Good Evening! I am CW2 with 18 years of service under my belt. The majority of my career was in Airborne Infantry Regiments as a Forward Observer. Long story short, I have had multiple deployments where I have been blown up with numerous concussions. I was also on jump status for 16 plus years, where I have had numerous concussions, broken bones, torn acl, etc, etc, etc. I rarely went to sick call or see medical providers during that time. Now that I have went off jump status and in a different unit, I cannot stay out of the hospital. BLUF: My body is a wreck, and i am having issues from all of the concussions. I also take multiple medications for my medical issues, and others for my PTSD. At this point, a P3 and MEB is in the near future. I've been avoiding it, by telling my doctors to please hold off. I am not sure how much longer I can convince them not initiate the MEB. Can I still get retirement with less than 20, but more than 15? I cannot get a straight answer from ides on post or retirement services? I would hate to do this much time in the Army, and not get any benefits for my service. I need some advice from the SMEs in this forum. Thanks, Dan!
MEB at 18 Years
- Thread starter DantheMan81
- Start date
Welcome to the PEB Forum!
Introspect, to qualify for a DoD military length of service (LOS) regular retirement, you would have to complete 20 years Active Federal Service (AFS) time or more in the US. Military Armed Forces. Otherwise, having less than 20 years AFS in the US Military Armed Forces would not qualify for a DoD military regular retirement albeit meeting the qualifications for a referral and acceptance into the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process could potentially result in the DoD military medical disability retirement.
In short, a referral and acceptance into the DoD IDES process could potentially result in a DoD military medical disability retirement if a DoD disability rating of 30% or more is awarded by the DoD IDES PEB on at least one PEB-referred "unfit for duty" medical condition. Otherwise, a military disability separation with severance pay outcome could result (e.g., service members with less than 20 years AFS and military disabilities rated less than 30 percent).
That all said, it would seem to be in your best interest to try to reach at least 20 years AFS prior to any referral into the DoD IDES process at this particular point in time. If that isn't feasible, then try to continue to delay a referral into the DoD IDES process until after having at least 19 years AFS. Upon acceptance into the DoD IDES process at that point, invoke all of your IDES appeal opportunity rights at every possible stage. The DoD officially published timeline for completion of the IDES process is 295 calendar days for Active Duty military personnel, but it could take a longer time or even less amount of time for completion as based upon each military department's IDES case load processing times. In my particular situation with well over 20 years AFS, it took me 618 calendars days in order to officially complete the DoD IDES process. Take care!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
Update- I was put on a P3 profile as of today, and submitted to a medboard consult. What should I expect next? Does anyone have any recommendations as I move forward with this process?
How did it turn out?