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grizz13 Not misinformed, I'm legacy as is the entire Coast Guard. None of us going through the PDES process see the VA until after we're out. It's a rush even to do BDD, since we normally only get 60 days until out date, not processing date; actual retirement/separation date, from the time orders hit the board and the VA requires a firm date to begin BDD.
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Ed Mercanti But why doesn't it apply? Was it a DOD initiative that brought about the IDES or a Congressional Law/mandate? If an initiative, ok. If IDES is the "law of the land", then the USCG is wrong, which wouldn't surprise me at all. The Coast Guard is at all times a branch of the Armed Forces, even while under DHS.
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maparker Neither one, I'm a Chief with 14 years active service.
If IDES was something that DOD thought up and implemented in a bubble on their own, then the COMDT of the CG and SEC of DHS may have just decided not to do it for whatever reason, or they don't even know what IDES is, I wouldn't be surprised. If it was a law or mandate that created the IDES, then the CG is in the wrong.
The Legacy system is horrible. My four biggest issues with it are 1) We don't know whether we are fit or unfit until we actually get our ratings from the IPEB. In the very recent past, this would take 2-3 YEARS on average. They did some fixes or something, because they are now "advertising" 6 months or less for the IPEB to adjudicate, but my MEB took 6 months. 2)We have no interaction with the VBA whatsoever, so our members still have to fight that fight when they're out and on their own. 3)The IPEB actually decides the ratings. People in the employ of the CG, decide how much the CG is going to have to pay out. Now, in a perfect world, they'd follow the VARSD and there wouldn't be any issues, but it's still CG people deciding what percentage the CG is liable. 4)PEBLO? I read most everyone on the forum bitching about there PEBLO, but I wish I had someone that I could drive a hour or two and see face to face. They say we have a PEBLO, but there is ONE for the whole CG and he is in DC. I've had 1 interaction with him and that was my MEB check-in at the IPEB. When I signed my rights and acknowledgement, I wasn't presented the opportunity to sit down with counsel or a PEBLO. We don't have the chance to confer with counsel until we have our ratings. I tried.
Now, I'm an E7/Chief and was in a Command Cadre Position when this all started and I honestly think this is going to work out ok in my situation, but, if I've had to work this hard to protect my interests and find information, WTF is that non-rate or 2 year E4 going to do?
Tom