Help?

K

KECBDJ

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello, I'm new. My fiance is a soldier in the U.S. Army, active duty. He's been in for 6 years, and has 3 over seas tours. (15 months each.)
He just got diagnosed with PTSD today, and it was a long time coming. They referred him to this site (at the hospital) and told him he could try to find information/help about being med boarded out of the Army for his PTSD.
I will try to be brief, this is how we got where we are.
He has obviously had PTSD for quite some time. He came home from Afghan in 2006 and from Iraq this past January. He's been messed up since Afghanistan. He has a lot of symptoms, the scarriest being he started really acting out.
Last week he got arrested. He was riding his motorcycle, going 130 when the cops caught him, and then ran from the cops until he finally had to give up. He went to jail, spent 3 days (2 nights there) and got out on bail. His attorney told the judge the truth, that my fiance had been trying to get counseling for months now and had been denied the time needed to go to his appointments. (He DID make the appointments and then had to instead go to classes required of NCO's.)
The judge let him go on the basis he get the help he needs and await his court date.
This ALL happened because he's literally been slowly losing his mind. He'd usually never do something like this. He has a completely clean record and is a totally great guy. The reason he acted this way was that he had no regards for his own life. The help he'll be getting is what he needs.
When he got back on post he was restricted to post and told he's not allowed to drive. That all makes sense, but rather than him getting in more trouble when he goes to court, we really want the court (and the army) to see that he needs HELP. I am so worried about him. Sorry if I'm going into too much detail.
So, the reason he was directed here (he asked me to find out what I could on this site) is to see what he should do as far as finding out about MEB and PEB?
I understand what PEB is because that's what I was when I got out of the service myself, but mine wasn't because I wanted it, it's because it had to be done.
What should he do to go about finding out more? Any suggestions/help is much appreciated.
Again, sorry if this is too long or if it's in the wrong forum!
Thanks.
 
Please, if anybody could offer any advice at all, it'd be greatly appreciated. :)
 
KECBDJ,

Welcome! Thanks for the detailed background, it helps!

KECBDJ said:
What should he do to go about finding out more? Any suggestions/help is much appreciated.
Click to expand...
If he has a P3 profile, he should be referred to an MEB (possibly an MMRB, but most likely, he would go to an MEB). It sounds like his PTSD fails retention standards. His PCM or care provider should initiate. However, if they are not, it may be because they are not sure if he may get better with treatment or because of the short time since the diagnosis. The starting point would be talking to his care provider. However, there are potential pitfalls. If he comes off as seeking benefits or trying to get out of his enlistment, this can hurt his case. However, given the severity of his condition, I would think that a discussion about his profile and by extension his ability to continue to serve would make sense. Another course of action is if his command refers him for a fit for duty exam.

The main issue that I am concerned about from your post is that they try to separate him for misconduct. With his years of service, if they do try that, they should give him an administrative board. They should first determine whether or not his condition "was a direct or substantial contributing cause of the conduct, and action under the UCMJ is not initiated." I alert you to this because they are routinely ignoring this requirement.

One other point comes to mind, he may want to consider exploring transfer to a Warrior Transition Unit. There are plusses and minuses to this, but it does tend to help referral to an MEB and PEB when appropriate.

Hope all of this helps and that he gets both the treatment and benefits he is due. Best of luck and please post any follow up questions!
 
Oh, thank you for your reply! Could you tell me more about the Warrior Transition Unit? I'm sure he knows about it but I'd like to have some details to confront him with. He just got diagnosed Monday. He hasn't yet seen the psychiatrist, that's happening this coming Tuesday. He'll also have counseling every Monday. The misconduct/separation issue isn't really an issue as of YET, it was just something that was mentioned as a possibility that struck me as VERY wrong. He obviously has issues that MUST be addressed and thus far, it's the Army's fault they've gotten worse and not better with help he's been denied! I believe you are right on the ball with the reason for no action being the short time since his diagnosis.
He said that the counselor mentioned PEB and the fact that he'll probably be found unfit for duty after he sees the psych.
I am actually hoping for this, because as each day goes by, it gets worse for him. (He mentioned what you said up there earlier today. He said he mouthed off to his CO earlier, and that for some reason he just can't help it anymore. He said, "I know that won't help my case. On the other hand, if I suck it up and act normal all the time, they'll think I'm getting better when I'm really getting worse." I feel SO awful that he's in this position and has been, essentially, for 3 years.) Today they made him drive to an off post range. THAT pissed me off. He isn't allowed off post, he isn't allowed to drive, (which is actually BS, since he hasn't been read an article 15 yet they really shouldn't have flagged him yet,) he shouldn't be around live fire... but the Army needed him there so he went there. He was so miserable and so mad this evening... ugh. I hope it gets better soon.
Your response was very helpful!
 
Hang in there. This is, to be sure, a tough time for you both.

Read threads in this forum for more on WTUs:
Army Warrior Transition Units - Physical Evaluation Board Forum

They are specialized units designed for the care of those with complex medical issues that require case management to assist in treatment and disposition (return to duty or referral to MEB/PEB).
 
Jason,
Thank you again. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help! I'll show this to my fiance tomorrow, along with the link about WTU's. I'll update when there's something to tell!
 
KECBDJ,

Did I get those letters right;). First of all, I just want to say you are awesome for looking out for your fiance! He needs your support and he needs someone to be there, closely, watching out for him. It sure sounds like he shouldn't have been on that range the other day and it shouldn't happen again. You explained the outrageous speeding, and no offense-but he didn't have regard to anyone elses life either....so, that just goes to show you that he really should be watched and cared for so that HE and NO one else becomes statistic. Sounds like you guys are going to be getting the help he needs and that is great. The other thing I wanted to mention is that I just ran into an NCO of a WTU at Ft Carson. This guy and I had a long talk....I didn't know exactly what they were either, but he explained that the ONLY job these guys have once they are in the WTU is to get better...and then its decided if they will get placed back to duty or be processed out. He also told me that every Army post now has a WTU. He said that his started out last year as a company and its now a battalion! Now, I'm an AF girl and so I don't know exactly what that means, but I know they had to grow to accommodate the wounded (physical & mental). I commend you for getting involved and really helping him and educating yourself in this process. I'm sure its hard for him to concentrate and think straight. Stay strong and everyone here will help support you and guide you and him best they can. Good luck & take care.
 
Chinook,
Yes, you got the letters right! ;) Thanks for your reply. I discussed the WTU with my fiance this morning. He sounded discouraged. He said he'd already considered that but he thinks it's really hard to get into it. He said his friend with a very bad physical injury has been trying and hasn't made it, yet. I told him he should talk to his psych about it next week, because that's when he'll be getting his profile, and I really think it'd help and make all the difference. His ETS is next July, anyway, so it'd just be a safer place and an easier place for him to concentrate on getting better anyway. That's only my opinion though, and my opinion doesn't matter much because I'm not the Army lol.
Yes, you're right, a battalion level WTU sounds like a huge step and it's definitely a move up and in the right direction. I'll have to personally look into whether or not there is on on my fiance's post or not. Thanks for your advice and I will update you all when there's more to say!
 
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