Need MAJOR HELP

OK I need some MAJOR HELP on this one and WHO to go on this one what do you do when you know of a SOLDIER who is trying so hard to work the system and do everything in his power to FAKE a ILLNESS and FAKE things to get out of the MILITARY and it hurts others in the UNIT and when you tell the COMMANDER it goes in one ear and out the other and the BASE COMMANDER and IG do not know how to do ANYTHING not even know how to do article 15's and to top it off just because someone is in the the mental hospital when they make threatened to shoot someone in the unit is no joke to me that is sick and horrible and especially when you keep on bragging about it seriously grow up and then when you ask questions about how to fake a illness like PTSD that is not something to ask about especially when a SOLDIER has gotten hit by a IED and has lost a LIMB you do not do that stuff and people our not seeing into this stuff for whatever reason I do not know Im angry in so many ways and so upset I have reported it many times and do not know what else to do it is not helping there giving him a MEB for depression and he was liking Im going to get 100 percent for my depression he was offer to get not on a MEB and instead to take 11,000 dollars and get out he declined and decided to do the MEB he said he will get paid more money because they said it can take up to 12 to 18 months for the MEB board UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what a piece of junk seriously I wish they would get him out in a day mean while the whole unit started telling him he was dumb and he needs to just get out and take the 11,000 since he did 5 years NG and 3 years Active duty mind you he had no medical problems meaning he is at sick call everyday and the hospital on active duty the last 3 years he also failed WLC and does everything in his power to go the mental hospital because he was told if he goes at least 10 times they will give 100 percent when he gets out Im to the point that I want the commander to be aware of this again and make him know that this SOLDIER is doing everything to get out of the field get of doing anything and there not seeing thru this I know its not my job to be telling him everything thing but I feel he is blind and it makes me angry and sick to my stomach in many ways just like he was not suppose to be driving on post and got 2 tickets on base commander does not know but Im wanting to do so bad and want him to be aware of it in someway to me this is not right its sick and SOLDIERS WHO OUR INJURY our not getting what they should be getting and we get this person who is using the system by going on line and trying to work the system on how to fake a condition seriously who does that that is not right at all that is sick and someone who needs to suffer and pay the price so what do I do any ideas
 
It sounds like you are addressing your concerns to your Commander and other people. If you feel that is right then pursue it. As for his medical conditions, depression affects people in many different ways. To you or others it may seem like he is "milking" the system, but let the medical staff do there job. He might very well be sick and need help.


“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7
 
Really tough one to answer because there is no clear cut answer. It is a leadership issue to my mind. It strikes me as an issue for the command (and if the commander is aware and does not do anything about it, unfortunately, that is the essence of commanders having discretion and authority). If it is negatively impacting the command, that is a bigger problem. But, I also wonder what is going on with the NCO's above this Soldier? Does the PSG/1SG/or CSM not know about this?

Bottom line, though, if the command and other command support channels (including base commander and the IG) are aware of the situation and have decided not to do anything, then maybe there is a reason? Even if there is no reason, it sounds like a discretionary matter (commanders, absent witholding authority, are the ones charged with determining whether to charge someone and they, along, with the NCO's, are responsible for discipline). Could be that there is a reason for nothing happening. Or it could be that there are poor leaders there and the command climate is rotten (though, if that is the case, I would suspect that there would be much greater issues ongoing than the one you described).
 
Was that all one sentence? I think you may need a med board, inability to use proper grammar is a symptom of cognitive disorder....... as well as mania in manic depression especially if its effecting you that badly lol. The command probably know more about it than you if their not doing anything after all that evidence against the soldier. Also I'm pretty sure base commanders and IG know how to deal out punishment as they they did have to earn their rank and have been in alot longer than you have. It belittles them for you to disrespect your entire CoC in that way. However you are right and the rest of the military, doctors, and people are wrong? See where I'm going thats also a sign of "Insanity" the symptom being that the world is out to get you and that everyone else is wrong and your right. It could also be from an acute episode of mania, who knows maybe you should go see this guys doctor too.
 
Not hating btw, but this isn't the board to come rant about other soldiers and their "faking" illnesses as many soldiers especially when it comes to mental health issues already have enough obstacles in their way and they don't need flack from their battles because their "sick" now.
 
Yeah, the original post is not really anything to do with the purpose of this site. As a lawyer who has worked representing members at PEBs for going on 7 years, I think I would have a pretty good view of how prevalent a problem it is with people "faking." I hear way more complaints and worries about the possibility of people faking and milking the system than the extremely rare cases I have come across where a disability seemed questionable. In all that time, I have only seen one or two cases where it seemed like there might be some embellishment. I am sure there are actually cases out there, but I think it is way rarer than a lot of folks think. I have seen WAY MORE cases of legitimate disabilities not properly rated by the military. Seems like the concern with faking is way overblown as compared to the prevalence of the (non)problem. And, as pointed out above, there are folks in place (called commanders and doctors) who are equipped to deal with the issue.

As for "actual faking," if it exists and can be proven, well that is an issue for the leaders to deal with.
 
Jason, Thank you for standing up for us. As a military member whose medical condition was undiaginosed for 4 years, I have been accused of faking. I have even been marked down on EPR's as a result of my medical conditions interferring with my amount of time at work. The only person who can truley know that something is wrong. All to often the military salps bandaids on gushing wounds so that they can get you back into the field. Only upon my insistance that they do something (Becuase I had lost 15 pounds in under two weeks) did a refferal doctor discover the issue. I am now being MEB'd for it, due to it's severity. I think most of us here on this cite could tell similar stories of how we have been accused of something or other due to our illnesses.
 
I'm in the middle as well. I mean I'm sure people fake it but it's a slippery slope when accusing people of faking it. Case in point one of my PCM was a Capt. He swore I was faking my back and leg issues. Until finally i couldn't "gut it out" anymore. After multiple MRI, and numerous visits to specialists I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. However, it didn't explain my leg issues. I asked to go see a rheumatologist. Instead he sent me for a psych eval thinking I was faking it. Good thing my therapist is awesome and one re- look at my blood tests and she knew there was a problem. So I got a new PCM and referred to a rheumy where I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis with bilateral sacroilitis.

Point being its a slippery slope. This capt swore I was faking it. Little did he know it was an auto immune disease coupled with numerous bulging discs along my spine. The one good thing was web he sent me for my paych eval it forced me to open up about other issues I was having and I was also diagnosed with PTSD, mild cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety.

Ya never know what someone is trully going through.
 
IMO... I think it is harder to get an official PTSD diagnosis while in the military. You have to prove you have experienced a traumatic event, Criteria A. People may have stress and/or anxiety being deployed or just dealing with military life but do not fit the criteria for PTSD per DSM-IV. MST and domestic abuse are just now being recognized with the increase of suicide. Even if someone doesn't fit the criteria for PTSD, their mental health should not be ignored because those people need help and support too...
 
I swear I wouldn't be where I'm at (on limited duty due to an emergency back surgery) if my condition had been taken more seriously when I first complained about it. I think a lot of people are wrapped up in the whole "faking it" idea, and a lot of real conditions get overlooked or underestimated :( I'm sure there are plenty of people out there "faking it", and unfortunately, those people are the ones making things worse for the people who have real diseases or injuries :(
 
I have also been accused of "faking" because everyone in the Army thinks they're a friggen doctor and that they know better than the doctors that actually examined me. Not to mention the juvenile attitude that is prevalent in the military that only "wussies" get hurt and can't do their job and anyone that has a profile is automatically a dirtbag. Such treatment in the civilian world gets people fired and businesses fined for discrimination against the disabled. Sure, there is always the exception where the person is actually faking it but that is the exception, NOT the rule. And those individuals need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

That being said...it's time that the overall attitude in the military changes. People need to grow up and realize that we are not all supermen and women and we do get hurt in a variety of ways and 99.9% of the time it is not even our fault.
 
We had a couple privates in my unit get 30 and 40% for fake injuries. It is really sad.
We even gave a written statement from the MAJ at the clinic, stating there is nothing medically wrong with the soldiers, to their peblos.

They still got out with medical retirement
 
I see people and hear what they say but you can never know exactly what might be their issues. I try very hard not to play the "I'm worse than you game". I try to except what they say as fact so that I won't get upset because I don't know what their docs are saying. I have had a lot of people telling me how to scam the system and am very disappointed in them but this is life. I have been accused of faking as well but I assure you I am not. Just last week I told the doc that I felt one of my issues was mild only to be told very nervously that she felt it was "kind of mild". What was she saying? Is it moderate because how can it be less than mild? It is what it is and I hope everyone that is faking have a nice payback.
 
Being a former 1SG and seeing solders come and go. I was one that thought people were faking too, but you will soon learn to appreciate what some of them go through. So many years, i didnt use the SICK CALL system or did i complete my follow up becuase of the perception that people will think, now i regret i didnt take better care of my self, at least i have it all documented. As Soldiers we have to remember we choose our destiny and if in fact you feel the Soldier is not coming clean about his medical it will catch up with the Soldier, that is why there are enough medical professionals out there to diagnose conditions. Unless you are a medical expert, its best to not get involved, that is just my recommendation because medical is one area you do not want to mess with. I know that did not answer your question but hopefully help you understand. Care with compassion is the best way with the Soldier feeling the ailments.
 
I used to get treated like I was faking a back injury by the navy docs all the time. I would run or walk too far and get real bad lower backpain. They would look at me like I was trying to get on light duty, then not put me on light duty and send me on my way. Then my shoulder blew out, and after 6 months of being on light duty for that, they finally decided to run an X-ray on it which they refused to do for so long because they thought I was faking and didn't want to waste money. Well they were wrong, I needed surgery on my shoulder, which didn't get better. This time they believed me, and put me on the peb. During my va appointments they ran my first X-ray on my back. Degenerative disk disease, started at age 23. My disc is almost gone at 26. It could of been avoided if they didn't think I was faking and allowed me the proper rest when it first started now I'll have back issues the rest of my life unless they learn how to fix it properly. Don't be so quick to judge. This kid may have real issues, but brags about things to make him feel better that his life isn't over when he gets out. It's a psychological thing
 
We had a couple privates in my unit get 30 and 40% for fake injuries. It is really sad.
We even gave a written statement from the MAJ at the clinic, stating there is nothing medically wrong with the soldiers, to their peblos.

They still got out with medical retirement

As thorough as they are in examining people and reviewing medical records, I seriously doubt that they were faking their injuries. That's not to say it is impossible but I find it hard to believe.
 
Being a former 1SG and seeing solders come and go. I was one that thought people were faking too, but you will soon learn to appreciate what some of them go through. So many years, i didnt use the SICK CALL system or did i complete my follow up becuase of the perception that people will think, now i regret i didnt take better care of my self, at least i have it all documented. As Soldiers we have to remember we choose our destiny and if in fact you feel the Soldier is not coming clean about his medical it will catch up with the Soldier, that is why there are enough medical professionals out there to diagnose conditions. Unless you are a medical expert, its best to not get involved, that is just my recommendation because medical is one area you do not want to mess with. I know that did not answer your question but hopefully help you understand. Care with compassion is the best way with the Soldier feeling the ailments.

That is the best and wisest advice I have seen yet. It's too bad that all commanders and 1SG's don't think that way.
 
Thanks SGT BOB, I try, i also did a few post of questions myselft and hope someone may know some of the answers. I saw my rough draft of my NARSUM.
 
In 2007, one of the soldiers I knew was diagnosed with mild PTSD . He was treated by everyone like if he was faking it to get retirement benefits. So to prevent the embarrassment and the stupid talk in his unit, He walked back to the mental health clinic and pretended that he was normal so they took the PTSD off his records. few months later he killed himself. I spoke with his wife and she confirmed that had PTSD for real but he refused to seek medical care because he was worry that his unit will treat like a looser again.
 
Being a former 1SG and seeing solders come and go. I was one that thought people were faking too, but you will soon learn to appreciate what some of them go through. So many years, i didnt use the SICK CALL system or did i complete my follow up becuase of the perception that people will think, now i regret i didnt take better care of my self, at least i have it all documented. As Soldiers we have to remember we choose our destiny and if in fact you feel the Soldier is not coming clean about his medical it will catch up with the Soldier, that is why there are enough medical professionals out there to diagnose conditions. Unless you are a medical expert, its best to not get involved, that is just my recommendation because medical is one area you do not want to mess with. I know that did not answer your question but hopefully help you understand. Care with compassion is the best way with the Soldier feeling the ailments.

I agree with SGT Bob: "That is the best and wisest advice I have seen yet. It's too bad that all commanders and 1SG's don't think that way." :)
 
Top