 2016 23:39:26 -0400

It sucks. The stigma that you go through is difficult; you hear dozens of different opinions, advice and diagnosis from doctors that you see; and the waiting is agony because this is your future that is up to a panel of people that you've never met before that are combing through your professional and medical profiles. I was threatened to be kicked out (when the MEB wasn't widely accepted as a discharge as it seems to be now) when I fractured my hip before my sixth month in the service. My problem was that I operated with a chip on my shoulder. I'm a female in a time of war who wasn't in a unit that deployed for my first four years. I'm in a non-combat MOS and anytime I went to a joint school, I had the 'no deployment patch syndrome'. I fought tooth and nail to avoid the MEB like it was the plague, even though my symptoms worsened and the injury and pain never went away.

But as I sit on terminal leave now, I realize that as much as I will miss the service, the MEB was the better option for me. I ignored all the signs and potentially harmed myself all because of my stubbornness, and because I wanted to be accepted as a Soldier that did right by her peers; someone that deployed, someone that went on convoys, someone that went to the obstacle courses, that didn't dodge the field, that was assigned and licensed on dozens of equipment, that did PT, that was at STT... I can't say that I accepted the MEB with open arms, but I left at peace with the system, and I am happy that it is in place. Sometimes we need to be told that we cannot go on because we all sacrifice so much already. We need to protect our body and minds and we need to be around for our families. There's a future and life outside of the military, as hard as it is to accept at times.

Response by SMSgt Criselda W. made May 29 at 2016 7:48 PM

SMSgt Criselda W. — Sun, 29 May 2016 19:48:01 -0400

I also went through the MEB process 2 years ago after serving 20+ years, my numbers were great so I took in stride. I was nervous with what my future would hold due to the fact that I'd served so long and only knew military life. The MEB process seemed to take forever and I had to educate myself on what agencies were involved and what my options were, needless to say, I read a lot of regulations. I retired and immediately transitioned into a great job, but had to look for another line of work due to my health issue. I am using my educational benefits and will graduate next year. I feel that I definitely found peace in my life and it was for the best. My health is my priority now, not my career.