Need help with choosing a WTU (Ft Hood or FT Polk)???

[Marlex]

I was just told I was approved to go into a WTU to start the MEB process. The only 2 options are FT Hood or at FT Polk. I am currntly station in Arkansas. I am an Active duty CPT with 24 years of Active Sevice and I really want to focus on transitioning out of the Army while getting my medical needs taking care of. My concerns and questions are:

1. Which WTU is a better fit with resource and less headaches?
2. How can I find out more about each WTU?
3. Are they really beneficial to the needs of the Soldier?
4. Are there anyone on this site that have had any experience with any of the 2 mentioned WTU's?
5. How do the WTU's utilized the Soldiers time? I'm not looking forward to going to a WTU if they are going to focus on putting the medical hold Soldiers on all the work details. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Warrior644]

I was just told I was approved to go into a WTU to start the MEB process. The only 2 options are FT Hood or at FT Polk. I am currntly station in Arkansas. I am an Active duty CPT with 24 years of Active Sevice and I really want to focus on transitioning out of the Army while getting my medical needs taking care of. My concerns and questions are:

1. Which WTU is a better fit with resource and less headaches?
2. How can I find out more about each WTU?
3. Are they really beneficial to the needs of the Soldier?
4. Are there anyone on this site that have had any experience with any of the 2 mentioned WTU's?
5. How do the WTU's utilized the Soldiers time? I'm not looking forward to going to a WTU if they are going to focus on putting the medical hold Soldiers on all the work details. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the PEB Forum!

Hopefully, other forum members with specific knowledge and/or pinpointed experiences shall provide feedback soon.

Best Wishes!

 

[gsfowler]

I was just told I was approved to go into a WTU to start the MEB process. The only 2 options are FT Hood or at FT Polk. I am currntly station in Arkansas. I am an Active duty CPT with 24 years of Active Sevice and I really want to focus on transitioning out of the Army while getting my medical needs taking care of. My concerns and questions are:

1. Which WTU is a better fit with resource and less headaches?
2. How can I find out more about each WTU?
3. Are they really beneficial to the needs of the Soldier?
4. Are there anyone on this site that have had any experience with any of the 2 mentioned WTU's?
5. How do the WTU's utilized the Soldiers time? I'm not looking forward to going to a WTU if they are going to focus on putting the medical hold Soldiers on all the work details. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

1. Which WTU is a better fit with resource and less headaches? Both hospitals are very nice, you may want to consider doing some research based upon your specific referred condition and see if one is better over the other. Look into the accomdations as well and it may be a good idea to see which has the most affordable transportation back to your family if you take leave.
2. How can I find out more about each WTU? Each hospital has a web page and there is a WTU reasource website. They may have a facebook page but I have never looked.
3. Are they really beneficial to the needs of the Soldier? The WTU is a pretty invaluable resource. You will have access to both medical and transitional care. You will have quite a bit of free time to work on your transition if you choose.
4. Are there anyone on this site that have had any experience with any of the 2 mentioned WTU's? I have been at Ft Benning, Ft Bliss and JBLM WTUs and they were all pretty similar in the way they function.
5. How do the WTU's utilized the Soldiers time? I'm not looking forward to going to a WTU if they are going to focus on putting the medical hold Soldiers on all the work details. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Your medical appointments are your main priority. the WTU is there for you to rehabilitate and possibly return to duty. Ityou are not able to return to duty it also is a place to put a transition plan in motion and follow through with it. You may be required to attend daily formations and/or they may have a different system of daily accountability for you. You may be assigned non-duty works tasks to do (typically outside of the WTU), however your appointment will be your priority. they do have daily modified physical fitness training that you might have to participate in and of couse there will be plenty of breifings and classes for you to attend.

 

[Marlex]

Thanks a million for your responses. They will be very helpful for me during this process. I just recieved my orders today sending me to FT Hood WTU. I report on 30 May 13. I'm a little nervous about it. I need to come up with a plan being that I am a single father. I need some feedback on how to incorporate my 3 kids into the community to stay active while I'm going thru the medical/transitional process. What will the housing arrangements be? Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[gsfowler]

A typical day for me at the WTU was formation at 0650, physical fitness training and then I was released and had a 1620 formation. (I was not assigned a tasking however there were other soldiers that did have some)

Our main priority for the day was any medical apointments as well as any adminstrative type of appointments (breifings, classes and/or training).

We met with our Nurse Case Manager once a week (by appointment) and our PCM at least once per month.

We were assigned duty such as CQ/SDNCO however I am not sure how that will come into play since you are an officer.

While I was in the barracks there was quite a few inspections and what not, however they do not take place too often on the officer side of the house. It is not likely you will be assigned barracks since you have a family and you will most likely have the option of living off post or what not.

I cannot see the issues of a family care plan to be any more difficult than you had when you were at your regular unit. Most business at the WTU takes place in between 0900 and 1500 Monday thru Friday and the WTU gets off the same training holidays as the hospital.

Being in the WTU gets pretty boring, however I would find ways to stay away from the unit all day and occupy myself. Alcohol is 100% strictly off limits so be prepared to be dry.