Posted on Feb 5, 2015
Should medically retired get the same certificate as those that did 20+?
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Should people who are medically retired from the service receive the same retirement certificate as those that did the required 20 years or more?
I felt compelled to edit my original post due to the inability of people to decipher its intended message. Nowhere in the original post was I recommending nor advocating diminishing the quality of anyone’s service, in fact I stated that those that served honorably deserve due recognition.
Unfortunately people were so passionate about the subject that they failed to realize that I was actually defending those that served honorably against those that are shirking the system in order to obtain medical retirement.
In short I was merely advocating a different retirement certificate for those that completed the requisite 20 years versus those that didn’t. This is no way makes the service any less valuable it merely allows people to differentiate. However the onslaught of down votes has only re-enforced the fact that voicing your opinion on social media is the fastest way to create a riot despite the failure of the intended targets ability to translate its content.
I felt compelled to edit my original post due to the inability of people to decipher its intended message. Nowhere in the original post was I recommending nor advocating diminishing the quality of anyone’s service, in fact I stated that those that served honorably deserve due recognition.
Unfortunately people were so passionate about the subject that they failed to realize that I was actually defending those that served honorably against those that are shirking the system in order to obtain medical retirement.
In short I was merely advocating a different retirement certificate for those that completed the requisite 20 years versus those that didn’t. This is no way makes the service any less valuable it merely allows people to differentiate. However the onslaught of down votes has only re-enforced the fact that voicing your opinion on social media is the fastest way to create a riot despite the failure of the intended targets ability to translate its content.
Posted in these groups: 
Retirement
Retirement
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 102
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So you are pissed that your retirement certificate reads the same as the ones who lost more than you did and weren't able to complete 20 years? How effing selfish can you be? Do you think your better than those of us who served honorably but because of injury were not able to continue? I will make sure that when I tell people about my time in the service, I will be sure to add an asterisk.
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I usually try to refrain from bashing service members over posts. But this has even got me spun up. I could see a junior service member asking this but not a senior NCO.
I'm in the same boat with SFC Mark Merino in hoping SFC Grudzinski just had a bad day or maybe someone rubbed him wrong.
I'm in the same boat with SFC Mark Merino in hoping SFC Grudzinski just had a bad day or maybe someone rubbed him wrong.
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SFC (Join to see)
What would be the difference between a junior soldier or a senior advocating two separate certificates? That is all I was sayng but for some reason people read something completely different.
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Your suggestion that there needs to be a separate certificate for those medically retired raised hackles because it implicitly assumes a superiority of the 20 year "true" retirement over a possibly "suspicious" medical retirement. No matter what your intended message, there is a hostile subtext in how your suggestion reads. Retired is retired is retired, my friend. No need for a "separate but equal" system of certificates.
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Yeah we should. I made my E-6 in 4 years and was on the fast track until sustaining several injuries in combat (Infantry). I was a career soldier who was specifically emailed by the board with barely over 7 years in stating I had been recommended for promotion but due to my Profile I was not going to see my E-7. As I fought to get off of it they kept finding more doing MRI's and Brain Scans. Why should I be treated As if I'm less of a Soldier because my injuries only allowed me to serve 10 years and not 20? How about all the 20 year guys who never deployed or don't have a CIB or CAB? Maybe they should get a different one too??
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SFC (Join to see)
This is about a certificate not whether you served or not. The CAB and CIB are given not earned, trust me I know many who were in no danger just present. If someone did 20 and never deployed during Americas longest war they are suspect already.
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SFC (Join to see)
As with 99% of the people who have replied and down voted this thread you have also taken it out of context.
No where did I say that your injuries made you less of a soldier, this is about a certificate for retirement being made different to differentiate between medically retired and normal retirement.
No where did I say that your injuries made you less of a soldier, this is about a certificate for retirement being made different to differentiate between medically retired and normal retirement.
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CPT (Join to see)
Oh but you did SFC (Join to see). The Certificate of Retirement isn't the point, your thinking that there needs to be a differentiation between the two tells people that you think less of their retirement because of their injuries than your 20 some odd years of service. Why else would you want a different certificate? If I present my certificate for some reason (I don't have one yet) should I be treated differently than you (if you have a certificate also) if I'm medically retired? If this is not what you meant then you worded the original question very, very poorly. And the edit to clarify is no better.
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SSG Kyle Shelton
No he's super special. I deployed under a Command Sergeant Major for my Battalion with over 20 years in and it was HIS FIRST DEPLOYMENT. So a worthless 5 year E-5 with no arms is less than someone who "did their 20". If CIBs and CABs were just handed out in your unit where is your's? Retirement Certificates should be the same because REGARDLESS of the reason both injured soldiers and those that did their time are both RETIRED. My friends who are paralyzed from a sniper or lucky enough to be alive after getting a sniper round through his artery in his right shoulder and can't use that arm anymore. Or the guys with limbs missing, shattered spines from a Stateside jump...the Army, yes the same ARMY that retired you chooses to RETIRE these Warriors. Worry about your DD-215 or something.
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This thread seems to be in line with the one about those with permanent profiles being paid less or something.
My wife was medically retired for permanent injuries sustained down range and I will continue to serve until retirement comes calling.
The fact that a senior NCO is even thinking this way is quite disturbing and clearly does not get the big picture. If this is the way you really feel I hate to think about how you treat Soldiers going through the process of transitioning into civilian life let alone those you may be responsible for. All I can say is I hope you never have to be one of the injured that may need to be medically retired and that you open your eyes to recognize the sacrifices of those who had.
My wife was medically retired for permanent injuries sustained down range and I will continue to serve until retirement comes calling.
The fact that a senior NCO is even thinking this way is quite disturbing and clearly does not get the big picture. If this is the way you really feel I hate to think about how you treat Soldiers going through the process of transitioning into civilian life let alone those you may be responsible for. All I can say is I hope you never have to be one of the injured that may need to be medically retired and that you open your eyes to recognize the sacrifices of those who had.
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SSG (Join to see)
I'm right there with ya on that one SSG Robert Burns. Although Dr. Pepper & Fireball are making it difficult from keeping my trap shut, but I will weather the storm
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SSG Michael O'Malley
Don't worry SSG Burns I tried but I couldn't hold back. I didn't get a choice when I was retired. Like I said if a piece of paper is that important to some then I feel sorry for them. We know why we served and I'm sure with you as me it wasn't for medals and to get a piece of paper. Love the baby pic by the way. My son will turn 2 in May.
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I don't see why not. The certificate says that you served honorably and were retired. Someone who is retired medically meets both of those under most circumstances I could think about.
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Every case is different. I believe that they should get a Retirement Certificate. SFC (Join to see)
The problem with the whole Military Medical system is that it is hard to tell sometimes who is riding the system and those who are truly in dire need. Those that are not clog the system for Soldiers who require attention.
There are also Doctors who make decisions based on personal beliefs instead of actual medical facts and findings. I had one try to prevent my deployment and as me why I wanted to go.
As SFC Mark Merino stated he was trying his best to get at least 20 years.
Unfortunately there are many more who could be just trying to get a paycheck and it is too hard to discern the difference.
We must respect the fact that we are all together in this and have earned what we get regardless of the circumstances.
The problem with the whole Military Medical system is that it is hard to tell sometimes who is riding the system and those who are truly in dire need. Those that are not clog the system for Soldiers who require attention.
There are also Doctors who make decisions based on personal beliefs instead of actual medical facts and findings. I had one try to prevent my deployment and as me why I wanted to go.
As SFC Mark Merino stated he was trying his best to get at least 20 years.
Unfortunately there are many more who could be just trying to get a paycheck and it is too hard to discern the difference.
We must respect the fact that we are all together in this and have earned what we get regardless of the circumstances.
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