I would hope that we would provide access to the many resources that wounded soldiers need and deserve.

Legal Assistance Referral network

Mental Health Assistance Network

Family Support/Financial Planning Assistant Resources/Newtork.

The Montgomery County Bar Association has a Montgomery County Legal Assistant Network manual (MCLAN) that list referrals for Montgomery County Residents - The military should develop such a manual and website listing available resources.

I am an attorney who represents several service members at AAFB in family law matters and I know the stresses of military life from these cases as well as from my own personal experiences as a wife on a service member.

MaryKay Canarte

910 Veirs Mill Road

Rockville MD  20851

(866) 460-4864

Mu Uncle was a WWII wounded 3 times vetr with jungle rot and malaria and also curverature of the spine due to all the operations for hiws wounds. He just died last month at 95 years of age not even a military funeral. He livedl out  of state for me althopugh I flew down to visit him many times in NM. He was always complaining about the government cuting his benefits and making him pay for some of his meds even the ones for his service connected physical problems. They were treating.

Soldiers that have been injured overseas and pu onto a Med-Hold/Holdover are not eligible for PDMRA leave.  This should be fixed being the soldier is still on orders and should be accumulating this leave just like any other soldier.

I have always been confused about why the US Army found me 'fit for duty', sent me home from the hospitol without so much as a thank you and let the VA pick up the tab?  The VA has found me 70% disabled and it may go higher?

I believe that the Government has a long way to go for Veterans.

Family awareness for wounded Veterans is a good step. Actual care of the Veterans and preventitive care for Active Soldiers would be even a futher step. Proper care for injuries in the service would possibly cut down on the dissabilities that Soldiers come out of the service with. Making sure that Veterans are aware of all services and benifits that are available to them. I believe that the VA hides the benifits from Veterans and takes their disablities as a joke sometimes.

Forgive my rant; I've never done a blog before.

I am a disabled Vet of OIF I.  The injuries sustained in combat 2003 forced my resignation in 2004 because I could no longer manage the physical/mental issues and effectively lead and manage my responsibilities.  I still miss my Soldiers.  

I manage nerve, TBI related issues, PTSD, and several physical conditions that keep me occupied through private physicians - I've learned to manage these and live life.  What bothers me is that the Army Med Reviews only merited me for release and not retirement after 16 years service knowing that combat caused the issue not my desire to leave - okay; moreover the severance I received by the Army is now being deducted from my VA compensation?!  The VA rated me at 100% the moment I left the service for unemployability while I recovered.  I now rate 90% having become gainfully employed again.  I'm still recovering physically and mentally - some I will live with the rest of life.  It happens...  The kicker is I have VA but I have no retirement to lean on should the graces that allow me to work now give out.  Its a catch 22.

Two things...First, there are many more Soldiers out there that are worse than me and God Bless Them because I understand.   I've led Soldiers and I have followed the leaders - the effort, pain, anguish, and fear are overcome by grit, and sheer loyalty to one another...this is what I miss.

Two, and relevant to this Blog...As the numbers increase of service related issues and Soldiers and who are now in theater come home, whether in WTU or active and ending their obligations - the medical review systems in each regional medical center on Army and other installations need better interrogatory methods of deciding how and who gets released by severance or retirements.  Army has done a tremendous job managing a difficult position but policies are only effective if the procedures and the people who make those critical decisions of a Soldiers future are in sync.

Simple reminders, check ups, etc. from DA / DOD to hospital officials - and then a feedback back to DA/DOD with results of check ups.  From "little town" USA to the well known "Walter Reeds" that doctors, physicians and administrators need not be impatient or irritated or overwhelmed...walk a mile in combat first - then judge.  Don't take advantage of a Soldier or discount a Soldier that seems okay - being mangled doesn't have show through a missing limb - and categorize his needs until the history of why and how he ended up in the WTU or in MRB in the first place.  Policies work if people understand the person first.  Policy is also a two way street.  We tend to overlook the details by opinionating the obvious - medical science is a people practice first then a science.  It's difficult, timely, and exhausting but time tells the significance of patience to patience.  I think back and remember not wanting to fight the MRB process because of the AC regulations of physical requirements and MRB - I should have.  

I'm not blogging because I'm angry - God has a plan for me.  I've been in a fog for nearly 4 years after my return and I've come out slowly; seen the damage and seen many things that a clearer mind wouldn't have said yes to or fought harder to retain.  

Personally, now, I thank the Army - I'd have never felt the privilege of leading some of the greatest people on the planet...it was an honor.  I'm just concerned about the next guy.

I agree with the comments about soldiers going through the MEB process and that their command can denigrate a soldier.  I have a written LOD from the war. My MEB was held up because my orthopedic surgeon would not sign a form about me not having asthma, etc, that he does not test.  I was told to go to a private doctor and

have the forms un-related to my knee surgery completed and pay for it

myself.  I already had a 5 year physical coming up and was ready willing

and able to go to any doctor they wanted me to go to.  I was not going

to pay for this myself.  I was told therefore, I could not be granted a

P3 to go to an MEB.  

I was put in limbo for months until I contacted an Ombudsman who contacted the PEBLO at a military hospital, who had me come in - in one week to start the MEB process in March.  The G1 of the higher unit assisted me in every possible way in obtaining orders to go to my appointments.

In the interim I discovered my unit's surgeons office of my RRC issued a voucher for me to have an examination it has been in my UA's office for over two months - not acted on.  

After the RRC and surgeons office discovered I was going for an MEB evaluation

at a military hospital my personnel file was electronically altered to

show I had taken over 130 active duty days so I would not get orders to

go to the military hospital.  Higher HQ G1 and I would straighten this

out, but it was done two more times.

As I go through this process I am getting more and more medical appointments at the facility which is 105 miles from me.  Since my condition has worsened I have had to rely on others to drive me to these appointments.  Usually a soldier is placed  on AD, Med Hold etc, while this process is going on.  It would appear though I am lucky just to get the individual day orders.

This stigma started allegedly because my orthopedic doctor would not sign things outside his practice.  I think it is more fundamental in the way the soldier is looked at when he seeks this kind of assistance.  These attitudes will take a long time to change and as long as soldiers can be treated with disregard until CNN puts it on the news, it will continue.  Of course the alternative would be me still waiting from November 2007, no profile, and voucher for exam not acted on in almost three months, and not being the best asset for my unit because of the physical limitation.