Update: Wednesday, January 28

Here is my last email to CSM Collins:

Dear CSM Collins,

Michael called you last Wednesday in regards to his INCAP extension and his medical documentation from Ft. Sill. Since we haven't heard back from you, I thought I would email you to check in and see if you found out anything.

Also, do you think that if I contacted Congressman Mike Ross he could help get the ball rolling on all this? My store is in Prescott and his office is about three blocks away, so it wouldn't be a problem at all. Just an idea, I really don't know what else to do. Maybe Michael should also contact the people he saw while at Ft. Sill to see if there is a problem with his paperwork or something. I know you said it's the norm for them to be so slow with the paperwork, it just seems like three months is long enough.

Michael spoke with Mrs. O'Connell also, to see if we needed to go ahead and start work on another extension since the one we are waiting on only covers through March 31 and at the rate we are going, all of this will probably not be finalized by then. She said we should, but that she would need the paperwork from the VA again.

Just so you know exactly where we are on pay, Michael was paid December 15, 2008 for September. So we are waiting on the extension to be approved in order to be paid for October, November and December (and January soon enough). Some of our January bills are now past due, as I paid what was past due then (that the MWR loan didn't cover) with the check in December.

Thank you for your time,
Brie'Anne Griffin

Update: Tuesday, January 27

Well, we haven't gotten a paycheck since December 15, 2008 and that was actually pay for September. We are still waiting on the NGB to approve Michael's INCAP extension for October 2008 through March 31, 2009. Which is pretty stupid because it's now closer to March than October and we'll need to be doing another extension soon. More about that after the latest email from Mrs. Bridgette O'Connell:

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE Your request for Incap Extension has been sent to Army G1, which is the final step for approval. I am forwarding this memo to you, trusting that you will NOT call Mr. Scott, the POC at NGB listed on the memo. Not only will it not speed up the process for you to call him, but he would just tell you to call your state POC, which is me. Then he would call me and chew me out over it. I check the Incap module twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. If there is any action taken on this case, I will know about it and will let you know. Bridgette O'Connell LOD Case Manager/Incap Manager

Attached was a copy of a Memorandum for DCS G1 (whatever that means) Compensation and Entitlements Division, with an address at the Pentagon. The memo was a recommendation to approve the INCAP extension for October-March. This was dated January 16, 2009.

I continue expecting to hear from Mrs. O'Connell, Michael spoke to her yesterday though and the situation has not changed. I will be emailing CSM Collins today and I will post that here along with her response should I receive one.

Brie'Anne

Update: December 30, 2008

From: Michael and Brie'Anne Griffin
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 3:08 PM
To: O'Connell, Bridgette C CIV LOD/INCAP Coordinator
Subject: SSG Michael Griffin Incap Extension

Bridgette,

Just checking in to see that all the medical and mental health paperwork got
to you. If not, I have digital copies of everything. Let me know where we
stand on filing the Incap extension. This one should be good through March
2009, correct?

Brie'Anne Griffin
SSG Michael Griffin

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Response from Bridgette O'Connell:

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Yes, I received all the medical and mental health paperwork and sent the
Extension Request to NGB. It was returned needing corrections on Saturday
Dec 20th. I was out the week of Christmas, so I did not see that it had been
returned until yesterday. It needed a minor correction, which was made. It
is back at NGB awaiting approval. It's only taking about a week, maybe a
little longer to get Extension Requests approved right now. I should know
something next week.


Bridgette O'Connell
LOD Case Manager/Incap Manager