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This thread is primarily for those of us who were medically retired against our wishes....
I had 18.5 years in and was medically retired. I was beside myself with grief, anger, frustration, guilt, betrayal,.......... the list is endless. I was always going to be a 30 yr man and even then I was going to retire kicking and screaming. I mean, I have a 24 yr old tattoo of a Bradley fighting vehicle on my arm. Serving is all I wanted to do. To get to 18.5 and NOT cross the finish line really tore me up inside.
My question is simple....How did you handle the transition? Are you still having a hard time with your feelings or have you made your peace? If you are willing, please share for the welfare of the group.
I had 18.5 years in and was medically retired. I was beside myself with grief, anger, frustration, guilt, betrayal,.......... the list is endless. I was always going to be a 30 yr man and even then I was going to retire kicking and screaming. I mean, I have a 24 yr old tattoo of a Bradley fighting vehicle on my arm. Serving is all I wanted to do. To get to 18.5 and NOT cross the finish line really tore me up inside.
My question is simple....How did you handle the transition? Are you still having a hard time with your feelings or have you made your peace? If you are willing, please share for the welfare of the group.
Posted in these groups: 
Transition
Transition
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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SFC Mark Merino one thing you should never lose sight of is that YOU DIDN'T QUIT. Big difference. Sometimes our bodies just won't do everything we ask of them, and that just is what it is. You're a good man, you served your country well and with distinction, and your presence here means that you continue to do that today. Rock on, Brother. Get that back well, and on to the next phase line. The Mission will continue.
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LTC Bill Koski
I feel the same way. I had 27 years as a reservist, 13.5 years active duty and was AGR when they medically retired me. Hated the process, very hard not to feel like you're being singled out.....but, 18.5 years......you did it, you made it, you don't have to prove anything to anyone. As corny as it sounds, RP has become a therapy of sorts. I also managed a job with a military contractor. Not the same thing, but as close as this broken 54 year old bag of bones can handle.
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SFC Merino and RP family,
I have many regrets, frustration, guilt, betrayal, and of course the ever present anger.
I still struggle. My unit did nothing for me at retirement, even though they new it was coming. My favorable memories come from my Iraq tour, my previous units, and looking back at the people who influenced me and allowed me to grow into a Senior NCO.
The process for medical retirement is still broken. The MEB/PEB process is filled with a constant and consistent lack of information, never ended waiting for the VA to finish ratings, exams, or something else, and a lack of urgency on anyone's part. Once a deicsion is made be prepared for further delays and lack of information from the CRSC personnel, DFAS, and or others.
Slowly, I am picking up my ruck sack and starting to move on. I am proud of my service, for how I served, and for retiring, but it is not easy to remain positive even with the pride.
SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)
I have many regrets, frustration, guilt, betrayal, and of course the ever present anger.
I still struggle. My unit did nothing for me at retirement, even though they new it was coming. My favorable memories come from my Iraq tour, my previous units, and looking back at the people who influenced me and allowed me to grow into a Senior NCO.
The process for medical retirement is still broken. The MEB/PEB process is filled with a constant and consistent lack of information, never ended waiting for the VA to finish ratings, exams, or something else, and a lack of urgency on anyone's part. Once a deicsion is made be prepared for further delays and lack of information from the CRSC personnel, DFAS, and or others.
Slowly, I am picking up my ruck sack and starting to move on. I am proud of my service, for how I served, and for retiring, but it is not easy to remain positive even with the pride.
SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)
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SFC Mark Merino
It was like you were speaking directly t me SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS ! I was placed on TDRL April 2010 and just got retired 2 days ago.
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SFC Boots Attaway
My unit did not do anything for me either and I was one of the original 20 with the then NEW HHC 45th BSTB and had been with them over 6 years.
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You have to mourn the dream of what would have been, and accept what is. I think finding meaning and identity outside of the military is key. Even if you served for 30 years, you'd still have a life outside of the military - being thankful for what you have as opposed to what you didn't accomplish. Enjoy famly, friends and life and everything you wished you would have done but couldn't do because you were on active duty.
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Hey Mark,
Look I understand completely. I only was allowed to serve for 6 1/2 years al though your time in is a great deal more then me, I was going for live my wife was all for it and my kids were on board too. but they found somethings wrong with me and stopped me from going on my next deployment I was an SGT and I was taking the time to prep my squad for deployment I felt like I was letting them down. but then it really hit me when they said med board.... I fought it tooth and nail but in the end I lost. The thing that helped me on my way out was what a maj told me "SGT you did good you have done everything that was asked of you and for that thank you. SGT Kuha your mission has been accomplished time to go home." she then saluted me I think that I had a tear in my eye. My point in telling you this is some of us were ready and felt that the military was the reason why we were born but sometimes our mission is cut short. Mark one thing you might be able to do is try to help others that may get out before their time it will help I was discharged in 2011 and I find myself still thinking and wishing I was still in it does get better Mark it will just take time. I hope I helped but hang in there you are not alone
Look I understand completely. I only was allowed to serve for 6 1/2 years al though your time in is a great deal more then me, I was going for live my wife was all for it and my kids were on board too. but they found somethings wrong with me and stopped me from going on my next deployment I was an SGT and I was taking the time to prep my squad for deployment I felt like I was letting them down. but then it really hit me when they said med board.... I fought it tooth and nail but in the end I lost. The thing that helped me on my way out was what a maj told me "SGT you did good you have done everything that was asked of you and for that thank you. SGT Kuha your mission has been accomplished time to go home." she then saluted me I think that I had a tear in my eye. My point in telling you this is some of us were ready and felt that the military was the reason why we were born but sometimes our mission is cut short. Mark one thing you might be able to do is try to help others that may get out before their time it will help I was discharged in 2011 and I find myself still thinking and wishing I was still in it does get better Mark it will just take time. I hope I helped but hang in there you are not alone
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Mark,
I almost had that situation in the late 90's as I was the victim of a botched surgery by the chief of orthopedics at Darnell Hospital in 1996, they drug it out for few years were going to discharge me with 20% and no mention of the screw up on the part of the doc, I threatened to sue, because medical malpractice is the only thing you as the SM can sue for while still on active duty, lets just say drug it out for about another 7-8 months and returned me to regular duty.
I almost had that situation in the late 90's as I was the victim of a botched surgery by the chief of orthopedics at Darnell Hospital in 1996, they drug it out for few years were going to discharge me with 20% and no mention of the screw up on the part of the doc, I threatened to sue, because medical malpractice is the only thing you as the SM can sue for while still on active duty, lets just say drug it out for about another 7-8 months and returned me to regular duty.
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SFC James Baber
SFC Crouch,
Hate to burst your bubble, but you are wrong on all accounts, while the current laws may have changed to restrict it from occurring, in the past SM's were allowed to sue for medical malpractice. I see you are stationed at JBSA, I am assuming to Sam portion, I was also stationed there from 2000-02, and one of my job while stationed there was working in the PAO office of BAMC and tasked to the MEDCOM JAG office for medical congressional's and claims against military medical personnel and procedures, during the 90's and early 2000's there were hundreds of med mal claims filed and over 50% of them were granted trials. If you have the capability do a little research and check for a few multi-million dollar trial awards from '97-'01 for birth and surgical cases that were filed and won in the federal courthouse in Waco for both Fort Hood and Fort Sam cases that occurred.
Many thing changed after 9/11 including the legal aspects of lawsuits against the military and its medical personnel, while TORT has been in effect for decades, it didn't preclude medical malpractice until after 9/11. And the JAG lawyers and DOJ lawyers that also represent the government can't dispute the documentation if it is original, they could only attempt to dispute copies to a degree and the final decision would be up to the judge, not the attorneys. But being that all records are now digital it would be very much easier now for the attorneys to dispute the records if they were not in what the government would claim is the original records, but with the old paper, hand written records it would be almost impossible to dispute them if the claimant had the original as I did, because I had already thought far enough ahead being in LE myself to know about original paperwork and the legal ramifications of actual hard records and not copies.
The two links you provide don't enforce your case, only show that one the mil med is current, so it would be reflective of the current updated and expanded laws and TORT, so it is not representative of what I was speaking of for 20 years ago. The 2nd link references cases that are long predating the changes that took place prior to Vietnam and Desert Storm where many amendments to the TORT had taken place which also were still effect when I referenced my own situation, but have again been updated, expanded and changed/adjusted as they always will to protect the government more than the SM's and personnel involved. The TORT and FERES have both been changed/updated/expanded/adjusted and whatever else so many times over the last 70+ years that no one can give an accurate account, and it will continue to be done so far as there is any loophole that a good attorney or judge can find or via self-interpretation as it is with any law and guideline on the books, it happens daily across the country and around the world, what ever changes are needed to protect big brother more than the individual will always occur.
Thanks for sharing and your attempt to help, but as I previously stated your information was and is not relevant for the timeframe that was mentioned and discussed.
But as you mentioned you are not a lawyer, so a good one could and would most likely find the appropriate chink in the armor of the law as needed as they have for all the cases that have awarded millions of dollars over the years, they are easily researched and supported, just got to take the time to look for them. If you go to the MEDCOM JAG office or log into the JAGNET website, you could find many of what I speak of and many others that are documented and uploaded on the JAGNET.
Hate to burst your bubble, but you are wrong on all accounts, while the current laws may have changed to restrict it from occurring, in the past SM's were allowed to sue for medical malpractice. I see you are stationed at JBSA, I am assuming to Sam portion, I was also stationed there from 2000-02, and one of my job while stationed there was working in the PAO office of BAMC and tasked to the MEDCOM JAG office for medical congressional's and claims against military medical personnel and procedures, during the 90's and early 2000's there were hundreds of med mal claims filed and over 50% of them were granted trials. If you have the capability do a little research and check for a few multi-million dollar trial awards from '97-'01 for birth and surgical cases that were filed and won in the federal courthouse in Waco for both Fort Hood and Fort Sam cases that occurred.
Many thing changed after 9/11 including the legal aspects of lawsuits against the military and its medical personnel, while TORT has been in effect for decades, it didn't preclude medical malpractice until after 9/11. And the JAG lawyers and DOJ lawyers that also represent the government can't dispute the documentation if it is original, they could only attempt to dispute copies to a degree and the final decision would be up to the judge, not the attorneys. But being that all records are now digital it would be very much easier now for the attorneys to dispute the records if they were not in what the government would claim is the original records, but with the old paper, hand written records it would be almost impossible to dispute them if the claimant had the original as I did, because I had already thought far enough ahead being in LE myself to know about original paperwork and the legal ramifications of actual hard records and not copies.
The two links you provide don't enforce your case, only show that one the mil med is current, so it would be reflective of the current updated and expanded laws and TORT, so it is not representative of what I was speaking of for 20 years ago. The 2nd link references cases that are long predating the changes that took place prior to Vietnam and Desert Storm where many amendments to the TORT had taken place which also were still effect when I referenced my own situation, but have again been updated, expanded and changed/adjusted as they always will to protect the government more than the SM's and personnel involved. The TORT and FERES have both been changed/updated/expanded/adjusted and whatever else so many times over the last 70+ years that no one can give an accurate account, and it will continue to be done so far as there is any loophole that a good attorney or judge can find or via self-interpretation as it is with any law and guideline on the books, it happens daily across the country and around the world, what ever changes are needed to protect big brother more than the individual will always occur.
Thanks for sharing and your attempt to help, but as I previously stated your information was and is not relevant for the timeframe that was mentioned and discussed.
But as you mentioned you are not a lawyer, so a good one could and would most likely find the appropriate chink in the armor of the law as needed as they have for all the cases that have awarded millions of dollars over the years, they are easily researched and supported, just got to take the time to look for them. If you go to the MEDCOM JAG office or log into the JAGNET website, you could find many of what I speak of and many others that are documented and uploaded on the JAGNET.
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SFC James Baber
Here is some cases that by your logic don't exist, research them and then let me know:
$2,000,000 Settlement for medical mishap
A Large FTCA settlement in a Surgical Mishap (Gallbladder Removal) case; Shurtz (SM) v. United States
$1,433,500 Received by SM- Navy-Florida
$1,000,000 Settlement for misdiagnosis
A Large FTCA settlement in a Failure to Diagnose (Cancer) Case
Owen (SM) v. United States
$701,790 Received by SM- Army-Texas
$2,500,000 Settlement
A Large FTCA settlement in a Wrongful Death case
Whittlesey v. United States
$1,808,041 Received by SM family- Army-Tennessee
$2,150,000 Settlement
A Large FTCA settlement in a failure to diagnose and wrongful death case; Cloer v. United States
$1,492,813 Received by SM and family
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital- Army-Tennessee
One of the Largest FTCA Verdicts and Settlements in History for spinal cord injury/paralysis; Brown (SM) v. United States
$12,500,000 settlement
$9,183,752 Received by SM-Navy-Tennessee
$1,625,000 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Brain Injury case
A Large FTCA verdict in a Failure to Diagnose and Treat case
Hogans (SM) v. United States
$1,067,624 Received by SM-Army-Washington, Georgia, Texas
$5,800,000 Settlement
A Large FTCA Settlement in a Birth Injury Brain Injury Case
Humble (SM) v. United States
$4,106,711.68 Received by Clients
Darnall Army Community Hospital, Ft. Hood, Texas-Army-Texas
I actually dealt with paperwork related to this case while attached to MEDCOM JAG as a continual follow up for appeals by GPRMC.
$10,000,000 Settlement for Brain Injury case
One of the Largest FTCA settlements in history; Van Voris v. United States; $6,525,317 Received by SM
Darnall Army Community Hospital, Ft. Hood, Texas-Army-Utah, Texas
$2,247,280 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Birth Injury & Cerebral Palsy Case
A Large FTCA verdict in a Brachial Plexus Injury (Erb’s Palsy) case
Jackson (SM) v. United States
$2,100,000 post trial settlement
$1,597,500 Received by SM-Army-Texas
$44,717,681 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Brain Injury
One of the Largest FTCA Verdicts in History
Dickerson (SM) v. United States
$20,000,000 awarded on appeal
$15,752,732 Received by SM-Air Force-Texas
$32,676,410 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Brain Injury
One of the Largest FTCA Verdicts in History
Lebron (SM) v. United States
$23,250,000 awarded on appeal
$18,967,710 Received by SM and Family-Army-Puerto Rico, Texas
Now just with some further searching through JAGNET, I found these 11 large settlements out of many, but as you say SMs cannot by the TORT and FERES, but there are always of getting the cases to trial with the right lawyers and filings, so these must be a few of many that slipped through the cracks and made it to trial and settlement.
While what you provided is true to a POINT, it is not the written in stone catch all, there are as I mentioned before hundreds if not thousands of claims filed yearly, and while all may or may not make it very far these few that I have listed from the same JAGNET site I sent you too, that you found what you wanted to support your claim that is easily debunked, I found all this supporting cases to dispute those former posts and provided proof to support what I stated as you have asked for.
Again as I have stated numerously already , nothing is concrete as there is always a loophole and way to get litigation across, that is one of the main reason we are the number 1 country in the world for lawsuits, because there is always some chink in the law, rules, guidelines, or is easily twisted for the usage of the lawyers or their clients, the government does it all the time to their benefit, so many of these lawyers that are able to get these cases to trial are usually former military JAG officers and attorneys, so they know what and where to look to get it going, so even with what may be written and supposedly is in stone, it will always have a way to get around it as by the proof I have currently provided.
Dig deeper into the JAGNET, if you haven't already and find these and other cases that are there, don't just go to the surface to find what you want to support your statement, as a senior NCO, you should well know that everything is not always in black and white and set in stone, any regulation out there is not set in stone it is a guideline and teaching tool more than word of GOD, it will always be challenged and changed to fit the needs at the time as it has for decades, nay centuries for any law, rule, guideline during time, whatever is need to protect the powers that be more than the individual, cut and dry to the point of the SM and their families losing probably 95% of the time, but there will be ones that are able to receive concessions if they have someone willing to push hard enough for them to knock down those walls and break up that set in stone mentality and law.
$2,000,000 Settlement for medical mishap
A Large FTCA settlement in a Surgical Mishap (Gallbladder Removal) case; Shurtz (SM) v. United States
$1,433,500 Received by SM- Navy-Florida
$1,000,000 Settlement for misdiagnosis
A Large FTCA settlement in a Failure to Diagnose (Cancer) Case
Owen (SM) v. United States
$701,790 Received by SM- Army-Texas
$2,500,000 Settlement
A Large FTCA settlement in a Wrongful Death case
Whittlesey v. United States
$1,808,041 Received by SM family- Army-Tennessee
$2,150,000 Settlement
A Large FTCA settlement in a failure to diagnose and wrongful death case; Cloer v. United States
$1,492,813 Received by SM and family
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital- Army-Tennessee
One of the Largest FTCA Verdicts and Settlements in History for spinal cord injury/paralysis; Brown (SM) v. United States
$12,500,000 settlement
$9,183,752 Received by SM-Navy-Tennessee
$1,625,000 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Brain Injury case
A Large FTCA verdict in a Failure to Diagnose and Treat case
Hogans (SM) v. United States
$1,067,624 Received by SM-Army-Washington, Georgia, Texas
$5,800,000 Settlement
A Large FTCA Settlement in a Birth Injury Brain Injury Case
Humble (SM) v. United States
$4,106,711.68 Received by Clients
Darnall Army Community Hospital, Ft. Hood, Texas-Army-Texas
I actually dealt with paperwork related to this case while attached to MEDCOM JAG as a continual follow up for appeals by GPRMC.
$10,000,000 Settlement for Brain Injury case
One of the Largest FTCA settlements in history; Van Voris v. United States; $6,525,317 Received by SM
Darnall Army Community Hospital, Ft. Hood, Texas-Army-Utah, Texas
$2,247,280 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Birth Injury & Cerebral Palsy Case
A Large FTCA verdict in a Brachial Plexus Injury (Erb’s Palsy) case
Jackson (SM) v. United States
$2,100,000 post trial settlement
$1,597,500 Received by SM-Army-Texas
$44,717,681 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Brain Injury
One of the Largest FTCA Verdicts in History
Dickerson (SM) v. United States
$20,000,000 awarded on appeal
$15,752,732 Received by SM-Air Force-Texas
$32,676,410 Judgment Awarded at Trial for Brain Injury
One of the Largest FTCA Verdicts in History
Lebron (SM) v. United States
$23,250,000 awarded on appeal
$18,967,710 Received by SM and Family-Army-Puerto Rico, Texas
Now just with some further searching through JAGNET, I found these 11 large settlements out of many, but as you say SMs cannot by the TORT and FERES, but there are always of getting the cases to trial with the right lawyers and filings, so these must be a few of many that slipped through the cracks and made it to trial and settlement.
While what you provided is true to a POINT, it is not the written in stone catch all, there are as I mentioned before hundreds if not thousands of claims filed yearly, and while all may or may not make it very far these few that I have listed from the same JAGNET site I sent you too, that you found what you wanted to support your claim that is easily debunked, I found all this supporting cases to dispute those former posts and provided proof to support what I stated as you have asked for.
Again as I have stated numerously already , nothing is concrete as there is always a loophole and way to get litigation across, that is one of the main reason we are the number 1 country in the world for lawsuits, because there is always some chink in the law, rules, guidelines, or is easily twisted for the usage of the lawyers or their clients, the government does it all the time to their benefit, so many of these lawyers that are able to get these cases to trial are usually former military JAG officers and attorneys, so they know what and where to look to get it going, so even with what may be written and supposedly is in stone, it will always have a way to get around it as by the proof I have currently provided.
Dig deeper into the JAGNET, if you haven't already and find these and other cases that are there, don't just go to the surface to find what you want to support your statement, as a senior NCO, you should well know that everything is not always in black and white and set in stone, any regulation out there is not set in stone it is a guideline and teaching tool more than word of GOD, it will always be challenged and changed to fit the needs at the time as it has for decades, nay centuries for any law, rule, guideline during time, whatever is need to protect the powers that be more than the individual, cut and dry to the point of the SM and their families losing probably 95% of the time, but there will be ones that are able to receive concessions if they have someone willing to push hard enough for them to knock down those walls and break up that set in stone mentality and law.
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SFC James Baber
SFC Crouch,
I understand fully, it is you that is having a hard time realizing that even with the laws that are in effect, the cases are still being filed by SMs and being won and compensated. As I mentioned before, there is and always will be lawyers, judges and government officials that will hear claims and will many times allow them to be processed to the fullest even with the laws in place, that is how precedents are made. Out of just the few cases I listed, 9 of them were filed and won by the SMs regardless of what TORT and FERES state and show, as you can see many of them were won on appeal. As a also previously stated, there are many (hundreds) of these cases listed on JAGNET as these are, just because the law is in place again nothing is ever set in stone as these cases won by SMs on active duty prove with their settlements via initial awarding or through appeal, it can happen and does, you are the one that seems to not understand or accept that it is possible even with the laws that you keep referring back to, just as with a regulation, they are to be used as a guideline for the judges to determine if the claim or petition for case is valid, and obviously these SM filed claims were determined to be by the judges and courts that saw and dealt with and rendered judgments for just with the few I listed, so it is possible for SMs or was possible as I stated most of the ones I have seen or dealt with were all prior to 9/11 and the changes that have been updated and added.
And as far as the future compensation from the Army or VA, that is a joke, all of the injuries I sustained due to negligence and what was considered medical malpractice by the chief of orthopedics (at the time), the VA has given me a 0% rating on all of them, most of my rating is from other injuries and issues that occurred during my career, I have not received compensation 1 from either Army or VA for what the doctor did to me and left me with permanent damage to my arm, hand, shoulders and leg from their negligence. So that claim by the laws and your theory is all smoke and mirrors on the governments part, that is why and how many cases do make it court and fruition even though the law supposedly forbids it, it happens accept it, acknowledge it and move on. You are fighting a battle you will never win as the case logs will continue to dispute and disprove your quoting of the law and steadfast ignorance to the reality of what has occurred and some day may occur again by SMs as they have in the past, while it is a hard fought and drawn out battle it can occur and is winnable as has been proven by the cases I have listed and even more I didn't list.
I understand fully, it is you that is having a hard time realizing that even with the laws that are in effect, the cases are still being filed by SMs and being won and compensated. As I mentioned before, there is and always will be lawyers, judges and government officials that will hear claims and will many times allow them to be processed to the fullest even with the laws in place, that is how precedents are made. Out of just the few cases I listed, 9 of them were filed and won by the SMs regardless of what TORT and FERES state and show, as you can see many of them were won on appeal. As a also previously stated, there are many (hundreds) of these cases listed on JAGNET as these are, just because the law is in place again nothing is ever set in stone as these cases won by SMs on active duty prove with their settlements via initial awarding or through appeal, it can happen and does, you are the one that seems to not understand or accept that it is possible even with the laws that you keep referring back to, just as with a regulation, they are to be used as a guideline for the judges to determine if the claim or petition for case is valid, and obviously these SM filed claims were determined to be by the judges and courts that saw and dealt with and rendered judgments for just with the few I listed, so it is possible for SMs or was possible as I stated most of the ones I have seen or dealt with were all prior to 9/11 and the changes that have been updated and added.
And as far as the future compensation from the Army or VA, that is a joke, all of the injuries I sustained due to negligence and what was considered medical malpractice by the chief of orthopedics (at the time), the VA has given me a 0% rating on all of them, most of my rating is from other injuries and issues that occurred during my career, I have not received compensation 1 from either Army or VA for what the doctor did to me and left me with permanent damage to my arm, hand, shoulders and leg from their negligence. So that claim by the laws and your theory is all smoke and mirrors on the governments part, that is why and how many cases do make it court and fruition even though the law supposedly forbids it, it happens accept it, acknowledge it and move on. You are fighting a battle you will never win as the case logs will continue to dispute and disprove your quoting of the law and steadfast ignorance to the reality of what has occurred and some day may occur again by SMs as they have in the past, while it is a hard fought and drawn out battle it can occur and is winnable as has been proven by the cases I have listed and even more I didn't list.
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SFC James Baber
It is funny how you avoid the facts given and focus on 2 cases out of the 11 given, but ignored the other 9, 1 was filed by family, but the other 8 involved injuries to SMs and were filed and won by SMs. As I have said before, you continually bypass what is there as proof to focus on what will support your claim and believe, but fail to accept and acknowledge the proof that disputes and disproves your statements and beliefs.
You continually want to focus on minimal instances, while I provide the whole that covers both the SMs and family cases, that shows the system is fallible and can be over ridden even with the laws in place that protect no one but the government. I will end this with saying, you prove that even with the proper and defining evidence to the contrary of what the law states and claims to do, you will refuse to admit that I have proven what I know to be true with plenty of documented proof with precedent cases, and will continue to focus on the minimal to support your error in belief and judgment on the issue. I never said that it is a slam dunk, but I have said it can be done and have provided very much proof, while you stand by what has been disproven to say it is the concrete rule of SMs can't sue, again I say all the cases I have provided as precedent show and prove otherwise or they are all fake and misnomers.
You continually want to focus on minimal instances, while I provide the whole that covers both the SMs and family cases, that shows the system is fallible and can be over ridden even with the laws in place that protect no one but the government. I will end this with saying, you prove that even with the proper and defining evidence to the contrary of what the law states and claims to do, you will refuse to admit that I have proven what I know to be true with plenty of documented proof with precedent cases, and will continue to focus on the minimal to support your error in belief and judgment on the issue. I never said that it is a slam dunk, but I have said it can be done and have provided very much proof, while you stand by what has been disproven to say it is the concrete rule of SMs can't sue, again I say all the cases I have provided as precedent show and prove otherwise or they are all fake and misnomers.
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I fought the MEB and won twice, swinging out though on my third one. I was medically retired after damn near 13 years just last Friday. I wish I could give you advice, but right now I'm as lost as shit, feeling all those things you mentioned before your question. I'm still trying to figure out what all I have to do, no one seems to know much of anything. Hope everything gets better for you and if I find something that helps out I'll keep you in mind.
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I was just medically retired one month ago at 21+ years. I'm prior enlisted, had Major in the bag and would have met my Major board in May 2015. It's still quite new for me. I'm adjusting, albeit slowly.
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SFC Mark Merino
Without getting too personal Capt Nicole Andrews , are you able to continue nursing?
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I forgot to add that I wasn't mentally prepared for the end to come that is why I think I fought so hard, even when I did finally retire in 2010 I still didn't actually want to go, but didn't really have a choice because I refused to take a 1SG slot to deploy for 10th time, so they told me to retire and only got 4 months to do that by the time orders came through.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC James Baber 10 TIMES???!!!! I shall call you Master Yoda! I know how you feel. Some of my troops are in Afghanistan and I would do anything to be back in the suck.
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I did a hitch in the Navy and then some years later entered federal service, I won't lie, I knew going in that I had some damage and I had thought that I found a place where I could ride it out till retirement and still do something productive for my country, or in other words I was just like every other vet in federal service.
And I did quite well for several years, I was an excellent tech, I would troubleshoot in minutes what would take others hours, and in the hands of most good supervisors I was a highly proactive tech despite my issues. Not saying I did not get pulled aside from time to time, but in general it only took a warning for me to straighten up. And the good supervisors would in general cut me some slack on the off days. Most of them had some issues themselves personally and did not get to upset at a panic attack or an employee who would lose a few hours now and then. And quite frankly I was far from the only one, federal service and depot level maintenance tends to attract a type of person.
But like many things in life, it takes more then one trait or event to make things happen and at best my home life was stressful (2 disabled parents), and between added stressors, prior psychological issues and a supervisor who was the type who has never gone a month without writing someone up((we had union stewards who worked in other buildings who bought into our coffee mess because it was cheaper and they were down that often))...we will just say that 2 years later I was put out the door on a medical retirement. Quite likely had a opted to take a different pill or had a different supervisor or any number of factors it may have turned out differently but...what happened happened.
After I got out, I took up art, 3d modeling. I starting knowing nothing about the field and several years later I'm to the point where I am a decent character artist who understands the workflow from start to finish. Because the attention to detail to work on a missile system is the same attention to detail you need to sculpt a nose or eye. Being put out due to a medical only points out something physical or mental that conflicted with your mission requirements and perhaps there were some personalty conflict aspects to it as well, but what made you great before can make you great again. be proud of who you were but don't let that take away from who you could be.
And I did quite well for several years, I was an excellent tech, I would troubleshoot in minutes what would take others hours, and in the hands of most good supervisors I was a highly proactive tech despite my issues. Not saying I did not get pulled aside from time to time, but in general it only took a warning for me to straighten up. And the good supervisors would in general cut me some slack on the off days. Most of them had some issues themselves personally and did not get to upset at a panic attack or an employee who would lose a few hours now and then. And quite frankly I was far from the only one, federal service and depot level maintenance tends to attract a type of person.
But like many things in life, it takes more then one trait or event to make things happen and at best my home life was stressful (2 disabled parents), and between added stressors, prior psychological issues and a supervisor who was the type who has never gone a month without writing someone up((we had union stewards who worked in other buildings who bought into our coffee mess because it was cheaper and they were down that often))...we will just say that 2 years later I was put out the door on a medical retirement. Quite likely had a opted to take a different pill or had a different supervisor or any number of factors it may have turned out differently but...what happened happened.
After I got out, I took up art, 3d modeling. I starting knowing nothing about the field and several years later I'm to the point where I am a decent character artist who understands the workflow from start to finish. Because the attention to detail to work on a missile system is the same attention to detail you need to sculpt a nose or eye. Being put out due to a medical only points out something physical or mental that conflicted with your mission requirements and perhaps there were some personalty conflict aspects to it as well, but what made you great before can make you great again. be proud of who you were but don't let that take away from who you could be.
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Suspended Profile
I was in the same boat but I just accepted it and went back to college and moved on. I actually do very little with military related events and when people ask me about my service I try to ignore it but I retired at 23 going on 24.
I went to college, graduated, went and go my MBA immediately after undergrad from a top 10 program. Most other veterans in my class were around my age (28 at the time) and all of them officers. I never told anyone I was a veteran until someone saw my Purple Heart licence plates on my car. When asked by a former Army Infantry officer why I never told anyone I was a veteran in class I told him I just could careless about that time in my life. I honestly just needed to move on and not relive the glory days. The biggest issue I saw with veterans during business school is that most could not move on past that point in their life and always wanted to discuss being in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, ect. Those are the guys that cant seem to move on from the past and actually hurt themselves more.
I have been out longer now then I was in and I never put it on my resume and do not miss being in the military. I retired at the end of 2008. I still talk to two guys I was in the service with and we mostly talk about business related events, politics, and life as we all took the same route. I kept in contact with a lot more guys the immediate years following but as time went on I just never had anything in common with most of them except the military service and most of them had lack luster careers anyway and never really did anything outside of the military.
I went to college, graduated, went and go my MBA immediately after undergrad from a top 10 program. Most other veterans in my class were around my age (28 at the time) and all of them officers. I never told anyone I was a veteran until someone saw my Purple Heart licence plates on my car. When asked by a former Army Infantry officer why I never told anyone I was a veteran in class I told him I just could careless about that time in my life. I honestly just needed to move on and not relive the glory days. The biggest issue I saw with veterans during business school is that most could not move on past that point in their life and always wanted to discuss being in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, ect. Those are the guys that cant seem to move on from the past and actually hurt themselves more.
I have been out longer now then I was in and I never put it on my resume and do not miss being in the military. I retired at the end of 2008. I still talk to two guys I was in the service with and we mostly talk about business related events, politics, and life as we all took the same route. I kept in contact with a lot more guys the immediate years following but as time went on I just never had anything in common with most of them except the military service and most of them had lack luster careers anyway and never really did anything outside of the military.
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