Military Processing Paper Problems

[Angel]

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I was awarded the Army HPSP scholarship back in May and at this time I was commissioned and completed all necessary paper work. I went on the Army Med website and complete my paper work also. I am currently having problems regarding the original physical. According to my recruiter, he sent in a certified orginial, however the lady which was suppose to recieve this paper work has said that she didnt get a certified orginal and she recieved a copy and that my paper work can not be further processed until the orginal was recieved. However, she did say she would see if the office in St. Louis would accept a copy, but it was unlikely they would.

As a person in the Army is this what is to be expected for the next few years of being in the military? What is the chain of command? Who do I need to speak with. Does anyone know the number to the office which I need to contact. I figured I needed to speak with the person who is in charge of the recruiters.
This has become a very fustrating process. I have been in school for 3 weeks. I am really busy and do not have time to make long distance call each day to find out what is the problem with my paper work. I have also spent lots of money on books, life insurance, etc.. and thought by now I would be recieving reimbursements for the above mention items along with recieving my monthly stipend.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[militarymd]

I was awarded the Army HPSP scholarship back in May and at this time I was commissioned and completed all necessary paper work. I went on the Army Med website and complete my paper work also. I am currently having problems regarding the original physical. According to my recruiter, he sent in a certified orginial, however the lady which was suppose to recieve this paper work has said that she didnt get a certified orginal and she recieved a copy and that my paper work can not be further processed until the orginal was recieved. However, she did say she would see if the office in St. Louis would accept a copy, but it was unlikely they would.

As a person in the Army is this what is to be expected for the next few years of being in the military? What is the chain of command? Who do I need to speak with. Does anyone know the number to the office which I need to contact. I figured I needed to speak with the person who is in charge of the recruiters.
This has become a very fustrating process. I have been in school for 3 weeks. I am really busy and do not have time to make long distance call each day to find out what is the problem with my paper work. I have also spent lots of money on books, life insurance, etc.. and thought by now I would be recieving reimbursements for the above mention items along with recieving my monthly stipend.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

This is the military. Learn to live with it, or get out.

 

[Neuronix]

Learn to live with it, or get out.

I'm being told that they've recently been really cracking down on people trying to get out of their contracts. It'll probably be the former...

 

[Homunculus]

I was awarded the Army HPSP scholarship back in May and at this time I was commissioned and completed all necessary paper work. I went on the Army Med website and complete my paper work also. I am currently having problems regarding the original physical. According to my recruiter, he sent in a certified orginial, however the lady which was suppose to recieve this paper work has said that she didnt get a certified orginal and she recieved a copy and that my paper work can not be further processed until the orginal was recieved. However, she did say she would see if the office in St. Louis would accept a copy, but it was unlikely they would.

As a person in the Army is this what is to be expected for the next few years of being in the military? What is the chain of command? Who do I need to speak with. Does anyone know the number to the office which I need to contact. I figured I needed to speak with the person who is in charge of the recruiters.
This has become a very fustrating process. I have been in school for 3 weeks. I am really busy and do not have time to make long distance call each day to find out what is the problem with my paper work. I have also spent lots of money on books, life insurance, etc.. and thought by now I would be recieving reimbursements for the above mention items along with recieving my monthly stipend.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

find out the ladies phone number in st louis and talk to her. most people i've run into in the military (there are exceptions of course) are actually pretty helpful or at least know who you should contact to get things done. sometimes it takes a few phone calls, though

and while milmd may be a little dramatic, the gist of his statement is true. you have to look out for yourself and be willing to iron out a few glitches on your own on occasion.

a good lesson here is this-- always keep the original 🙂 or at least a copy. if it comes down to it you could always just repeat the physical with one of your school docs and send it in instead.

good luck

--your friendly neighborhood catch more flies with honey caveman

 

[DrBloodmoney]

Call this lady in St. Louis at the Army Healthcare recruiter (assuming she is still there) she is very nice and knowledgeable (unlike the @#$!!ers at the Virginia office)

Sharon Mackenzie
(314) 739-5701

1. Assume that every piece of paperwork you ever submit will be lost.
2. Keep a copy of everything (I mean everything)
3. Hand deliver if possible, and get the name (to get some accountability) of the person you gave it to.
4. Don't let the 'cogs' of the system get you down- sometimes it is very frustrating because no one is interested in going above their specific government job requirement, to get things done for you.

 

[militarymd]

Ok, enough of the sugar coated answers telling you to do things that I'm sure you already found out.

I like to get to the point real quick.

"This is the military"....this is their way...there is no accountability even if you hand deliver and get their names...etc..blah, blah, blah......get used to it....or get out


Sometimes things to do work out....you just don't know when.

 

[MoosePilot]

Ok, enough of the sugar coated answers telling you to do things that I'm sure you already found out.

I like to get to the point real quick.

"This is the military"....this is their way...there is no accountability even if you hand deliver and get their names...etc..blah, blah, blah......get used to it....or get out


Sometimes things to do work out....you just don't know when.

I'd agree with this. Get used to it.

I do think the helpful answers are pertinent to this particular situation, but it will happen again in your career.

 

[Homunculus]

This is the military. Learn to live with it, or get out.

......get used to it....or get out


Sometimes things to do work out....you just don't know when.

we heard you the first time 😛 😀 🙂 j/k 😎


--your friendly neighborhood deja vu caveman

 

[Heeed!]

we heard you the first time 😛 😀 🙂 j/k 😎


--your friendly neighborhood deja vu caveman

LOL.

To OP, you're learning some very important lessons early in your career. They'll serve you well. #1) It will take at least 69 phone calls to people all over the planet to get to the right person that will be able to answer your question and give you the help you need. #2) The squeeky wheel gets the grease = persistence...lots of persistence. Thrashing with the military red tape can be frustrating. The sooner you accept the fact that red tape exists for EVERYTHING, the better off you'll be. Welcome to the club. 👍

 

[AF_PedsBoy]

On the other hand, one of the doctors I'm on TDY with was just telling me that he spent 15 years in the private sector and signed up with the military seven years ago and never regretted it. Sure there's a lot of bs paperwork (which I'm currently screaming about too) but on the other hand, the entire office staff has at least some modicum of competence and every single one of them at least ACTS respectful to your face. As a puke 4th year medical student I'm still squirming at the constant "Sir's", and whenever I ask them a question they immediately tell me the answer or go look for someone who knows. Contrast this to every single non-military rotation I've done when at least a few of the nurses seem to be constantly trying to dodge work and/or blatantly verbally abuse you, and everyone else just says, "Oh that's the way she is, don't let it get to you." My gosh, even the PARENTS call me sir. Now maybe this is just the patient/staff population at Wright-Patterson, but I gotta tell you, in many ways the military is starting to look better and better to me... Maybe it's just peds? Any other professions or bases have any different experiences?

 

[Angel]

Thank you guys for the helpful information. I recieved an e-mail on Friday letting me know that my paper work was being process.