Should medically retired get the same certificate as those that did 20+?

SFC (Join to see) I did 18.5 years and was blown up on my 2nd tour. I spent months in the hospital and endured a dozen surgeries and 2 years in the WTB, BEGGING to remain on active duty. I still live in chronic pain and despite being 100% disabled and Purple Hearted I apologize for tarnishing your "Retired" piece of paper. If you send me your address, I will mail it directly to you so that you can piss all over it if that will make you feel better. Please forgive me. God bless you my brother.

SFC Steven Grudzinski, I find the fact that this is an issue with anyone very disheartening. I don't begrudge anything anyone who has Honorably served in the U.S. Military receives. I did not spend 20+ years in the Marine Corps. l was not medically discharged. I got out after 5 years. However, I served my tour in the Republic of Vietnam. So, now I am 100% Disabled because of Agent Orange. The gift that keeps on giving. I would much rather be able to still be working than dealing with these debilitating illness that will eventually take my life. So, if that piece of paper means that much to you, maybe you should re-evaluate what is truly important in life. For me the most important thing in my life is my "Dash". When you look at someone's tombstone you see the day an individual was born and the day the person died. What do you find in between? A "Dash". That "Dash" represents their life. That is what is most important to me. How I lived my life, was a good man, was I a good father, did I raise my children and grandchildren to love God. Did I try to live a sin free life. Did I love my fellow man. Did I die without hatred for any man in my heart. To me those are the things that I want to be remembered for. Not a piece of paper that will eventually turn yellow and crumble, because it's made by man!

I think that the vast majority of those who are medically retired would have preferred to stay serving. The question is presumably more about the observation that some people that are medically retired seem to be in pretty good shape, but that is a physician's call. Those that are medically retired may be downplaying the extent of their condition. I give these fellow service members the benefit of the doubt and am grateful for their service.

As a 1SG in 1-36 Infantry, I remember hauling ass - carrying one of my guys to the medics during a major mortar attack, his leg barely attached.....I also remember offering the same Soldier (a Specialist) a retirement ceremony once we had finished our deployment and returned home.....just a difference of opinion, which is another example of what makes our service and our country so great!

Your Damn Skippy we should. I did 12 years of total service not including 10 years of Law enforcement in between. I am a member of two branches of the Military with 4 combat tours 3 to Iraq 1 to Saudi. I have broken my body for my country it was not my decision to be medically Retired but it was necessary. If I could I would re-enlist today. But instead I am still serving my country as a Contractor and still working side by side with my brothers and sisters.

You serve your country for 20 years, you retire completely whole and unbroken, buy a house, spend time with your family, start a second career, earn more money and another retirement check.

They serve a few years, become injured, no longer able to perform their duties, become medically discharged, go home, live on a disability check, struggle to adapt to their new situation, may not be capable of work or at least not one they initially would want or trained for.

Yes I think they are entitled to the same retirement certificate as you. In fact, their certificate should be framed and a point of pride for them and their sacrifice. If anything, they should receive far more than they are given. They gave more than most, some gave just short of their all.

SFC (Join to see), wow that's your point of view, I disagree Medical is very important and there is a reason Army Regulation 635–40 Personnel Separations Physical Evaluation for Retention, Retirement, or Separation. In my opinion, we must as Senior NCO's educate the force according to the STANDARD and knowing it, before expressing ones point of view.

1–1. Purpose
This regulation establishes the Army Physical Disability Evaluation System (PDES) according to the provisions of Title 10, United States Code (USC), Chapter 61, (10 USC 61) and DODD 1332.18. It sets forth policies, responsibilities, and procedures that apply in determining whether a Soldier is unfit because of physical disability to reasonably perform the duties of his or her office, grade, rank, or rating. If a Soldier is found unfit because of physical disability, this regulation provides for disposition of the Soldier according to applicable laws and regulations. The objectives of this regulation are to—
a. Maintain an effective and fit military organization with maximum use of available manpower.
b. Provide benefits for eligible Soldiers whose military service is terminated because of a service-connected disability.
c. Provide prompt disability processing while ensuring that the rights and interests of the Government and the Soldier are protected.


http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r635_40.pdf

COL Mikel J. Burroughs TSgt Joe C. SFC William Farrell PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC Stephen F.] SGT Robert George SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas Maj Marty Hogan MSG Andrew White SGT (Join to see) SFC Dave Beran SGT Philip Roncari SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish SrA Christopher Wright SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM SP5 Michael Rathbun SGT Michael Thorin

Retirement is not about longevity.

It is about being moved from the Active roster to the Inactive roster.

Some people are moved because of Longevity, such as yourself SFC (Join to see), while others are moved because they are no longer Medically qualified to remain on the roster.

When someone is no longer Medically qualified, because of something Service Related, it is far more appropriate to Retire them than to Discharge them.

Discharging, implies a cutting of ties. It is a RELEASE from service. Retiring is something else entirely.

I'm reminded of the saying that is thrown around on Memorial Day: "All gave some, some gave all." I would place someone who retired after 20+ in the "gave some" category despite their great length of service. But, I would put someone medically retired, especially those with a high disability rating, just a couple steps down from the "gave all" category. To me, that warrants at the very least a piece of paper.

I don't have a dog in this here fight...but, and there is always a butt, isn't there? I say yes, their certificate should be different. It should be bigger, with a lot more gold leaf, and signed by the damn president himself. Serving 20 years and retiring sounds a lot easier than being permanently disabled...just my ever so humble opinion.

I don't know if your realize this, but those of us that we're "medically" retired don't receive an actual retirement check. Just the disability check for the rated percentage. You on the other hand would get both. Do I deserve to have the honor of receiving the same piece of paper as you? That is your own opinion, but I'll be damned if someone like you will make me and those like me feel less of a Soldier because you are butt hurt that I have the same retirement document as you. I feel like I earned mine, and though was found medically unfit, does not make you a better Soldier than me or anybody else that has served in any capacity.

SFC,
I am one of these "unexceptable" retired soldiers who just like you have had a Screaming Eagle on my shoulder. Because I chose to serve this great nation in a country that was not my own helping my brothers and sisters who were hurt or injured I too became injured. Now who is to say that if I had not gotten hurt I would not have done my "required" 20+ ? As far as the military is concerned there is no such thing as a medical retirement. You either are retired or your not.

BLUF: HELL YES they should!

I personally feel embarrassed to call you a peer. I hope you don't feel that those who are lower ranking or have less time in the military are somehow inferior to you. Increased rank bears increased responsibility, not just increased privileges.

I'm not sure what I hate more, "leaders" who put themselves on a pedestal, or those who stand on the backs of their subordinates to make themselves somehow bigger than what they really are. We should be doing everything in our power to ensure those junior to us have the tools to be successful and can eventually take our place, not belittling them to justify our own existence.

These people "running around" sporting whatever pride they have in their military service sacrificed for their country deserve our gratitude and respect. The circumstances of their release should have no bearing on the debt their country owes them. So, kindly tell us again, why someone who has honorably served their country and could no longer do so due to severe medical problems should not rewarded with a retirement?

So how about somebody that served 20+ AND got hurt/medically retired? Does that mean my piece of paper is now worth more than yours?

As someone who reenlisted onto active duty after 9-11, I had every intention of serving until I did my 20 years. Now I am facing a medical board and medical retirement due to injuries, chronic pain, and PTSD issues. I'm sorry you feel the way you do, but as others have pointed out: the military considers medical retirement the same as retirement. Perhaps some of us didn't pay into the retirement with 20 years of service, but if you're medically retired you definitely paid for that retirement in other ways.

It's just not a good question all together; what's the purpose for even asking? I'm disappointed that a SM would think it is OK to ask this, without thinking for one second how many of our wounded warriors he is about to offend. SFC G, I think you owe some people an apology my friend.

I'd like to kick you in the teeth, with my one good leg!!

Retired is retired. You pretty well stepped in this one...

I was lucky enough to get my 20 and a piece of paper stating so. I have a feeling most who have been medically retired didn't want to, they wanted to continue their service. They never asked to be retired, it was a medical decision. I think you're a little narrow minded in your thinking. If it was a faker/ slacker who's worked the system to get a medical retirement who's pissed in your soup, sorry, but don't stab those who've honorably served and were medically retired because of their service.