Just to answer your question as far as being. reservist, and how that might be same or different from an AD person going thru the IDES program. I just went thru the IDES as a Reserve person, Aviator CW4 with 39 plus years combined AD and Reserve time (but less than 20 yrs of AD time). You are handled the same, whether you are AD or Reserve. And after the MEB and PEB are complete, and the PDA makes it's decision, if you were found "unfit" and the VA had rated you at 30 or more during the MEB, you will be retired and given a Retired ID, just like if you had come off AD. No difference. You will be paid by DOD the higher of you percentage times your Base Pay or your LOS retirement, but always the higher one. Being a Reservist, if you are rated at over 50 percent, you will have to offset your VA pay from your DoD pay, until you turn 60 (or earlier if you had AD deployments between 2008 and now), at which time, you are eligible to collect Both your DoD and your "over 50" percent VA rating pay. You will be able to get Retired Tricare from the day you are formally retired by the PDA, via Retirement Ordes.
Personally, after flying over 39 years for the Army, AD and Reserve, multiple combat deployments since the early 80's, I absolutely hated the whole idea of being told, and found, "unfit for duty". I took it very personally. Over 9 yrs in combat ops, thousands of hours flying into bad places and supporting my troops, and suddenly I felt like a no good person, unable to do my job, and no longer needed. I hated having to take the uniform off. But regardless, there is a time any of us are no longer able to be healthy enough to do the job we are called to do, and have to step away.
You will be related fairly, and if you are deemed unfit (as much as we may not like the word or the idea), you will be retired, and will be eligible to receive your medical retirement, regardless as to whether you ar AD or a Reserve member. Your benefits will be the same. No need to have worries or stress as far as that. You will have Tricare medical for life. You will pick up the pieces and go on.
Be proud of what you have done for your country, and try to find inner peace in the fact that you are still alive, and just because we don't wear the uniform anymore, it does not mean we are not a valuable person. Be strong. But be happy that if you retire, it is the same retired pay whether you are AD or Reserve. One Army. One treatment.
Hopefully this was helpfu.
