Army AWOL/Disability

[Skip88]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

Back in March of '08 I sustained a major injury to my right foot at the end of BCT. I was told, off the record of course, that in order to advance to AIT I would have to keep my mouth shut and endure. So about a month later I had made it to Ft Lee for AIT and the damage was worsening. As my class graduated I was told, once again off the record, that if I had any hope of going to my active army unit I needed to pass a PT test or risk being a medical holdover (grass mower, food server) for up to a year and a half until I could get surgery or be medically chaptered out of the military. I attempted the PT test, but couldn't even sustain a jog for more than the first quarter quarter mile due to injury.

The next day I was planning to hang myself in my barracks, feeling that there was no way out. As I tied the slip knot, images of my younger brother and family began to fill my mind. I decided right there, noose in hand, that I could never do such a horrible thing to my family.

Within five minutes my personal belongings were packed and I was gone. AWOL for forty days then sent to Ft Sill to be other-than-honorably discharged.

Now here I am, about two years later, still dealing with the pain from the Army in my foot every day of my life. I have not been able to get a job since in any position requiring heavy lifting, and that is all that is available in my local economy.

Because my foot was injured while in the military I am not eligible for civilian disability, but because I received an OTH discharge military benefits also seem to be out of the question.

My question is this: What course of action should I take next?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[ERAUPIKE]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

Back in March of '08 I sustained a major injury to my right foot at the end of BCT. I was told, off the record of course, that in order to advance to AIT I would have to keep my mouth shut and endure. So about a month later I had made it to Ft Lee for AIT and the damage was worsening. As my class graduated I was told, once again off the record, that if I had any hope of going to my active army unit I needed to pass a PT test or risk being a medical holdover (grass mower, food server) for up to a year and a half until I could get surgery or be medically chaptered out of the military. I attempted the PT test, but couldn't even sustain a jog for more than the first quarter quarter mile due to injury.

The next day I was planning to hang myself in my barracks, feeling that there was no way out. As I tied the slip knot, images of my younger brother and family began to fill my mind. I decided right there, noose in hand, that I could never do such a horrible thing to my family.

Within five minutes my personal belongings were packed and I was gone. AWOL for forty days then sent to Ft Sill to be other-than-honorably discharged.

Now here I am, about two years later, still dealing with the pain from the Army in my foot every day of my life. I have not been able to get a job since in any position requiring heavy lifting, and that is all that is available in my local economy.

Because my foot was injured while in the military I am not eligible for civilian disability, but because I received an OTH discharge military benefits also seem to be out of the question.

My question is this: What course of action should I take next?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

What course of action should you take regarding what? You made a choice to leave and now you are dealing with the consequences. Next you should learn to accept the responsibility for your actions and move on with your life.

 

[Skip88]

hmm

What course of action should you take regarding what? You made a choice to leave and now you are dealing with the consequences. Next you should learn to accept the responsibility for your actions and move on with your life.

Regardless of responsibility and finger-pointing, the injury still happened while I was active duty military.

And it is incredibly difficult to move on anywhere when I can barely walk.

 

[ERAUPIKE]

Regardless of responsibility and finger-pointing, the injury still happened while I was active duty military.

And it is incredibly difficult to move on anywhere when I can barely walk.

You ran away because you didn't want to wait and accept the treatment option the military had to offer. What did you expect to happen when you deserted? Unfortunately, the Board of Appeals isn't going to change your category of discharge or RE code because you don't like the consequences of your actions. I am willing to bet, based on your story, that you don't have any documentation that you "major injury" even occurred while you were on active duty.

The injury may have occurred while you were on active duty but your actions subsequent to the injury and lack of documentation have created a situation much worse then you were facing in the Army. Now instead of being paid to do next to nothing while you are awaiting treatment, you are being paid nothing for doing nothing with no treatment for your injury expected. I am sure you are using your good foot to kick yourself over and over for your stupidity. That will not be enough to fix your situation, in fact there is nothing you can do to fix the situation you have created for yourself.

 

[Skip88]

You ran away because you didn't want to wait and accept the treatment option the military had to offer. What did you expect to happen when you deserted? Unfortunately, the Board of Appeals isn't going to change your category of discharge or RE code because you don't like the consequences of your actions. I am willing to bet, based on your story, that you don't have any documentation that you "major injury" even occurred while you were on active duty.

The injury may have occurred while you were on active duty but your actions subsequent to the injury and lack of documentation have created a situation much worse then you were facing in the Army. Now instead of being paid to do next to nothing while you are awaiting treatment, you are being paid nothing for doing nothing with no treatment for your injury expected. I am sure you are using your good foot to kick yourself over and over for your stupidity. That will not be enough to fix your situation, in fact there is nothing you can do to fix the situation you have created for yourself.

Yes I have kicked myself many times by now. But the assumption that I have insufficient documentation is incorrect. I was on profile for said injury for the last half of AIT and was even sent to Walter Reed in DC. Its all documented. It was even written in my entry paperwork that I was running 5-10 miles a day before shipping out to basic.

 

[ERAUPIKE]

Yes I have kicked myself many times by now. But the assumption that I have insufficient documentation is incorrect. I was on profile for said injury for the last half of AIT and was even sent to Walter Reed in DC. Its all documented. It was even written in my entry paperwork that I was running 5-10 miles a day before shipping out to basic.

You ran away because you didn't want to wait and accept the treatment option the military had to offer. What did you expect to happen when you deserted? Unfortunately, the Board of Appeals isn't going to change your category of discharge or RE code because you don't like the consequences of your actions.

 

[Skip88]

You ran away because you didn't want to wait and accept the treatment option the military had to offer. What did you expect to happen when you deserted? Unfortunately, the Board of Appeals isn't going to change your category of discharge or RE code because you don't like the consequences of your actions.

The only option not involving suicide or desertion was spend 2 years total as an IET soldier, almost doubling my short 2 year active duty contract.

And when I ran away I was not expecting anything to happen, I was just focused on not doing anything physically harmful to myself or the people around me.

I understand that the Army would stop working overnight if it focused on the individual soldier's needs, but I was not given the medical or psychological care that was needed.

Thanks for your opinion though.

 

[ERAUPIKE]

The only option not involving suicide or desertion was spend 2 years total as an IET soldier, almost doubling my short 2 year active duty contract.

And when I ran away I was not expecting anything to happen, I was just focused on not doing anything physically harmful to myself or the people around me.

I understand that the Army would stop working overnight if it focused on the individual soldier's needs, but I was not given the medical or psychological care that was needed.

Thanks for your opinion though.

Where did you acquire the gift to see the future? How did the length of time you would be require to wait change from one and a half years to two years so quickly?

What have you done in the past two years that was so important you needed to desert your obligation? Here you are two years later, in a mess you have created for yourself and you still cannot accept responsibility for your actions.

 

[Skip88]

Where did you acquire the gift to see the future? How did the length of time you would be require to wait change from one and a half years to two years so quickly?

What have you done in the past two years that was so important you needed to desert your obligation? Here you are two years later, in a mess you have created for yourself and you still cannot accept responsibility for your actions.

I understand what I did was not a good decision, but all you are doing now is playing devil's advocate, as in no longer informative or helpful in any way.

Not that this is at all relevant to the original question, but in the past two year's I have been in school, steadily working towards a degree.

And instead of trying to make me look like a liar you could do some math and and come to the conclusion that 3 months of BCT plus 3 months of AIT plus a year and a half as a holdover equals 2 years. Oops I guess I just did it for you.

 

[ERAUPIKE]

I understand what I did was not a good decision, but all you are doing now is playing devil's advocate, as in no longer informative or helpful in any way.

Not that this is at all relevant to the original question, but in the past two year's I have been in school, steadily working towards a degree.

And instead of trying to make me look like a liar you could do some math and and come to the conclusion that 3 months of BCT plus 3 months of AIT plus a year and a half as a holdover equals 2 years. Oops I guess I just did it for you.

You didn't find the answers you were looking for so you try to make me seem like the bad guy, that is not the case. You did this to yourself. I have answered your question but you refuse to accept the facts. You created a situation for yourself that made you completely ineligible for any veterans benefits.

You actually said:

The only option not involving suicide or desertion was spend 2 years total as an IET soldier, almost doubling my short 2 year active duty contract.

Would like to do the math again? Last time I checked 2+2=4

 

[Skip88]

Well at least we agree on the fact that I would have been in the military for twice the amount of time then I was originally obligated for.

 

[ERAUPIKE]

Well at least we agree on the fact that I would have been in the military for twice the amount of time then I was originally obligated for.

No, I was just pointing out the inconsistencies in your little sob story.

Did your six months of less than honorable service make you an expert on Army regulation and procedure?

Where did you receive this gift of being able to accurately foretell the future?

Did you steal this forums crystal ball?

You actually would have remained on limited duty for the remainder of your active duty service obligation. At the end of your obligation, you would have been sent to see an Army doctor who would have assessed your injury and any treatment it may require. A medical review board would have assigned a percentage of disability pay you would receive for the rest of your life. You would have received disability pay and treatment, for free, from the VA at any location you wished as a disabled veteran.

Where did you get it into your head that you would be required to remain on active duty for medical treatment?

That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Again, you created a huge mess for yourself that is only your fault.

Just think, you could have received disability pay, Vocational Rehab, and free medical care if you had just stuck around instead of running away.

 

[Skip88]

Sob story, huh? My intentions when posting this had nothing to do with gaining sympathy. I do not feel any further need to defend myself or even hear your opinion, because you have not been helpful in any way except for the ethics lesson. That is appreciated though because charm school is expensive these days.

 

[ERAUPIKE]

Sob story, huh? My intentions when posting this had nothing to do with gaining sympathy. I do not feel any further need to defend myself or even hear your opinion, because you have not been helpful in any way except for the ethics lesson. That is appreciated though because charm school is expensive these days.

I gave you an accurate answer to your question. You just didn't like it.