Update Number 2: 1:38pm

Okay, so the case worker at Camp Robinson called Michael this morning and told him that he has to get a signature from his former employer (the people who fired him after he was put on INCAP for the second time). That's not a problem, he will get that done this week. He told Michael that INCAP packet for June was good, but that he has to have the signature from Magnolia Healthcare for his July packet, otherwise he won't receive his full active duty pay, just what he would have received for drill weekend. Fine.

Here comes the problem: Around the time that the people at Michael's unit in Warren asked him to get me to take this blog down, they also told him that the INCAP packets had to have original signatures on the paperwork. This meant that Michael had to drive to Warren (182 miles, round trip from our home, with no compensation for mileage) in order to fill out and sign his packets so that they could be mailed to Little Rock. The person that told him this said that he was told by the case worker in Little Rock that the paperwork must have original signatures and could no longer be emailed, signed, scanned and emailed or faxed back. However, today on the phone, the caseworker told Michael that he never said that and that it would be fine for Michael to print out what he needed and get the people and Magnolia Healthcare to sign it and scan and email or fax it back to him.

Don't worry, I'll be adding these people's names and ranks as soon as all of Michael's paperwork is processed and he is put on TDRL.

Again, I know I should not be surprised at all about this, but I just don't understand why we have to do all the footwork. Shouldn't they be taking care of all this? Shouldn't the different offices communicate better between themselves? I swear to God Michael gave a piece of paperwork to someone at Little Rock to copy and she is two cubicles away from this other person who also needed the papers and we had to get the copy to the other person. *pulls her hair out*

-Brie'Anne

Update: July 22

So that Major that I've talked about in the last two blogs? Well, Michael has been trying to contact her personally ever since we found out that his INCAP packet did not get processed, because she is the one person who can fix that. She finally called him back yesterday and he explained everything to her. Apparently she did not sound pleased with the way Michael's unit as well as the people at DCSPER MED or whatever it is called, in Little Rock (Camp Robinson) were handling (read: not handling) his case. She told him that she would have answers for him soon.

As to whether we'll get a paycheck sometime before the 15th of next month, I doubt it. And I will continue to doubt it until perhaps we get one earlier than that. That way, it's like a surprise...like Christmas! Woohoo!

Update: Monday, July 20

Since it seems like it doesn't matter whether this blog is public or not - people still aren't doing their jobs - I have decided to make this thing public again. I cannot imagine why people with the power to change our lives, i.e. make our credit score even worse, not get child support sent to give Jesi the things she needs, and about a million other things, would openly DECIDE to not do anything about our situation. We have been told, albeit this is just hearsay, that the Major who can call an emergency board to send Michael's pay through for this month (read previous post) refuses to do so because of the history of his INCAP packet paperwork. In other words, even though it is the fault of Michael's superiors and not Michael himself, she decided that we don't get paid this month.

It's like they don't even realize that this is someone's LIFE they are dealing with! Again I say I am frustrated and angry but surprised? Not a bit.

INCAP update

Michael's INCAP paperwork was not filed on time for this month's paycheck (pay from last month). Allegedly the Major who makes the decision as to whether to do an emergency board has decided to not do an emergency board because of the history of Michael's INCAP packets always being late. Does that make logical sense? To me it makes NO sense. Michael did his part early enough that the paperwork could be filed and passed through the board on time, but because someone did not do their job, we will not get a paycheck this month. I am annoyed and frustrated, but not shocked. The Army usually always makes decisions illogically. It seems to be the norm.

Michael is still working on calling numerous people about this to see if he can get the packet passed via an emergency board, but it is looking like (even if they do pass it through now) we won't get paid until August for June. Adding to all of this, Army personnel like to take off early on Fridays. Also, we still aren't positive when the INCAP will be over and the TDRL pay will take its place.

*sigh*

Update: July 15

We finally got Michael's PEB stuff back, they have awarded him 50% for PTSD and 20% for his shoulder which comes to 60% (Army math). They've put him on temporary retirement, and he will receive 60% of his base pay. He will also be re-evaluated every 6-18 months and after 5 years they will either find him fit for duty or retire him out. This also means he and dependents (me and Jesi) will be eligible for Tricare Standard (which we will hopefully be able to bump up to Tricare Prime/Extra).

In other news, Michael submitted his paperwork in person for last month's INCAP pay on June 26, however, it was not received in Little Rock until the day (July 7) of the board that determines pay. They got the packet at 3:47pm and the board met at 2:00pm, so it didn't get to them. Casey Jackson is in Little Rock now, and said he would go talk to the board people to see if we can get that ever elusive "emergency board" to pass it through so that we might get paid this month.

And more good news! I got Michael to call the VA hotline today to check on the status of his VA claim and they told him that they made the determination two days ago and he should be getting the letter in the mail soon, but they couldn't tell us that percentage over the phone.

Update: Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Michael got an INCAP extension for October 2008 through March 2009, so he's been paid on a regular basis up until this month. They just got the next extension approved, so pay should be regular for 6 more months or until they finish with his MEB/PEB proceedings. Hopefully the latter will happen before the need for another extension.

Michael got his DA Form 3947 from Ft. Sill (MEB Proceedings) along with his NARSUM (Narrative Summary) a few weeks ago. He has had some trouble contacting his PEBLO officer, but we found that was because she was in meetings/lectures all week last week. He signed part of the DA 3947, but wants to add some documents from his Army PERMED (Permanent Medical) files that we didn't receive copies of until after his MEB appointments in Oklahoma, so we are in the process of contacting our PEBLO officer, Susan, about this.

There is a woman who works in the MEB office at Fort Sill, her name is Kimberly, and she just received an award for Employee of the Quarter or Month or something. She rightly deserves the award. Any time we cannot contact our PEBLO officer, she is always more than willing to help us. She is always pleasant to speak with and never short or unpleasant over the telephone like so many people we deal with and she goes (however cliche it sounds) above and beyond her duties to make sure we are taken care of. This is always a welcome and refreshing change to what we are used to.

Michael's new POC at the unit level is SFC Burns, who was in Iraq with him on the 39th's first tour. Burns has been very professional in his correspondence with Michael regarding his duties at the unit and his INCAP documents.

Also, it seems that this blog was found by someone within the ARNG, or Army or by JAG. Basically, and I would never be able to prove this in a court of law, the ARNG has bullied Michael into getting me to remove the blog. So, instead of just deleting the whole thing, I made it private, invitation only. I am not sure why they were so insistent that it be removed, or if they even were (but I think it was an underlying theme in their talking with Michael today) since it's already been seen by whoever needed to see it, apparently. And I would never have taken it down had my husband not asked me to do it. I do not want things to be harder for him than they already are, so I acquiesced.

Censoring?

My husband asked me to take this off of the public blogs, so now it is only available by invitation. I don't want the Army to make it any harder on Michael than it already is/they already do, so I have removed the blog from public viewing. I will re-publish it to public viewing as soon as Michael is discharged from the military.