Straight deal is this, I had around 9 years in and was an E-5, I tested and put in paperwork to go to OCS. I tested highly was accepted and had to submit my paperwork. The only thing left was a current PT score, as I scored a 283, and my Battalion Sergeant Major had talked to me about retaking it has he knew it was a slack score for myself. There was a field exercise going on and I was a Squad Leader, and we were fielding a new system through the 513th MI Bn, AHFEWS. Thus, my First Sergeant requested that I put off the retest till returning from the Field Exercise. However, during the field exercise I got hurt, three bulging discs in my upper and lower back. This was later complicated with a further issue of restrictive and reactive air disease, and likewise I was later in a vehicle accident where I suffered a severly fractured hand leaving myself at only 50% strength.

Thus, instead of myself being processed for OCS, I was now being med boarded. After a lengthy two years and my medical file conveniently being misplaced multiple times I was sent to San Antonio Texas for an MEB. While there I was offered 30% disability or be sent back to my unit and try to finish out my service with limitations noted in my profile. I chose to continue as I am a father of four and I was instructed that this would leave me without any military benefits except the 30% disability pay. How would I be able to take care of my family then? It was after the first med board that I had the vehicle accident. During this time I had exceptional yearly ratings except for PT. I was also denied promotion to E-6 because of my profile and board proceedings. Likewise, my clearance was never updated, as they assumed I wouldn’t need it if med boarded. During my last two years I still performed my job at the highest level, receiving a coin of recognition from even Four Star General Zinni, while I was performing the function as a Mission Manager at the GRSOC. Likewise I developed a Disk operating System to train signals analysts, that was copied and then dispersed out to the ships. My shifts stats were second to none, and I spent much of my own time prior to shift and after shifts to train other shift supervisors and Mission Managers. I also had the the shift producing the most awards and promotions for those training under myself.

Due to my denial by my command to be promoted, I was likewise denied to extend my service and was forced out of service at short of fifteen years. During my outprocessing they again did a makeshift medboard, where I was only allowed to fax them the information and my medical file. This time the medboard, without seeing myself in person was offered a disability rating of 20%. Thus, I was forced involuntarily out of service and remarkeably was immediately rated at 60% disabled, but never listed as retired. Later, I tried to apply for unemployment benefits, but had to apparently payback the involuntary seperation pay before the benefits could be established.

Forgive me if I don’t feel I was shafted by the military!

I have just now become informed through some others that I should have been retired and that due to my 60% rating I should be and should have been receiving both retirement pay and VA disability pay.

Congressman only serving two years term will get retirement pay of
$32,000 or more each month and there the ones who voted to reduce or stop payments to vetrians who are disable.