Mental Illness- AWOL - Ft Sill

[Oddyball]

What is the name of your state? CA

Oh wow, finally a forum that is helpful. I've been in the Army for 2 years as of this month. Everything went fine for me at first, but over the last 5-6 months I've become increaisngly depressed. I was supposed to ship to Germany from Ft. Irwin last month (Oct) but I attempted suicide on my weekend off and was locked up in a mental hospital. Upon being discharged from the hospital I went home (a few hours away) and didn't show the next day for work. I've been seeing a therapist and have been taking prozac to fight the depression and urges of suicide. I've been home trying to find help for myself because while I was in my unit no one would listen.. literally... they would cancle my mental health appointments for field problems and talk about me behind my back.

I spoke with my CO, 1ST SGT, Platoon SGT, Squad Leader, Chaplin, and mental health and my unit and I even went to the hospital on base a few months back telling them I was feeling suicidal; but no one would listen. They kept telling me to suck it up, suck it up. Drive on... etc, etc. Until one day last month I found my self walking into a freeway on-ramp while staring into oncoming headlights. My friends pulled me out of the way and took me to the hospital near by.

I dont want to go back to my unit... they won't help me. All they're going to do, like they've done time and time again is ridicule me, belittle me and mock me. I've asked them for help, and if I end up going back to that place I'm afraid I'm going to end up hurting myself - even to explain why I left. I've been gone 28 days so I'm thinking of waiting another 2-3 weeks until I know for sure that my DFR packet has been processed (I've seen some DFR packets of people in my platoon sit around in our office for weeks.) I dont want to go to Ft. Sill just to get shipped back to Ft. Irwin.

I'm going to bring my discharge papers from the hospital, a note from my therapist who was assigned to me after I was released ... I think she is going to say the Army isnt suited for me. And you might be thinking I'm depressed because of the Army... well no thats not it. I suffer from flashbacks from childhood trauma and black-out spells along with anxiety attacks. I dont mind the Army... I just can't handle the people, the enviroment, the ridicule, the shifty stares and lack of support both emotionally and professionally that my chain of command do not offer.

So even though I've been in for 2 years and I did recently re-enlist... I hope that by going to Ft. Sill, showing them my documents and asking for some type of help... that this place will listen to me. I know that if I have to face my chain of command again, face to face... I feel so anxious right now... I feel like I will snap and just lose it. I need to get out of the military. I hope Ft. Sill can help me. God I hope they can help me......

My question though is: since I've been in for 2 years, and even if I wait 45 days for my DFR packet to be complete, can they still send me back to my unit? ,Most of the posts on this forum are of fresh pvts out of basic going awol. Well basic ending a long time ago for me so... I just do NOT want to see my platoon or company again. Those people... I loathe them.. I would rather fly to Ft sill than drive 2 hours to Ft. Irwin and have to deal with their BS and games that that stinking unit loves to play with people.

[dopplehertz1369]

if you get dfr then you wont go back to your unit you are dfr'd so the unit can replace you. im not sure about bringing documents to fort sill pcf becouse most of the people who were there thier fate was allready set before they went to 1st sgt. there were only five people who the first sgt wanted to keep in. there are far better ways of getting discharged from army than at pcf. if you have a good case then i would just go back and get out the right way. I have gone through pcf and now wish i have gone about it diffrently. if you have mentall isues then you can get medically dischargered and have soom benifits. if you are faking then yea maybee you should go to pcf, but the army will not let you comit suicide while you are in you may get discharged from pcf but may prolong your stay for mental evaluation becouse they will want to do a exit exam. I dont know if this helps and im not here to judge. this is a decision you have to make for yourself. but i would sugest trying to get out the right way and not wait till dfr from unit you might go back to unit but they cant stop you from going to medical for mental issues.

[JADM]

Oddyball,

Even if you have a pre-existing condition, the law presumes that your military service aggravated your condition. You have to weigh what is right for you, but be aware that the symptoms you describe likely warrant a 30% rating. With mental disorders, they routinely place Soldiers on the Temporary Retired Disability List (TDRL), which you stay on until your condition stabilizes, or 5 yrs, whichever is shorter. After that you may be permanently retired if your condition does not improve. If retired, temporarily or permanently, you will be entitled to Tri-Care for you and your dependents.

All of that is only possible if you are not under charges or being administratively separated. I urge you to consider returning to military control and fighting to stay in until you get the benefits you deserve. Of course, you have to weigh your personal situation against the stress of continued military service. But remember, even though it is often discriminated against, mental disorders are real. Compensation for your injuries is one of your benefits of service. So, consider strongly fighting for what you deserve.