Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diabetic_Iz_Me on December 6, 2008 at 8:42pm

Christine-

Hello! I would say the chances are slim but he can stay in. He would have to get his A1C closer to 6.0 to do so. I will check with my husband and see what the requirements are but I think it is doable. Just might be a lot of hard work for your husband. I will see what I can find out and I will f/up with you.
I was in the Army Reserves for 4.5 years and I remember reading an article about a guy who was Active Duty and he was Type 1. He kept his A1C under 6 he stayed in and adventual begged them to let him go to Iraq, he went. Anything is possible. let's see what we can do.

Cherise

Permalink Reply by stretched2thin on January 4, 2009 at 3:44pm

see if he can get a verterans retirment if he serve in iraq. I know a few marines retired at 15 years for their service with tours to iraq.

also theres a type 1 who is still in a point of contact for my family. he was told as long as his health was great and he could control his sugars with out a break in his work he would be fine.

Permalink Reply by Charles Scot Noble on January 20, 2009 at 7:31am

The National Guard is playing a huge part with the war in Iraq. In some cases even more than the active duty. Unless he can find a position within his unit or within other units within the state that is a non-deployable position that he can fill, than he will be Medically discharged from the National Guard. I understand what it means to want to continue the mission and be told that you can't. I was MEDIVAC From Iraq after a motor attack during OIF2. It is frustrating, you feel like your letting down your troops, and that you have failed.
One thing he can do or you can do is contact your Congress person or your senator and let them know of the situation and see if they can talk to his unit and state command to see if there is anything available for him that is a non-deployable position. Recruiting comes to mind. As a Recruiter he would be considered non-deployable due to his job. this might be an option he needs to look into.
He could also contact the DAV Disabled American Veterans and see what they could do to help. Unfortunarly in the military its all about who you know. Unless he knows someone who is willing to help him with a job in a position that he dose not have to deploy, the Military will be forced to Medically Discharge him. The upside is that he should receive Disability because his diabetes got worse while serving.
I wish I had better advice and news for you but this is the best i can think of. I hope it helps in some way. Tell you husband thank you and thank you for supporting him. i know how hard it can be i look back at my wife and what she had to go through while I was in.
Take care.

Permalink Reply by Kaliariamommy on February 3, 2009 at 10:59am

I sorry it's taken me so long to reply to this. Well he got a notice on 14 January that he will be medically discharged on 1 March.Which my husband is appealing and will likely lose. His commander is willing to fight for him on this, and was willing to look for a non deployable position. Unfortunately the two recruiting positions that were available we taken about 10 days before my husband found them. The commander was thinking of making a position non deployable, however he feels as though that would be setting a precedence that he would have to follow with other service members in a similar position. The commander has allowed him to do drill weekends, although he cannot perform military duty...so the commander suggested he use the time to research to win his appeal.
We have started writing letters to congressmen and senators, maybe something will happen there. The thing that is neat in all of this is that he has so many people backing him and helping him.. from his first sgt. to his commander, to a one star general my mother knows.
The hardest part is to see my husband go through this. He joined the Army when he was 17 through a delayed entry program...he has since served in active duty army, army national guard and air national guard. He told his commander he felt like they were cutting his leg off. The kicker which I think adds insult to injury is that they are not retiring him because he has less than 15 years in. His 15th anniversary in the military is June 5,2010. He is so close and so far...
Thank you for your help.
Christine

Permalink Reply by charles adams on May 7, 2009 at 6:38pm

keep fighting, I fought for 2 years and finally wone my battle with the Marine Corps last April. I was diagnosed type 1 shortly after my 10 year mark. I kept my A1C under 7 the whole time. I went as far as requesting a formal board just like Cuba Gooding Jr. did in men of honor. I have now just passed my 12 year mark on active duty. I wish you the best of luck, it can be done.

Permalink Reply by Curtis Jeffries on June 6, 2009 at 6:40pm

I am in a similar situatuation. Approaching 18 years with 3 trips to the desert. Will the medical discharge have any monetary gain (disabilty pay) tied to it or is he just out cold with no retirement?

Permalink Reply by Tom Goffe on August 28, 2009 at 5:07am

I know this is probably too late to help, but it sounds like you are on the right track. I can really empathize with him. I joined the Reserve and did Basic in the summer between my Junior and Senior year in HS then did 14 years on active duty before Type I ended that. No retirement (disability or normal), no benefits, no nothing. As it was, the VA sent me to college for free, and as hard as it was things have turned out well.

Permalink Reply by Type1 on September 22, 2009 at 11:07am

Christine, I sure would like to hear the latest on you and your husband. I just joined here and after reading this, my heart goes out to you both. I am a Vietnam Vet, so I am used to being treated like "crap". I am just thankful that our troops today do NOT receive the type of treatment we(Vietnam Vets) received when we returned. I understand why some of "our"guys were afraid to return to the states.

Permalink Reply by Kaliariamommy on September 22, 2009 at 11:40am

Hello all,
Well my husband turned his appeal in on 20, march of this year. We have not heard anything until last week when he got a call stating that his appeal (namely his medical evaluation from his family doctor) was "lost." So now he has to get another medical evaluation, the problem is that he is under VA care now and he can't see a practioner until the end of october, they say that is too long to wait. It looks like he will lose his appeal. We do know that if he is medically discharged there will be no compensation. It's very frustrating. Unfortunately his last a1c was 8.1. He is due to get another one in october, hopefully his insulin has been adjusted to the right dosages to bring that down.
Thanks for all the imput!
Christine

Permalink Reply by Type1 on October 4, 2009 at 6:19pm

I will be praying for him and you Christine. Tell him a Vietnam Vet that has been thru all this crude is on his side.

Permalink Reply by Emily Whiting on November 6, 2009 at 11:47am

Christine,

Only being a brat I only know very little about staying in... Although I do know that my dad has 3 soliders in hes unit he at Fort Sill that has Type 1 and who all use insulin pumps. I will try my best to find out more information for you...

You may email me at ewhiting@rocketmail.com or armymansfieldbrat@yahoo.com

Permalink Reply by Natasha Bowlds on April 22, 2010 at 9:32am

http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,SS_060905_Diabetes,00.html
I know I'm probably too late, but this is the story of a type 1 diabetic who fought and won his case to stay in the military.
Natasha