Any Ideas??

[dockorean]

Hello and thanks for all the warm welcomes to the forum... I graduated NHCS last April, and initially had orders to the May class of FMTB Camp Pendleton. I was here for not even two full weeks when i discovered i had an inguinal hernia, which i had operated on in June, therefore setting me back in class. My recovery has been unusually long, I have been forced to miss the May, July, and now very possibly the October class. Now here's the rub, i'm NCS... which leads to my question, if i am medically unable to attend FMTB, do i just get a discharge? Is there any chance i can pull orders to a hospital or ship? Also, I have heard rumors about having to stand in front of a Light Duty board that will decide wether or not i should stay in the navy. This concerns me because i have been on LD since my diagnosis in April. How long can someone be light duty before this becomes an issue?

The fact of the matter is, i bleed blue and green. there is NOTHING that i have experienced that has diminished my love for country and corps. i joined the navy with the purpose of going 20+, and i will do anything to stay in. any ideas?

ps. i tried toughing it out and ignoring the pain... heh heh that was a bad idea....

[jared.chiaia]

Whats up man?

Im a HM3 out of Twentynine Palms new to this site, i have been in 3 yrs. All i can tell you is that if your NCS your contract is 2 yr billet typically if you have went to FMSS. Tell the truth you might get med discharge out and thats the end of it. If you wanted to do 20+ why did you enlist through NCS? Where ever your at now go to the command career counselors office and see what they say.

HM3 Chiaia

[DeeDee]

Jared - when a lot of people came in under the NCS contract it was in there that at the end of their 15 mos of active duty that they could go active duty and stay that way - THEN beginning of FY 2007 the GOV changed the NCS contract and took away that option - a lot of people weren't given any other option when they enlisted it was NCS or no contract so they took it since the option of being able to stay active duty was written in the contract - they also took smaller bonus' for going NCS than the people who signed up to go straight to the reserve units - since they were still being given the option of staying active duty after the 15mos - then the GOV took away the very option that got them to take that contract in the first place.

Anyway that is just my personal take on the NCS contract issue
DeeDee

[Da-Chief]

Here is the long and short of it..

Your 15 months does not start I.e the ticker does not start counting until your done with school.

Yes they can Discharge you if they feel you won't be eligible to do the FMSS.
Just the way it its.. sorry

HMC

[dockorean]

well... poop... lets pray i dont get a med discharge then.... anyways, HM3, long story short, i'm the classic example of "that guy who got played for a fool by his recruiter"... that being, he told me NCS was an 8 year contract, 5 active, three reserve, i would go to FMTB and have the OPTION to deploy or not, 5 grand bonus, GI Bill AND tuition assistance...

i was dumb enough to sign the line without doing research, because there was no way that my recruiter, the coolest guy in the navy, would screw it up for me... instead it turned out to be mostly straight up blatant lies....

[Da-Chief]

If it is any consolation(Which it won't be) this happened all the damn time with the F'in Program.

Chin up Doc,get better then you can go to FMSS or what ever the name of the week is..
:-)
HMC

[dockorean]

If it is any consolation(Which it won't be) this happened all the damn time with the F'in Program.

Chin up Doc,get better then you can go to FMSS or what ever the name of the week is..
:-)
HMC

roger that chief!

[tact.medic]

bottom line- Get yourself healthy, worry about number 1. When and if your up to it, then go to to FMSS- its not the easest thing to go through, the humps, Obstical courses, PT, and MCMAP might reinjure you :weye:

[lima33doc]

bottom line- Get yourself healthy, worry about number 1. When and if your up to it, then go to to FMSS- its not the easest thing to go through, the humps, Obstical courses, PT, and MCMAP might reinjure you :weye: Wait, they teach MCMAP at FMSS now???? What the Crap????

[dockorean]

just a quick update, i got placed on LIMDU for six months, so it looks like my NCS time has finally begun (after 15 months of active duty...) so come JUN08, if i'm healthy, i'll have nine months left on my contract to go to field med... then get my extension approved and go out and get some....

hopefully it will all work out thanks for the advice everyone!

[Doc_Stevens]

Forgive my ignorance.....I've been out a while. What's NCS?

[Navycameron]

National Called Services. I think.

[8404]

Lol at Cameron, close but not quite:

MILPERSMAN 1133-080 = National Call to Service (NCS) Program

Background. NCS is a short-term enlistment program designed to promote and facilitate military enlistment in support of national service.

Policy. Reference (a) is the Department of Defense (DOD) implementation directive for NCS. Navy will integrate NCS into current enlisted recruiting programs for the purposes of supporting near-term active duty manning requirements and future Drilling Reserve (DRILRES) manning shortfalls.

SOURCE: http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/milpers/1133-080.htm

[8404]

Dockorean:

That is a fantastic update on your situation. You need to login more often and let us know how you are doing. Where are you at currently?

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

If you are a Corpman on LIMDU, then you better be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the entire process.

Keep a copy of EVERYTHING. You should have your own personal folder at home that you take to every appointment and constantly update.

Start reading the regulations and instructions now. The clock is ticking and when the alarm goes off, there is no time to start trying to learn. You are approaching the 9mo mark out of the 12mo LIMDU max time limit.

You are in a process that will impact you and your benefits for the rest of your life. If you do not know what you are doing, then you will likely make a worse deal leaving the Navy than when you joined the Navy. Your recovery from a hernia should go well, but what happens over the next few months will determine if you stay Navy, get discharged, have post-Navy medical benefits, potential disability rating, potential retirement benefits, etc.

All Corpsmen should be somewhat familiar with the process, but as a Corpsman going through the process you need to be a SME.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

MILPERSMAN 1306-1200
2. Definitions
Limited Duty (LIMDU). The assignment of a member in a duty status for a specified time, following a medical board action, with certain medical limitations/restrictions concerning the duties the member may perform. LIMDU is divided into two separate categories as follows:

(1) Temporary Limited Duty (TLD). A member is assigned in a TLD status when a medical officer expects the member to be able to return to duty (RTD) in a reasonable period of time. TLD is authorized locally, in increments of 6 months with a 12‑month maximum, by the convening authority (CA) responsible for the military treatment facility (MTF) initiating TLD. Navy Personnel Command (NAVPERSCOM), Disability Retirement/ Limited Duty Branch (PERS-4821) will perform a departmental review of all cases that require additional TLD in excess of 12 months. The maximum total TLD authorized is 12 months unless otherwise approved by NAVPERSCOM (PERS-4821).

(2) Permanent Limited Duty (PLD) (L5). ... Only members who have been found “unfit for continued Naval Service” by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) may request PLD per SECNAVINST 1850.4E.


6. Member Responsibilities. Members assigned to TLD will do the following:

a. At the commencement of a LIMDU period, the member will be required to sign a NAVPERS 1070/613 acknowledging the responsibility to report to all scheduled appointments, and that failure to report to scheduled appointments may constitute a violation of the UCMJ, article 86 (failure to go to appointed place of duty) and article 92 (failure to obey a lawful order). Additionally, member will acknowledge that missing scheduled appointments may result in disciplinary action.

b. Ensure a medical TLD appointment is attended no later than 30 days prior to the expiration of the LIMDU period. Report to the medical board section of the MTF Patient Administration Office at least 30 minutes prior to the appointment with all appropriate medical records.

c. Advise Patient Administration Office immediately upon being recommended for placement on extension of, or removal from LIMDU.

d. Ensure leave (other than emergency) is coordinated with LIMDU coordinator and does not conflict or coincide with medical appointments.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

http://www.donhq.navy.mil/corb/peb/pebmainpage1.htm
http://nhcne.med.navy.mil/services/peb.wmv
http://nhcne.med.navy.mil/services/peb.aspx

The Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) is a fact-finding board that evaluates all cases of physical disability on behalf of the Marine/Sailor and the Service in accordance with the SecNavInst 1850.4E (Disability Evaluation Manual). The PEB investigates the nature, cause, degree of severity, and probable permanency of the disability concerning the service member referred to the board. The board evaluates the physical condition of the service member against the physical requirements of his/her particular office, grade, rank or rating. The PEB makes findings and recommendations required by law to establish the eligibility of a service member to be retained on active duty due to fitness, or separated or retired from the service because of a physical disability.

[8404]

Forgive me my potentially early congratulatory, sounds like Dockorean has some immediate homework to follow-up on.

Folks, you just met our resident Naval regulations expert. Excellent post HMC.

[dockorean]

ahaha i'm learning to be a Subject Matter Expert on this just by trying to explain it to my family... honestly, this seems to be taking me away from where i wanted my career to go, but i still have faith that everything will work out. I had a great career counselor at the Division Surgeon's Office, he helped me to put everything into perspective...

i am currently on a 6 month temp LIMDU status, stationed as staff at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.


p.s.... i hate being NCS... grrr

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

Injured in Apr. Reported in May. Surg in June. Recovering ever since...

You do realize that the Navy can send you packing real soon if they are unsatisfied with your progress right?

[dockorean]

i know, chief... and to be honest it scares the hell out of me... that would be one of the worst days of my life is when they tell me i'm not physically qualified to be in the navy anymore

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

That is exactly why you need to be a Subject Matter Expert on the whole matter.

Plan A is to get healthy and be cleared for full duty. What is Plan B and Option #2?

Can you get another 6mo extension? How do you prep your package in your favor? How do you appeal if the PEB goes against you? Do you appear in person? Can you hire an attorney? Can you continue in the Navy in a restricted duty status that takes your injury into account? What are the different ways the Navy can send you on your way? How do you ensure the Navy pays your medical benefits? What happens if the Navy gives you the boot and you relapse next year? Is there any VA coverage for you injury? Any disability rating? Etc., etc., etc....

You did not do any homework before you visited a recruiter and you signed a deal you do not like and are unable to change.

Are you going to do your homework now or are you going to be handed a deal you do not like and are unable to change?

Knowledge is power and you do not want to be powerless in this process.

[Taylor]

Is it possable for him to re-enlist if he gets bounced out for being medically unfit?

I know the MEPS has a 5yr archive that allows you can apply again after that period of time. I dont know how long that information stays with your med record once your already in, though.

[dockorean]

thanks for the heads up chief... good advice...

taylor... if i get the boot for a medical reason, re-enlistment into ANY service will be slim to nil without a stack of waivers...