USAF IPEB Results Are In!

[ZX6R Archer]

I am long time reader of the forums, but only recently signed up. During the year or so I've been looking at being MEB'ed or during the MEB process, anytime I Google'ed something looking for help it always brought me to this site. So I hope my recent experience of going through the MEB process can help others. First off, a little back history on myself.

Originally from Minnesota
Enlisted in the Air Force SEP 02.
Current AFSC, 2A071B; Avionics Test Station and Component Maintenance Craftsman
E-5
Stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB 5 years this week.

MEB Timeline
06 JUN 07 I went in for a check up on my back and leg since I was having stiffness and pain. PCM's diagnosis was a fractured facet joint.
~Mid JUN 07 I was referred downtown to an orthopedic specialist. His diagnosis: Grade 3 Acquired Isthmic Spondylolisthesis
JUN 07 - SEP 07 I went in for various treatments, medications and such... nothing helped.
SEP 07 I opted for surgery; L4-L5-S1 Post Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
24 OCT 07 Surgery Date.
24 OCT 07 - 01 JAN 08 I was on convalescent leave with various follow ups on and off base.
~Mid FEB 08 I was doing a four month follow up with my PCM when we decided to look at doing a MEB and I agreed.
~Late FEB 08, I went in for my ROM measurements.
01 MAR 08 my package was started by my PCM.
22 MAR 08 I signed off on my MEB package.
27 MAR 08 It left Davis-Monthan AFB for Randolph AFB. It took a few days due to Memorial Day.
10 JUL 08 I received notification my results were back on base.

My results came back with 40% disability for my spondylolisthesis and being placed on TDRL. I signed the concurrence form on Thursday and should have orders this week. I am "guesstimating" that I will have a retirement date of 24-27 AUG 08. I have to sell my leave back (45 days worth) so I spoke with my commander and I am going to get the 20 days PTDY to clean up and sign out of my apartment as well as house hunt back home. So I should no longer be at work around the first week of August.

I don't know exactly what I will be doing at home. I am looking at a myriad of things. I may go back to school full time; I already have my associates, but I want to finish the bachelor's I started in Electrical Engineering. I also might pursue the job offers I received back home as an Avionics Bench Technician while doing distance learning or night classes finishing up my E.E. degree. I may even go on vacation (I haven't had a vacation in over two years!) or just relax for a month at home to catch my breath from the whirlwind ops tempo.

Anyways, I was hoping for only a 10-20% disability to get severance pay, but this is cool too. My regular DOS was 16 SEP 08, so this is great news! I get 50% retirement pay until they figure out if they are going to separate me with severance pay or permanently retire me. Plus I get to keep all the retiree benefits.

Sorry, for the long post... But finally, I have to say something to the administrators of this website. Thank you so much for starting these forums. There is such a plethora of information on here, and all of it is helpful. It has helped me out a great deal, as well as those who have already gone through the MEB process in addition to those who will go through it in the future. THANK YOU!

Anthony Archer, SSgt, USAF (ret.)
(Sorry, I couldn't help myself, I had to put it in there!)

[Jason]

Anthony,

First, congratulations on your retirement. I hope everything goes well with your transition and hope you enjoy a well deserved vacation (I would say that is what you should do before pursuing your other options).

Second, thank you for posting that. Your info can help others see what the process is like. It is also nice to hear when the site has been helpful to others.

I hope these aren't your first and last posts...please let us know how things are going and remember, if you have questions while on TDRL or wonder if things have changed in the system, we will still be here.

[ZX6R Archer]

Originally Posted by Jason

I hope these aren't your first and last posts...please let us know how things are going and remember, if you have questions while on TDRL or wonder if things have changed in the system, we will still be here.

Oh no, this won't be my first or last post. I went into the whole situation in the dark and had to call friends that went through the process and reference this site to get a clue on the procedures. I think it is a shame that the PEBLOs' knowledge and personal skills vary so base to base, service to service. If I can help out someone going through the same nightmare I did, I'd feel as if I accomplished something. So yeah, I'll be around for a while.

Plus, I don't like golf, I hate Cadillacs and I am only 25. What else am I going to do on retirement? ;o)