Need info from some Army folks (current or recent)

[Grandpa Shooter]

For very personal reasons I need to know how long the Army will keep someone currently listed as non-deployable/medical.  Not likely the situation is going to get better anytime soon.  Does the person get a choice, or just given the heave ho?

You can email me or PM me if you prefer.  Both are available in my profile.

[taurusowner]

It's really case by case and depends on what their job/MOS is, and if they are Active or Reserve/Guard.  For instance, if they have an MOS that is used stateside on bases, the person might just get shuffled to one of those bases to continue performing their duties.

[Grandpa Shooter]

Army infantry/artillery/M-ATV driver certified.

[Northwoods]

I worked with a guy that got medically discharged by the Navy after he tore some tendons in his neck while on a training flight in an F-18.  Apparently the instructor had to take emergency evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision (instructor was PIC at the time if I remember the story correctly, so it wasn't even his fault).

Anyway, he said that he wanted to stay in, was willing to fly a desk, but they booted him pretty much as soon as was out of the hospital/rehab.

[taurusowner]

I would say, depending on his ailment, him getting discharged ranges from probably to not likely.  When I went through basic, many of the cadre running the training lanes, were soldiers who had received various combat injuries that prevented them from returning to the fight, but the Army kept the on to train other other soldiers.  The NCO who ran one of our IED courses was a former EOD specialist who had lost a hand in the line of duty.  And one of the qualification range instructors was an infantry type who had developed a bad limp from some combat related injuries downrange.  Being non-deployable is by no means the end of one's usefulness to the Army. 

[BobR]

Being non-deployable is by no means the end of one's usefulness to the Army. 

A lot of it is the attitude of the person being boarded.

My son ended up with about 1/3 of his heart replaced with cow tissue, an artificial valve and a pacemaker due to misdiagnosis (or lack of) by the Army docs.

He went another 2+ years before being boarded out of the Army and that was because he pushed the issue. I believe they would have allowed him to stay and be non-deployable until he retired in another 7 years. As it was he got a 50% medical retirement at his present paygrade.

He felt he was taking up space and not being deployabe his chances at advancement had come to an end. I didn't think so and tried to convince him to stay in. He will become one of those guys who does nothing usefull from this point on, other than collecting retirment and VA disability I am afraid.

bob

[Jamisjockey]

If he wants to stay in the military and maybe get trained into another billet, and if the Army won't retrain him into another MOS, maybe one of the other services will be willing....

[Gewehr98]

If the condition persists long enough, he'll have to meet a Medical Evaluation Board (aka, MEB).

The outcome of that determines whether the individual will be retained in service with a medical profile, medically separated/discharged, or medically retired.  Medical retirement usually isn't a factor unless the person has well over 10 years in service, and usually closer to 15 years.

Granted this is based on Air Force knowledge, particularly a close friend of mine who got T-boned in an intersection by a cager while riding his motorcycle, resulting in his having a composite organic/metallic pelvic region, but they reassembled him and let him continue to 24 years in service.

The MEB process is pretty much standard across all branches of DoD. 

[Phantom Warrior]

I think you are asking for an answer to an extremely broad question with very little information given.  Like Ragnar Danneskjold said, it could easily go either way.  It would depend on the person's injuries, job, whether they are willing to be retrained, and just how their case hits the the MEB system.

I'm by no means an expert but I don't think anyone that isn't involved with the case can really give you an authoritative answer.  There are no set in stone policies for this kind of thing.

[Devonai]

If he can't reclass to something like 42A (Personnel Specialist, two week MOSQ) then he'll likely get boarded out.  Fortunately every unit needs a 42A, so if he can do that (and he really wants to stay in) then they'll find a place for him.

[Grandpa Shooter]

His new wife is seemingly looking to move to where he is, and at the same time is telling us she can't afford to move.  If he is likely facing involuntary discharge, I don't see the point in moving.  My wife is volunteering me to help her move half way across the country, and I can't say I am pleased with the prospect.

If he does get boarded out, I doubt he would stay there, but I have been wrong before.