Update: Friday

Michael emailed Bridgette O'Connell the most current medical paperwork that we have. They should also have all of his most current paperwork from our trip to Ft. Sill. There should not only be information on his shoulder injury in there, but also on his PTSD (I haven't discussed that on here yet, but the VA has diagnosed Michael with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, tinnitus, and sleep apnea). She needed this in order to process his INCAP extension so that they can process his INCAP pay for October, November and soon December. Apparently they require an extension every 180 days. Here is the email we got back after Michael sent B.O. the latest documentation we have:

Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

SSG Griffin
I've already sent this to NGB. [National Guard Bureau] This is not enough for them. NGB has determined that with you [sic] shoulder having reached maximum medical benefit, we cannot pay you Incap for that. We have to do your Incap based on your PTSD.
The VA print out that I have was printed out in August. I need something
more current.


Bridgette O'Connell
LOD Case Manager/Incap Manager

So he called the VA this morning. He uses the outpatient clinic in El Dorado. They told him they would send his most current medical documentation/files out today (in the mail). He called back to see if he could drive there and pick it up (like we really have the money for that, but we are desperate!) and they informed him that they are actually way behind on their paperwork and are currently working on paperwork for May...

Michael requested the VA to release any medical documents to the Army National Guard about 6 months ago and then he did two other requests in early November. I don't know if anyone has received this information. I don't even know what his medical file looks like (though I'm sure it's the size of a large dictionary considering how long he's been in the Guard) or where it might be. We have been told numerous times that they don't have this or that, that they've lost his paperwork, that no one ever sent this to that person. I call it the good ol' run-around.

I am currently working on getting a copy of his entire medical file and then we can add to it as we get different paperwork, since it seems like the Army can't get it together on their own. That is really our major problem here. Personnel in one office fails to communicate with personnel in another office. Paperwork is lost or misplaced (or lies on a desk for a month). One of Michael's contacts in the Guard who has recently gone through the MEB/PEB process and is now out wrote a great thread about this on a forum. Here is what he had to say, and I know there are a lot of acronyms in there, but you can get the picture:

Absolutely understand what you are talking about. I was a FTUS Admin NCO in the National Guard. I have helped facilitate (Unit level) the Incap and ADME process for several soldiers throughout my career and one aspect I have found that attributes to this problem is that the process is "people dependent" and not "system dependent". What I mean is when soldiers are brought on to AGR or Tech Duty they are basically thrown a set of keys to the armory and told, "keep it open and learn your job". The learning curve for the position is long because the process is intimidating and overwhelming. Because of this there are usually only a couple of competent personnel (especially since Admin/Supply NCO's are an entry level position) in each Battalion/Squadron. For this reason they are the folks that are depended on to make the system work. If these personnel are not in the soldiers particular company/troop or if they are on TDY the work will not get done. Others depend on their expertise and will not make a move without a phonecall to confirm what they are doing is the right thing and as the tasks pile up apathy sets in. This is not an excuse, it is inexcuseable, but that is the reality of the situation.

Another issue if you are at a JTFHQ which it sounds like you are and maybe assigned to a CBHCO then there is usually ONE, (and this absolutely kills me every time), person who does THAT PARTICULAR JOB AND NO ONE ELSE ON IN THAT OFFICE OR ON EARTH FOR THAT MATTER HAS EVER CROSSTRAINED INTO NOR KNOWS ANYTHING REMOTELY GOING ON IN THAT PERSONS POSITION. Therefore they cannot help you when that person goes on leave for two weeks. Nothing gets done and things get stagnant. Again, inexcuseable.

Once this accumulates the poor training and increased workload (which would stress a well trained section), creates an atmosphere of apathy and survivalism. Thats where the fingerpointing you eluded to come into play. Deflection as a survival mechanism. What I mean is once they get into that job then they automatically come to two realizations. 1) That is the most important job in the Army/AF/Navy etc.. and 2) Their maintaining status in that job is the most important thing in that office. Both of which are false assumptions which lead to neglect of the soldiers/airmen etc... that they were put there to assist. This is all attributed to as Jason said, a failure in leadership.

That's pretty much how it is. If I could fix it I would, but we're talking about the entire United States Military here. I'm only one person, right?

Brie'Anne