My spouse flew back late last month after have three surgeries. Needless to say, she was pretty drugged up when I got her. She had 6 days of convalescent leave (free leave for soldiers with medical problems) and was in lots of pain. We ended up going to the ER twice over the next 6 days. On the day she was to return to her unit, I drove her to the airport, but she was throwing up and was having a hard time walking. I asked if she would be allowed to fly as they said no, so I drove the 300 miles home and took her to the ER (third time). I called her unit and told them, but beings as she is in AIT, they really didn’t seem to care. I tried faxing them the doctor’s note, but their fax wasn’t working. Around the 7th of this month, she was out of pain, but we were out of money to fly her due to the constant long trips to the hospital.
2006-08-28 00:54:22 · 10 answers · asked by Grant S 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
On the 15th, we found out that her pay had stopped and after a third call to her company, I was finally able to get in touch with her 1st Sgt who pretty much said that it was up to her to get back and offered no advice.
I contacted the nearest base, Ft Lewis, 500 miles away, and I’ll be turning her over to the MP’s. She has not reached the 30 day mark so she isn’t a deserter. I just feel so bad that the military wasn’t willing to grant her more leave after her surgeries. What are the chances they will throw the book at her, and what can I do to help? We have kept in contact with her unit. I served in the Army for 6 years, got out Honorable, and feel just horrible that she has such a worthless chain of command.
2006-08-28 00:54:59 · update #1
Her AIT is at Fort Sam Houston. I was surprised that she was going to be able to return home on Convalescent Leave. The reason they let her take leave was because she had missed so much class time from all the TMC and Hospital visits that she was getting recycled the company behind, so would have been sitting around for a few weeks. In their minds, Appendix removed, 7-10 Days, Cyst removed from organ, 7-10 Days, another female surgery, 7-10 Days = 7-10 Days of leave.
No, the military doesn't pay for flights to and from home for soldiers going on convalescent leave. And as for as going to Madigan in Fort Lewis, well, we're heading there tomorrow. I feel like an idiot for not thinking of it myself.
As far as letting her deal with it, well, letting someone so new in the military handle things for themselves, well, the cadre will walk all over them. In her AIT, with 500 soldiers per company, the Drill Sergeants really stop caring about soldiers. I've been there, done that.
2006-08-28 06:45:04 · update #2
It's quite odd that they sent her home for Convalescent leave. I'm guessing she came home because she wanted to or the military would have provided her transportation. Whenever medical care is needed, it should be done on a military installation. That way, it's all documented correctly and there's a record that can't be disputed. Neither of you followed correct procedures in this matter. You waited far to long to go to Ft. Lewis. This should have been done as soon as the complications started....better yet, she should have stayed at her AIT where she had the surgery and could have gotten proper care. There's no telling what action they'll take with her. There's so many agencies out there that could have helped you as well and the chain of command knows this. Also, being prior military, you should know this. Someone else pointed out Red Cross and AER, as well as ACS, chaplain and others. Basically, her chain of command doesn't care because she didn't follow procedure. However, the 1SG should be doing what he can to get her back now. Sorry for your problems, but there were so many alternatives. Best of luck working all this out and hope it goes the way you need.
2006-08-28 03:21:45 · answer #1 · answered by HEartstrinGs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not accusing here. Too much is simply out of place.
She went into surgery while in Basic / AIT? Was sent back to her hometown? Was not seen at a Military Facility? Madigan Medical facility is right there at Ft. Lewis, they can perform nearly any surgery required by anyone. It simply is not clicking. I have served 14 yewars and righ now serve on a training installation. We do not send Soldiers home for surgery. I am guessing she went home on her Con leave of her own accord.
If a specialist was required, the Army would have sent her there and then had a return ticket back. If airline would not have allowed her on the plane then you should have called her command immediately AND obtained a written memo from the Airline that she would be unable to fly.
There is simply too much missing here. The Army takes very good care of it's own. They do not simply throw a Soldier out to a hospital and say "see you in six days."
2006-08-28 01:59:41 · answer #2 · answered by Q-burt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think you needed to be more pro-active in this issue. She needed to go to the nearest military medical facility and she would have been back in the system and not awol.
You see, its not like a job where you can call in sick. The military are only interested in your body and knowing where its at. When I was in, I got sick on leave and went to a Naval Hospital. When I got back to my unit, they were getting antsie until I handed them my medical file from the Navy, then they dug deeper and found where they were notified of my admisson.
If she was hospitalized, get all that paperwork, keep the orginals and provide the military with a copy of each. You may have to obtain a lawyer to help with all the legal garbage she is facing.
Good Luck
2006-08-28 01:05:07 · answer #3 · answered by bigmikejones 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Now that it is pretty much over and done with. What you should have done is notified the American Red Cross. Why ?? Because they could have verified that your wife was in the Hospital and they would have notified her chain of command. Out of money ?? You should have notified the Army Emergency Relief Folks. They too could have verified your situation and either given you a grant (You don't pay them back) or a loan (you pay them back thru an allotment). As of right now... Your wife needs to have all of her documents showing that she was in the hospital. Write down all of the dates and times that you or her tried to notify the unit that she was in the hospital. I must say though that I find it hard to believe that no one in her chain of command did not care that she was in the hospital and that she had failed to report back from leave. Good Luck
No Mission Too Difficult
No Sacrifice Too Great
DUTY FIRST
SSG, Retired
2006-08-28 01:55:05 · answer #4 · answered by JohnRingold 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there is convalescent leave from boot camp. it's not something they just give to anyone who asks. "uh i think i have the flu can i go on convalescent leave" what your looking for is a faluire to adapt discharge from the military which is avalible to you within the first 180 days of service but it's not something your recruiter can arange for and certianly not somthing done by letter. you would have to talk to a jag and find out the details since you are on here i'm guessing you are not in boot camp yet so you might want to talk to the meps commander. on a more important note don't do it just serve your time that you agreed to and you will be a better person for it.
2016-03-26 22:44:02 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all - - why did you not take her to the Military Hospital in the first place when the problems started -- then they would have the information they needed, contact her unit, and make sure the follow-ups were done properly and you/she would not have the worry you do now?
Right now -- just get her to a base hospital with the Medical Records of Treatment at your local hospital -- and DO collect them ASAP. SHE needs to walk back on that base and take care of her own problems by not reporting in on time. You can drive her there, but she needs to take responsibility for not reporting in, and for not ensuring that she is treated at sick call and reporting in to the base hospital LIKE SHE NEEDS TO in that situation. That is needed and necessary.
2006-08-28 03:14:33 · answer #6 · answered by sglmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They really expect that you report back in and then go to sick call where they either get referred to a different doctor or get put on profile (basically get a dr's note) You really need to have her handle her own issues as much as she can tho b/c it makes it look as tho she's hiding from her responsibilities (I'm not saying she is ....just know how it'll be perceived) Good luck straightening this out but don't expect to get her back pay b/c she wasn't there and really shouldn't get it.
2006-08-28 02:54:38 · answer #7 · answered by . 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a doctor has equal authority to a colonel (not as far as giving orders to the troups goes, but you get the picture.) so if she gets court martialed it gets thrown out i'm sure.
2006-08-28 02:28:40 · answer #8 · answered by sikn_shadow_420 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it looks like the military are about as understanding as every other boss in the world. You would think since your wife is helping to protect our country they could do a little bit to help her. I say move to Canada.
2006-08-28 01:02:40 · answer #9 · answered by flip103158 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
i dont have any advice, but man that is screwed, i feel for ya
a private employer would never be able to pull that crap, it would violate dozens of employment labor laws.
2006-08-28 01:02:51 · answer #10 · answered by crazy mf 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋