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Hello, took me a while to get what PM stood for, but figured it out. I recently had an ICD implanted on the 20th of December 2012. I am in the military stationed in Korea. While doing a 4 mile run at a slow pace my heart stopped after the run during the cool down). I am not sure as to the details only what people told me. Anyway just wanted to say high to you. I have done a lot of research in regards to my device because it is scary knowing that it is in my chest. It has just been 30 days as of today and I am still leary of how I lay on left side or the way I stretch or a host of other things that goes through my mind. Just venting because there is no one else to say this too. I do havae a question, if there is any military members out there (you have to be retired because the army will not let you stay in with a PM or an ICD please comment and let me know what your experience was and how you was treated. Do I have an interesting yarn the way they treated me.
J
5 Comments
I am Retired Military
by donr - 2013-01-20 05:01:53
Ah, but there are exceptions.
Depends on your rank, MOS, & proximity to retirement.
IF they grant you a waiver & allow you to stay in, you become non-deployable. If you DO NOT already have a non-combat MOS, & you qualify for one, you are reclassified into it.
You also have to be close enough to retirement eligible that they can absorb a person w/ "Limitations."
Face it - your heart has already displayed failure that requires speciaized equipment & cardiologist skills to monitor your condition - they are not readily available everywhere - hence the reluctance to maintain a soldier w/ such constraints - especially in days of reduced forces.
There are exceptions to every REGULATION, but not to LAWS. The physical requirements are regs, so exceptions can be made - IF the Army thinks you are a worthwhile asset .
The PM host I knew was a very senior colonel who had a comptroller MOS - a very scarce asset at that time (1985), w/ plenty of requirements in the Continental US.
I also knew of a very senior NCO at Ft Sill (The Artillery Center & School) w/ only one arm. He was a one man fire direction center for training troops & was constrained in assignments to those sort of locations. He, also, was retirement eligible.
Currently, the Army has a colonel on active duty w/ two artificial legs, courtesy of a IED in Iraq. They have kept him because of his usefulness as a "Poster Child" for people w/disabilities and recruiting publicty purposes. He is a very rare case & likewise, already retirement eligible.
Why the common thread of retirement eligible? Because they can nearly immediately "Get rid of you" if you become a manpower burden as opposed to an asset. Note that I have included extremity loss in addition to heart problems as examples of personnel w/ imitations to their deployability & physical capability.
There are several threads in here concerning this issue.
Don
Thanks
by Jay4 - 2013-01-20 06:01:22
Funny, I have 27 years, almost 28 years. I am eligible to retire. I am a SGM in the signal Corps. I am about to go through the medical board process now. The boards are taking anywhere from 12 - 16 months. Once a Warrior Transition Unit accepts me, I will leave Korea, enter into it, and await the outcome of the boards results. After my experience, I know that it is time for me to call it a career. I have invested a lot of time and effort and now it is time for me to go another direction. You are right about me requiring special care and monitoring. I was told that I would have to see a doctor twice a year to get my ICD read and to check on batteries. That fact alone places me in a non-deployable status. I have sat on the other side of the desk and have had to tell soldiers the same thing, Thanks for what you do, however with the limitations that doctors have placed on you, you might not be retainable. Thanks again for your words.
Jay
Thank you
by Jay4 - 2013-01-20 07:01:10
Hope it has been my pleasure to serve the American people (I still will serve until I am determined to be unfit). I wish you and your family the best as well. Congratulations to your son who is retired and thanks for his service as well.
Jay
Army
by sarge - 2013-01-24 03:01:58
Jay, greetings from one SGM to another.....I recently medically retired (Aug 2012) because of PM. I had 27 yrs active duty and the last 15 were in Recruiting. I did the fit for duty board at Ft Knox and was automatically found unfit because of PM. Next came the MED BOARD in which my medical file was sent to Walter Reed. They found me unfit also and awarded me (get this) 10% disability.....fortunately for me because I had 27 yrs active I could take my regular retirement in lieu of the 10% dis. Also I have a friend who was just medically retired while at SGM Academy for same thing. I am not saying you can't win the board and stay in but it is a long shot, feel free to message me and I will give you my contact info as you will need someone to vent to after you start dealing with the PEBLO's (civilian liaison case worker) they are straight up worthless.
You know you're wired when...
Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.
Member Quotes
Without this little machine, we would not be here.
thank you
by Hope - 2013-01-20 01:01:30
Hi! Jay, My family would like to tell you we appreciate your dedication and service to our country. We have a son who is retired from the Air Force. I am on my second ICD. We wish you a happy future. Hopeful Heart