Fort Bliss - I don’t know where to begin

M

machetemastermelonballs

New Member
Registered Member
This is the first time in a long time where I feel like I have no clue where to begin. I am a 1SG with 19 years and almost 3 months TIS. I have had multiple providers wanting to recommend an MEB for the last 4 months. I thought I was good to go, but then I found out that I would not collect my pension (retirement pay) if I did not make it to 20 years. My providers and leadership have been understanding to a point in helping me buy a few months, but that is starting to look like they are about to pull that back.

I have spoken to multiple providers, TAP counselors, the retirement service office, the MEB section of transitions, a PEBLO, and several other NCOs that knew a guy once. I have been told things ranging from: “you can expect to be out of the Army in 5-6 months once the recommendation for MEB is made” to “PEBLOs will notice how close you are to 20 years and will sit on the packet to make sure you get there” to “you have legal protections after 18.5 years that give you the option of waiting until you hit 20 years once you receive your ratings”. I have scoured every DOD, Army, and USC document that I can find that has anything to do with medical retirement and IDES. None of them speak to most of these claims. It all seems to focus on the 180-day IDES timeline.

I know COAD is an option but does not seem like a guarantee. I know you can request an extension to the NLT date, but that will only add a couple of weeks to take all of my leave. I have even heard about appealing everything, but what if for some rare unicorn chance I am offered 100% DOD/100% VA from the jump? What would I appeal if that happened? I have no idea how impossible that is, but I have A LOT of things wrong with me due to injuries in combat. Doctors that first look at my file let me know that I have a lot of history.

I am stressed out beyond belief. I just want to find something more solid than a “trust me” statement. It would be detrimental to get retired at 19y and 10m and only receive VA disability. I can try to ask my leadership for 2-3 more months of kicking the can down the road, but NTC is around the corner, and they do not seem like they will just count me out of going. I am looking for any and all help.
 
machetemastermelonballs said:
This is the first time in a long time where I feel like I have no clue where to begin. I am a 1SG with 19 years and almost 3 months TIS. I have had multiple providers wanting to recommend an MEB for the last 4 months. I thought I was good to go, but then I found out that I would not collect my pension (retirement pay) if I did not make it to 20 years. My providers and leadership have been understanding to a point in helping me buy a few months, but that is starting to look like they are about to pull that back.

I have spoken to multiple providers, TAP counselors, the retirement service office, the MEB section of transitions, a PEBLO, and several other NCOs that knew a guy once. I have been told things ranging from: “you can expect to be out of the Army in 5-6 months once the recommendation for MEB is made” to “PEBLOs will notice how close you are to 20 years and will sit on the packet to make sure you get there” to “you have legal protections after 18.5 years that give you the option of waiting until you hit 20 years once you receive your ratings”. I have scoured every DOD, Army, and USC document that I can find that has anything to do with medical retirement and IDES. None of them speak to most of these claims. It all seems to focus on the 180-day IDES timeline.

I know COAD is an option but does not seem like a guarantee. I know you can request an extension to the NLT date, but that will only add a couple of weeks to take all of my leave. I have even heard about appealing everything, but what if for some rare unicorn chance I am offered 100% DOD/100% VA from the jump? What would I appeal if that happened? I have no idea how impossible that is, but I have A LOT of things wrong with me due to injuries in combat. Doctors that first look at my file let me know that I have a lot of history.

I am stressed out beyond belief. I just want to find something more solid than a “trust me” statement. It would be detrimental to get retired at 19y and 10m and only receive VA disability. I can try to ask my leadership for 2-3 more months of kicking the can down the road, but NTC is around the corner, and they do not seem like they will just count me out of going. I am looking for any and all help.
Click to expand...
You can control the process and make it to 20 years with all the appeals allowed. Do they have to refer you? Even if you reach 20 years its very stressful and you lose control of your timeline to get out. Is it possible to apply for retirement still? Maybe an approved retirement date may allow your PCM to let it go. Just so that you don't have to waste the military's time I would ask your PCM to wait 3 more months so that you don't have to delay things with appeals just to ensure you hit 20 years. Of course either way make sure to save all of your leave from now until you retire/hit 20 years.
 
Sounds like you've done your research, unfortunately, no one can give you more than a "trust me;" the good news is that the "trust me" from guy like Provis is built on years of knowledge and experience in seeing similar cases. The truth is there is a small chance that you could get screwed; you could be medically separated or retired with less than 20 years and not be able to collect your VA in addition with concurrent military retired pay (CMRP).

I've heard everything you have though and I wouldn't be too worried if I were you. To echo some of what Provis said, with a MEB not even being sent up by your PCM yet, you absolutely can control the process and buy yourself another 9-10 months. I agree with Provis, the easiest way would probably be just to submit a retirement packet and talk with your leadership and PCM; likely the PCM wouldn't even refer you. However, if you were referred and it went to the IPEB, with approved retirement orders they would have to find you FIT with a Presumption of Fitness and allow you to retire regularly.

If you wanted to roll the dice a bit and go down the medboard route, with 9-10 months it's still very likely you can delay the process 9-10 months. You probably have some combat related conditions so there is a chance to get your DOD pension tax free if you are medically retired. Look at my timeline below to see how it can be extended with rebuttals and appeals. I'm not requesting a FPEB, but could have bought an extra few months that way. Btw, I believe even if you were 100%/100% you could still "demand" a FPEB and not submit an appeal until you meet in person months later only to drop it.
 
machetemastermelonballs said:
This is the first time in a long time where I feel like I have no clue where to begin. I am a 1SG with 19 years and almost 3 months TIS. I have had multiple providers wanting to recommend an MEB for the last 4 months. I thought I was good to go, but then I found out that I would not collect my pension (retirement pay) if I did not make it to 20 years. My providers and leadership have been understanding to a point in helping me buy a few months, but that is starting to look like they are about to pull that back.

I have spoken to multiple providers, TAP counselors, the retirement service office, the MEB section of transitions, a PEBLO, and several other NCOs that knew a guy once. I have been told things ranging from: “you can expect to be out of the Army in 5-6 months once the recommendation for MEB is made” to “PEBLOs will notice how close you are to 20 years and will sit on the packet to make sure you get there” to “you have legal protections after 18.5 years that give you the option of waiting until you hit 20 years once you receive your ratings”. I have scoured every DOD, Army, and USC document that I can find that has anything to do with medical retirement and IDES. None of them speak to most of these claims. It all seems to focus on the 180-day IDES timeline.

I know COAD is an option but does not seem like a guarantee. I know you can request an extension to the NLT date, but that will only add a couple of weeks to take all of my leave. I have even heard about appealing everything, but what if for some rare unicorn chance I am offered 100% DOD/100% VA from the jump? What would I appeal if that happened? I have no idea how impossible that is, but I have A LOT of things wrong with me due to injuries in combat. Doctors that first look at my file let me know that I have a lot of history.

I am stressed out beyond belief. I just want to find something more solid than a “trust me” statement. It would be detrimental to get retired at 19y and 10m and only receive VA disability. I can try to ask my leadership for 2-3 more months of kicking the can down the road, but NTC is around the corner, and they do not seem like they will just count me out of going. I am looking for any and all help.
Click to expand...
I am (almost) in the same situation except I'm Navy. I have had to use ZERO provisions to draw out the timeline and made it to 20 after being referred at 19 years 4 months.
 
I appreciate all the feedback. Luckily I was able to get in contact with the SMEBC at my installation. She explained that since I already have an approved retirement date of 30APR26, I would have to have an MEB initiated prior to 30APR25. Once you are within a year amid an approved retirement date, the Army will reject the MEB and find you FIT for duty so you are able to make it to your “desired” retirement. She assured me that I will absolutely make it to 20 years because she is the attorney I will be working with for all appeals. I guess the key is having it initiated before that one year mark. My PCM has the recommendation as of this afternoon and now the wait is over.
 
machetemastermelonballs said:
I appreciate all the feedback. Luckily I was able to get in contact with the SMEBC at my installation. She explained that since I already have an approved retirement date of 30APR26, I would have to have an MEB initiated prior to 30APR25. Once you are within a year amid an approved retirement date, the Army will reject the MEB and find you FIT for duty so you are able to make it to your “desired” retirement. She assured me that I will absolutely make it to 20 years because she is the attorney I will be working with for all appeals. I guess the key is having it initiated before that one year mark. My PCM has the recommendation as of this afternoon and now the wait is over.
Click to expand...
Interesting. You may still find the PEB applies a presumption of fitness even if you are a more than a year out based on you having approved retirement orders and less than a year to 20 years AFS IAW DoDI 1332.38. Still, worth a shot for you to do the medboard if your conditions are combat related.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top