Hello From Northeren Virginia

[ExhaustedandAngry]

Hello everybody I am an active duty infantry staff sergeant in the U.S. Army with 7 years in. I am married and have a 2y.o daughter and another kid on the way (we decided to not know the gender of this one). I have been to Afghanistan 2009-2010 (13 months) with 4th Bde 4th ID (Light) this unit might sound familiar as one of our bases COP Keating was overrun and was in the news. And I have been to Iraq with 3Bde 25th ID / 18th Airborne Corps 2011 (9 months). I have been diagnosed with PTSD from my first deployment in Afghanistan via Army behavioral health. Currently I am stationed at Ft, Myer with the Old Guard, I feel as if I had a good handle on my issues like anger, depression, and anxiety until I PCS'd here to the honor guard. We do lots of funerals everyday in Arlington National Cemetery and once I started these I just cant stop thinking about the things I've seen and done and especially the friends I've lost. Anyways my issues keep getting worse with being here, and frankly I don't want to see funerals of service men and women everyday who died over there knowing it could've been me.
I'll get down to it, is there anything I can do to get out of the army early? I've given the army 7 good years and my contract runs out in 22 months but I'm steadily going down hill in my ability to be a competent leader or even get regular daily tasks done due to this assignment being so depressing.

Any help is very much appreciated, thank you.

 

[Grizzly]

Welcome to the forum. Hopefully some others will chime in behind me. One thing I would begin doing is seek some professional help for your symptoms. You owe that your family and yourself. 22 months is not a lot of time and surely you would be able to fulfil your contractual obligation as well as get the necessary treatment.

I served the Ft. Bliss honor guard for some time. I'm sure nothing even close to what you have encountered. But it was rough duty mentally.

 

[Deleted member 43454]

Welcome.
I'm not sure of any ways to get out of the Army early with out losing the G.I bill unfortunately. (Post 9/11 goes based off active duty time served)
Just keep getting it documented as proof is all I can recommend off hand.
Might actually take longer to get medically discharged.

Let some body know you are feeling how you are about the assignment and your diagnoses maybe they can pull some strings to get you off.

 

[atilla]

Welcome to the forum Brother. Let me get this straight. You were diagnosed with PTS after your first deployment, and then assigned you to funeral detail after your 2nd deployment?? Not only are you having to deal with your personal losses from your unit from deployment, but have to be reminded of that loss every day in the performance of your duties..I agree with my Brothers in the posts above. Seek help, let them know that the duties you are performing are really causing more issues. Like Dr.Black said above..keep everything documented, stay on them about it. This is not the duty a pts diagnosed combat vet needs to be pulling, in my opinion. We have shit that's stirred up in our heads every day due to the "Beast"(what we call ptsd here), Me, personally, I got out early due to my bouts with the beast, but back then,'91, they pushed the ptsd under the carpet, no treatment. Just document everything, talk to your doctors and therapists. The army higher ups (admin) aren't the best when using common sense..POG's..lol..and funeral duty to a combat vet with ptsd, makes about as much sense as a football bat, or a soup sandwich. Hang in there Bro, you served, you deserved to be helped. Wish you luck.. If ever you need to talk to anyone..we're ALL here for each other..pm me or any of the other Brothers and Sisters here anytime..We all go through our own shit, but we're here for each other. We take care of our own. Hooah? Peace.

 

[FieldArtilleryGuy]

Family care plan is the easiest way to go about what you want, but you are married so I doubt that will work for you. I don't know any other good ways to get out early other than medical that will let you get an honorable. 22 months however is not that bad, and when it is over you will miss it atleast a little bit. You could try to save up your leave. I saved up 3 months so 22 months turned in to 19 with 3 months paid vacation to do whatever. (Should have looked for a job, instead I played fallout new Vegas the entire time, and prepped my unemployment paperwork.) at about 6 months (before your leave time kicks in) you can start to clear and the unit would be insane to expect anything from you at that time so your 22 months can be cut down and it will go pretty fast at the end. I know it sucks gritting your teeth right now, but you can do it. Another thing about the clearing, you can start your VA stuff at that time. The more you have documented the easier it will be to get an award. I got out expecting very little, and when I got my award they gave me 70% (I didn't know at the time but they lowballed that decision) take care of yourself man.

Atilla, with peace none of us would be the men or women we are today.

 

[atilla]

"Peace"..through superior firepower..:), peace from the beast is the peace I refer to.

 

[FieldArtilleryGuy]

Oh, my mistake. Sorry

 

[Jimmy1]

Hey buddy, we have a big problem over here where people are taking the quickest way out because they are hurting. My advice would be to ask for a quiet posting (unit) somewhere so you can work on all the medical stuff and your VA claims. While your in you have access to all your medical documents, once you get out, if it's anything like over here, you will be pushing shit up hill.

Just my opinion.

 

[Jimmy1]

And don't apologize on this site unless you actually offend someone, and then if it wasn't personally directed at them don't apologize either. They need to harden the f*ck up. Just saying.
We are all veterans here, we have all lost mates, have all experienced the horrors and fear of war, and are all battling the beast. The last thing you need to do is apologize.

And PM me anytime mate.

 

[ExhaustedandAngry]

To all of you who have responded thus far- Thank You
I've accepted that I will more then likely have to serve out my remaining time. As for knocking time off the 22 months for leave and miscellaneous things I have already accounted for that. My actual ETS would be 30 months from now but with 60 days of leave as I believe that is the max my unit allows for terminal leave and a 6 month work drop it has me sitting at 22months remaining. For those of you advising me to get things documented what exactly are you saying? Yes the doctors have actually tested me (if that's what they want to call it) for ptsd and they do say I have it but I just assumed all that goes into my medical records. Are ya'll advising I need personal copies of all that?

 

[BaMuoiBa]

Welcome brother, if there is an answer to your situation you'll find it here.

Exhausted and Angry, Humm, know it well.

Well, 22 months could be a lifetime when you're carrying the *beast*. Jimmy said what I had in mind get into the stealth mode and find a place to ride it out. So, take a knee here on occasion and look at what has already been said on the subject

I'm steadily going down hill in my ability to be a competent leader or even get regular daily tasks done due to this assignment being so depressing.

Any help is very much appreciated, thank you.

Listen soldier, you're not superman! Look up a Vet Center near by and make a call. You are a combat veteran and are entitled to what help you need. I'm not sure if your active duty status will raise a red flag or not. If for no other reason they can give you some guidance as to stay under the radar. There is a firewall between the VC and VA and they don't share patient data unless it involves a disability claim. It would make sense that the firewall would also exist between active military as well but I'm not sure. You hang tough brother.

Ba

 

[Grizzly]

Try and keep copies of all your records. It will save you a lot of headache later when you or if you seek VA compensation.

But...have you considered MEB. I know that can be a drawn out situation. And may or may not take you out of your current job assignment. Although given your circumstances I couldn't see why it wouldn't. But I think it's up to your unit commander to request a medical evaluation. I may be wrong though.

I think that with PTSD they feel your conditions should improve with meds and therapy. So it could be likely that you would go TDRL and then re-evaluated to determine if your condition in improved to come back to duty or be medically retired. Only reason I can even speculate is cause I work with some guys who have gone through the medical separation deal and the medical retirement. I think it also speeds things along for the VA part of it too.

Hopefully someone will chime in with first hand experience.