Posted on Aug 1, 2018
Should I accept an MEB or or pursue retirement?
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Need some help here. Been diagnosed with "chronic" disease and will be receiving a MEB soon. But the PEBLO said most likely I'll be offered only 20 percent and not combat related. Therefore I'll get a Severance. I'm at 18 years and 7 months of active service. My concern is if I try to retire and get approved I'll only have about 9 years 8 months as a Officer, therefore not eligible for the Officer retirement. I know there was a exception to Policy for officers with 8 years commissioned service to retire as an officer...but read it was expired since they stopped TERA can anyone help me?
Posted in these groups: 
Retirement
Medical Board
Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO)
CPT
Officer
Retirement Medical Board Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO) CPT Officer
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 57
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From one who went through this at 18.5yrs in.....RETIRE!!! If for nothing else but personal pride, RETIRE. I know there was no way I could’ve stayed in, and I at the time was a hindrance to the team, but if I was just a bit better in conditioning, I would’ve fought for those last 18mos. Still got the ID card...:but it still stings to this day.
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SSG Warren Swan
MAJ Ken Landgren - Sir I wish. I wish I know then what I do now. The shit I would've told myself...… Besides we're Soldiers. I'm you and you're me. All in the same turret.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
SSG Warren Swan - Sometimes its hard to see straight when you are broken. You have to forgive yourself and drive on! Maneuver and fire!
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MAJ Ken Landgren
SSG Warren Swan - What poignant revelations did you learn through the Army, Life, MEB did you learn? As a commander sometimes I had to approach a soldier's wayward actions to the needs of the Army. When PTSD first struck I was at the 18 year mark. I soon learned that faking it was impossible as I was experiencing a down a downward spiral and knew I was a liability to the army. I saw and felt the intimations of an end to a long career. To the army I loved, I have become a hinderance. I was lucky as I knew a psychologist at Ft Campbell as he allowed me to maneuver through the mental health system.
I appreciated the WTU at Ft Campbell who allowed me to focus on healing. I must admit there is a dark side to WTUs and WTBs in the fact they often have rude personnel and the organizations think this behavior is acceptable. The first day at the Ft Riley WTB, I told a secretary I am going to eat lunch to which she replied I needed to ask my squad leader. A SSG squad leader yelled at me that he fucking owned me. That really riled me. At Ft Campbell a GS-5 secretary yelled at me like bloody murder and the organization felt nothing wrong with her behavior.
I went inpatient like 3 times which kept giving me time until I hit 20 years. That was really not my plan, it was just how my medical care evolved. Do I haver regrets? I sure do, but I don't live in the past. I am stable now however I feel numb, maybe being numb feels better feeling pain. I am seeking purpose, meaning, and a sense of awe. A sense of awe that gives my heart and mind a profusion of brilliance.
Were you a 19K? Please write more, I like how you articulate your thoughts.
I appreciated the WTU at Ft Campbell who allowed me to focus on healing. I must admit there is a dark side to WTUs and WTBs in the fact they often have rude personnel and the organizations think this behavior is acceptable. The first day at the Ft Riley WTB, I told a secretary I am going to eat lunch to which she replied I needed to ask my squad leader. A SSG squad leader yelled at me that he fucking owned me. That really riled me. At Ft Campbell a GS-5 secretary yelled at me like bloody murder and the organization felt nothing wrong with her behavior.
I went inpatient like 3 times which kept giving me time until I hit 20 years. That was really not my plan, it was just how my medical care evolved. Do I haver regrets? I sure do, but I don't live in the past. I am stable now however I feel numb, maybe being numb feels better feeling pain. I am seeking purpose, meaning, and a sense of awe. A sense of awe that gives my heart and mind a profusion of brilliance.
Were you a 19K? Please write more, I like how you articulate your thoughts.
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I’d use every delay I could and appeal to work towards retirement. I think if retired you draw pay at your highest rate. Also the Army and VA use different disability ratings. Throw every ailment you have and left the VA evaluate them.
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Sgt Albert Duran
SGM Herman Whitley, this sounds like a great idea to continue extending the time of service, and you can come up with one ailment to file for then appeal the decision each time. I hope this is correct as I can relate to the VA, and how much time it takes for them to do anything.
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CW3 Dan Mackey
Back and neck pain are very hard for them to dispute and they will spend a long time trying to figure out what is wrong so they don't have to pay you a high percentage disability. Not to condone fraud.
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If you have crossed the 18 year point I believe you can lock in your retirement. I believe the benefits or retirement far outweigh the MEB discharge. Push, delay, fight.
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Are you familiar with COAD (Continuation on Active Duty)? I helped a few of my NCOs with this when I was a 1SG. All of them were granted COAD to meet their retirement. from the link below
Continuation on Active Duty / Continuation on Active Reserve (COAD / COAR)
COAD/COAR
Wounded, ill and injured Soldiers often think their military career is over. This is not the case for many of our Soldiers. If you have been found unfit for duty by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB), but are interested in continuing your service in the Army, you may be eligible to apply for Continuation on Active Duty (COAD)/Continuation on Active Reserve (COAR).
All Soldiers found to be unfit for duty may apply for COAD/COAR; however, preferred criteria include:
Served 15-20 years of service for COAD or 15-20 qualifying years of service for non-regular retirement for COAR
Is qualified in a critical skill or shortage Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
Has a disability as a result of combat or terrorism
To be considered for COAD/COAR, Soldiers must be able to work in a military environment without adversely affecting their health or requiring extensive medical care. They will be periodically reevaluated to determine if further duty is harmful to their health or detrimental to their interests or the Army's. Soldiers who later incur a service obligation remain liable to complete that obligation up to the expiration of the COAD/COAR agreement. If a Soldier's disability increases to the point that he/she is no longer able to perform his/her duty with reasonable accommodations, you can apply to be released from the remainder of the obligation.
How to Apply
Soldiers interested in applying for COAD/COAR should notify their Triad of Care and Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO). If you are in the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2), you should work closely with your AW2 Advocate, who can help facilitate the COAD/COAR process.
COAD/COAR Resources:
The following Army regulations govern the COAD/COAR process:
AR 635-40, Physical Evaluation for Retention, Retirement, or Separation
AR 614-200, Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management
AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program
http://wct.army.mil/modules/soldier/s6-coadCOAR.html
Continuation on Active Duty / Continuation on Active Reserve (COAD / COAR)
COAD/COAR
Wounded, ill and injured Soldiers often think their military career is over. This is not the case for many of our Soldiers. If you have been found unfit for duty by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB), but are interested in continuing your service in the Army, you may be eligible to apply for Continuation on Active Duty (COAD)/Continuation on Active Reserve (COAR).
All Soldiers found to be unfit for duty may apply for COAD/COAR; however, preferred criteria include:
Served 15-20 years of service for COAD or 15-20 qualifying years of service for non-regular retirement for COAR
Is qualified in a critical skill or shortage Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
Has a disability as a result of combat or terrorism
To be considered for COAD/COAR, Soldiers must be able to work in a military environment without adversely affecting their health or requiring extensive medical care. They will be periodically reevaluated to determine if further duty is harmful to their health or detrimental to their interests or the Army's. Soldiers who later incur a service obligation remain liable to complete that obligation up to the expiration of the COAD/COAR agreement. If a Soldier's disability increases to the point that he/she is no longer able to perform his/her duty with reasonable accommodations, you can apply to be released from the remainder of the obligation.
How to Apply
Soldiers interested in applying for COAD/COAR should notify their Triad of Care and Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO). If you are in the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2), you should work closely with your AW2 Advocate, who can help facilitate the COAD/COAR process.
COAD/COAR Resources:
The following Army regulations govern the COAD/COAR process:
AR 635-40, Physical Evaluation for Retention, Retirement, or Separation
AR 614-200, Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management
AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program
http://wct.army.mil/modules/soldier/s6-coadCOAR.html
Continuation on Active Duty / Continuation on Active Reserve (COAD/COAR)
The mission of the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) is to develop, coordinate and integrate the Army's Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP) for wounded, ill and injured Soldiers, Veterans and their Families or Caregivers to promote success in the force or civilian life.
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Get your retirement papers submitted, you have passed the 18 year mark and by thentimenyou hit 20 you will have your 10 in to retire as an officer. Again to reiterate, apply for VA disability about 1 year before retiring and claim wvwrything you can. Your chronic disease being found while on active duty is service connected. A VA disability rating of,40 percent or higher you will recieve military retirement check and a VA disability check.
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Whenever I see posts like this I think back to the post Vietnam RIFs that hit fliers hard. In my squadron we had a Captain who received his RIF notification right about the time I was preparing to transition to a new aircraft. Never knew what happened to him until I diverted into a base while flying my new aircraft. While bringing our classified materials to the Command Post for overnight storage there was this former Captain, now a TSgt working in the Command Post. Turned out that when he received his RIF notification he had 17.5 years of service. He chose to take the reduction in rank and serve the 2.5 years he needed to retire. He would retire as a Captain since he had served over 4 years at that rank and did all the math on what the RIF offered vs staying on to retire and chose to stay on. Retirement offers so much more in the long run over whatever options are offered that at 18.5 years I'd have to say hang on and retire.
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Sir, the issue for me would be the 20%. As you said, you would get a severance instead of retirement. However, ratings above 30% would put you at medical retirement. This would be calculated based on your total years of service. I would fight to stay in and be able to retire. Next course of action would be to try and get medical retirement by sitting with a DAV advocate to talk about disability ratings. You will have to do some research but I believe medical retirement is 2.5% x years of service x high three base pay. I also believe that they use your commissioned pay in the calculation but definitely talk to your legal to find out for sure. Retirement as an E5 is likely better than the severance long term.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
LTC Jason Mackay - I thought that the services routinely waived that to 8 years. In his case, I would just fight it until I got the extra four months. Just the process of protesting it should give him that much time. The MEB may take that amount of time, especially if he appeals the findings.
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LTC Jason Mackay
CPT Lawrence Cable In another part of the discussion he said he checked into 8 year waiver and it went away. I agree, a fight could get him another 120 days. My suggestion was just to ask for it and see if they’ll bite. Then he knows where he stands
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CPT Lawrence Cable
LTC Jason Mackay - I thought that this had taken care of that problem https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-army-reverses-separation-policy-following-legislation-cosponsored-by. Did they go back to the old policy again?
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Appealing will buy you some time. If you are in good with your case manager or peblo ask them to to buy you some time. Good luck and fight as hard as you can.
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Honestly I believe every individual has a different situation. I can only state my experience. I was medically retired through MEB at 12 years due to an injury in country. I was striving for a retirement however didn't realize it would come sooner than later. My MEB found my injury as permenant and retired me. With that being said, DOD retirement vs VA disability since they won't pay both it pays you the highest of the 2.
I had a conversation with a brother Veteran that I served with that retired at 20 and he informed me of the pros and cons of his retirement. I compared his to mine and found that in some ways I came out ahead.
Again this is only my experience not everyone's.
If you have enough active duty time in and depending on your medical situation you could possibly retire through your MEB.
In summary, due to injury and MEB I had to retire early. Emotionally, I hated it because I wasn't ready for my career to be over yet. On the other hand there something to be said at retiring before 30 years of age.
I had a conversation with a brother Veteran that I served with that retired at 20 and he informed me of the pros and cons of his retirement. I compared his to mine and found that in some ways I came out ahead.
Again this is only my experience not everyone's.
If you have enough active duty time in and depending on your medical situation you could possibly retire through your MEB.
In summary, due to injury and MEB I had to retire early. Emotionally, I hated it because I wasn't ready for my career to be over yet. On the other hand there something to be said at retiring before 30 years of age.
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