Escaped 2 years ago

[notdeadyet]

I thought the VA did PTSD claims. I wonder if the Board of Corrections would be of any help? The United States Army | Army Review Boards Agency

If someone was being medically retired from active duty, that would fall under Big Army. But I don't see how a retirement correction of year's served (which amounts to looking up the numbers on a computer, as a1qwerty mentioned) is being impeded by the PTSD claims. That backlog falls with the medical boards, not the folks cutting checks.

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[a1qwerty55]

Here is the response from my initial inquiry after a year of waiting. I sent a new inquiry at 16 months, no reply.

Your application is still being processed for consideration by the Board. We are aware that this case has taken a long time to complete. Recent changes in the processing requirements for discharge cases involving PTSD and the influx of new cases has resulted in a delay in the processing of ALL cases. We appreciate your patience and understand your frustration during this lengthy process. Rest assured the case is being thoroughly reviewed and will be completed as soon as possible. You will be notified directly by the Board upon completion.

v/r


Customer Service Representative/vac
Army Review Boards Agency
251 18th Street South, Suite 385
Arlington VA 22202

 

[a1qwerty55]

It is very disheartening. I really can't tell you what a bummer it is to have served and to go out the mailbox and realize day after day your getting nothing from these f-*****. And they wonder why people go on shooting sprees. An no that isn't a threat or a cry for help, just a acknowledgment that these government turdburgers don't give a crap about any of us.

 

[a1qwerty55]

Thank you for your service. Can I ask, what specialty?

Pulmonary/Critical Care

 

[a1qwerty55]

Well I would guess it would work like it does for the CHOICE program with the VA. Let's not hire more specialists and PCP's, instead we will farm the patients out to the community. Well the problem is in most places there aren't enough specialists to absorb the extra patients so the wait times are just as long as the VA (or longer), the referring facility has no real control over the quality or what is being done with the CHOICE providers, and most facilities will not accept the program because the pay is so low (just like Tri-Care).

So what you end up having is a skeleton crew that is overworked at the major med center and then the patients end up getting substandard care and waiting longer for it. Woohoo! I'm all for throwing money at a problem and saying "look I did something to help!", but please throw money at the right people!

This is very true. Our local VA is sending people to nonboarded specialists just to make the work go away. I mean really incompetent people in the community.

 

[TheEarDoc]

This is very true. Our local VA is sending people to nonboarded specialists just to make the work go away. I mean really incompetent people in the community.

Do not even get me on my soapbox about the farce that is called the CHOICE program.......

 

[a1qwerty55]

Just passed 3 years retired, no USUHS pay/credit. Started a Congressional, they essentially gave my (prior active duty/combat vet) representative the middle finger. I would say I'm astounded but of course I'm not.

 

[Cooperd0g]

Just passed 3 years retired, no USUHS pay/credit. Started a Congressional, they essentially gave my (prior active duty/combat vet) representative the middle finger. I would say I'm astounded but of course I'm not.

I wonder how common this is. Like what percentage of USUHS grads who stay until retirement have the same issue?

 

[DrMetal]

I was given a document when I graduated from USUHS, stating that I was AD there for 4 years, and said time should be credited towards retirement. I've pasted the text of the document below (minus my personal info). If you'd like more info, pm me: [copied from a pdf, some of the formatting might be off:]

This is to certify that L T MC, USN, served on active duty as a
medical student officer (0-1, U.S. Navy) at the Uniformed Services University of
the Health Sciences (USU) from June 19, (initial USU active duty date) to
May (USU graduation date). This period of active duty service is not
creditable in determining eligibility for retirement or longevity for pay. [See §
2114(c) & § 2126, title 10, U.S. Code.] It is, however, fully creditable active duty
service in computing retired pay. [See§ 2114(b)(1) of title 10 and the attached
OASD (FMP) memorandum, dated 1 Ju 2002.]
SUBJECf: Credit for Time Served at the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Scien<XS (USUHS) in Computing Military Retired and Retainer Pay
This memorandum provides uniform guidance for computing military retired and retainer
pay when a member was a medical student at the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences (USUHS). Section 2114(b) of title 10, United States Code [10 U.S.C. 2114(b)]
provides that USUHS medical students "shall serve on active duty in pay grade 0-1." Thus. such
service must be credited under any provision of law based on active service unless such service is
explicitly excluded. In this regard, 10 U.S.C. 2114(b) provides that the exclusions of 10 U.S.C.
2126 applicable to students in the Health Professions Scholarship Program are also applicable to
USUHS medical students. These exclusions relate to (1) determination of the applicable rate of
basic pay under 37 USC 205 (longevity), and (2) determination of eligibility for retirement.
There is no exclusion, in this or any other section of Jaw, with respect to the computation of
retired pay.
Consequently, years of service at USUHS as a medical student are creditable in
computing retired pay. For example, an 0-6 with 20 years and 6 months service under 37 U.S.C.
205 (which excludes time at USUHS) is receiving basic pay for an 0-6 over 20, currently
$6,948.30. If this individual served 4 years and 6 months time at USUHS, then upon retirement.
the member is to receive retired pay computed at 625% of that pay, oc $4,342. 11le 62.SCJ. is
computed as 2.S% time 25 (20.5 + 4.5) years of service as this computation will include the
USUHStime.

 

[Cooperd0g]

I have the same letter. That’s why I’m wondering how often it gets blown off by DFAS.

 

[DrMetal]

it's also here: https://www.usuhs.edu/sites/default/files/media/usucredit.pdf

I can't imagine this is wide problem.

 

[armyvascsurg]

it's also here: https://www.usuhs.edu/sites/default/files/media/usucredit.pdf

I can't imagine this is wide problem.

It's a routine problem with USU grads. The key, I think, is to identify it when you get your draft retirement orders 6 months or so prior to retirement. They list your credited years for retirement. I noticed mine was 4 years short, emailed my retirement counselor with "the memo" attached and it was fixed in 24h. Others have had a bit more difficulty but got it fixed before their retirement date. Once you retire, a local fix is no longer possible. Count on a couple of years for Big Army to make it right.

 

[DrMetal]

It's a routine problem with USU grads. The key, I think, is to identify it when you get your draft retirement orders 6 months or so prior to retirement. They list your credited years for retirement. I noticed mine was 4 years short, emailed my retirement counselor with "the memo" attached and it was fixed in 24h.

Well sure, I would expect them to screw up the first calculation (because most counselors are not used to this). But you did the right thing in addressing the problem early, and before you actually retired. I would expect most physicians to do the same thing. Why would you let this go down to the wire? And I certainly wouldn't sign the dotted line if it wasn't correct.

 

[denali]

BLUF: Do whatever you must to make sure your retirement orders reflect the appropriate amount of service credit. Just like with any other personnel action, only you have the vested interest to make sure your orders are correct.

I retired in 2017 and outprocessed from Ft Hood. I thought I adequately planned ahead: talked to the folks at the USU personnel and JAG shops, read up on Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) cases, talked to other colleagues and heard their similar horror stories. I sent the certification letter from USU and the related DoD memo to my transition counselor on three separate occasions - initial contact 6-months out, first set of retirement orders, and one week prior to my final out appointment - didn't do a damn thing. Even after the counselor got specific email guidance from HRC regarding my case, I still stayed until 1900 the day of my final out to make sure the calculation of my time was correct and was reflected correctly in my orders. They had to issue me a new set of orders to do it, and I stood and watched my counselor fax everything to DFAS; luckily, when the retirement pay memo came from DFAS, it was all correct.

The problem I saw was that there is no clear front-line guidance to the transition counselors, and there is no separate line item in the retirement order software to account for USU time. My counselor had some proprietary MS Word template that she used to print a separate statement onto the length of service calculation worksheet.

Ultimately, what you want to make sure of is that ALL your time is represented correctly (for Army orders) on the line that says "Section 1405: XX years, YY months, ZZ days." Technically, USU time is not Section 1405 time, but that's the only place they can account for it with the current system. I also had them put a line in my DD-214 remarks section stating "Block 12C does not include active duty service in USUHS 200xxxxx - 200xxxxx".

@a1qwerty55, I hope the Congressional is successful. All the research I did prior to retiring tells me that your only likely recourse at this point is a BCMR. Your case is very likely a slam dunk, but the wait time is ridiculous.

PS: They can always hurt you more. I'm still trying to get a corrected W2 for 2017 because MILPO/DFAS under-reported the tax withheld from my active duty pay.

 

[GMO2003]

Well it's been two years since retirement and I figured I'd drop in for old time sake. Some of the older members of this forum will remember me. First, being a physician outside the military is exponentially better. Secondly I work way harder but I'm way more satisfied and far more supported. I have to acknowledge that I am where I am because of my military time which allowed me to actually get some skills that others in my community don't have. In my situation I would've done it again but if I were a medical student today there's no way I would do it. My main reason for recommending not joining is this the abhorrent quality of leadership in the current Army environment. I know I've said this before but it isn't cream that floats in the army it's ****. There is no loyalty to subordinates, no leading by example and ethics get lip service only. I did 23 years of active service, deployed twice, was a battalion surgeon made some significant changes to the entire MHS and was recognized as an expert in my field. I never got into trouble and always tried to set the example, by carrying the same or more clinical load as everyone in my department as Chief till the end. For this I received no end of tour or retirement award, neither did two other Colonels retiring with me, one of them was the head of medical education/GME and the other consultant to the Surgeon General. I am a bit bitter as my experience lead me to conclude that the physician is really nothing more than a employee in the minds of the current leaders. For those of you still in or joining I complement you on your service and asked that you fight against the inertia that tries to deprive service members and their families from quality care. PS for any of you USUHS people, I'm still not getting any of my retirement money for the time at USUHS. I've been waiting almost a year for them to process my pay inquiry. They can always hurt you a bit more. I'd also like to point out that while I have a medical center in my area I exclusively receive my healthcare in the civilian sector.

Awesome...another happy ending

 

[a1qwerty55]

Congressional went nowhere. The office did not even respond to the congressional inquiry. Over 2 years waiting, over 30Kin lost retirement income. I know I’m at fault for not scrutinizing my DD214 but Im guessing most inmates don’t read their parole paperwork either.

 

[Mace1370]

Congressional went nowhere. The office did not even respond to the congressional inquiry. Over 2 years waiting, over 30Kin lost retirement income. I know I’m at fault for not scrutinizing my DD214 but Im guessing most inmates don’t read their parole paperwork either.

That makes me so upset, man. No one deserves to be treated that way.