RE: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,184008,00.html

I spent 23 years in Naval Aviation and must say, after reading some of the letters from other service members, I had to throw in my 2 cents worth. I, like many others, always felt that going to sick bay would hinder or even ruin my abilitie to further my career. My medical record isn't the largest or smallest for a retiree, but nothing has been added since my leaving the Navy in 1994. I wonder sometimes if I had paid more attention to the aches and pains, that I wouldn't be wondering just why certain ailments crop up now and then. I do not consider myself "old" in any way, whatever that description of a person means, but I do know that those who spend 20 or more years in any service on active duty need to pay more attention to their medical physical and mental well-being. Take care of yourself, or you may well find that your later years will be spent constantly in a doctors office or worse. Ron Wheeler, USN Ret., AMHC

Several factors have to be considered in comparing active vs reserve longivity rates. One - many reservists spend up to 18 years active duty before they are REQUIRED not to pursue additional active duty that would qualify them for military retirement. Two- civilian occupations such as law enforcement, firemen, EMTs are high stress jobs that may exceed the stress of many active duty members.

It is important for ALL active duty members to document ANY and ALL ailments and medical problems that they encounter during active to support future VA disability claims. The VA does NOT recognize the arduous effects of a lifetime of military service in determining a disability rating. A veteran is rated with the same formula whether they spent 30 years in the military or one year (based on personal experience). It is true that there are some medical conditions that can negatively affect a career, but each person must understand that a 30 year career has another likely 30 years of living attached to it (or more). As such, protect yourself and document those medical ailments no matter how insignificant at the time.

I never thought about the difference in Active Duty Retirees and Reserveist retirees. I served 23 years, Navy and Air Force, returned to college, got my degree, worked in several jobs, finally retired for perhaps I didn't. I have worked at an Air Force Base golf course for ten years as a volunteer and serve as a volunteer 6th grade math tutor two full days per week. I play golf and do weight training at the base gym twice a week. I am 80 years of age and take only 4 pills a day. When the Lord wants you, your past doesn't matter.

There's liars, damn liars, and then there's statisticians as the old saying goes. How do you define an active versus a reserve retiree when qualifying reservists don't actually retire until their 60th birthday, at least for enlisted swine like myself, so they won't show up on the radar until well past the active duty folks do. Look at the mortality rates of the Vet's from each war/conflict after WWII, especially 'Nam Vet's like myself, and ask yourself what happened and why - that would be of interest. Yea, I did 14 months in 'Nam and sometime later did 21 years more in the Army Guard, Air Guard, and Army Reserves so what "catagory" will I go in when I take that dirt nap? Take this crap with a grain of salt and temper what you see by the fact that it was written by folks who HAVE to come up with articles to eat, get promoted, or just stir the pot to get their shot at a Pulitzer.

Commentators on reserve officers being under less military career pressure than active officers know NOTHING about ROPMA. Reserve officers are under more pressure due to the practice of up or out. For example, Reservists often have to travel several hundreds miles just to attend drills due to availability of postions corresponding to rank. Reservists also must meet all the same personnel and military career requirements as active duty personnel, in addition to meeting all civilian career requirements and family obligations.

In 1988, I retired from the Marine Corps after 21 years in Marine Aviation. I had been a radar technician on the F-4J Phantom II and rose to the rank of MSGT. My last eight years were spent as in Avionics Logistics and involved traveling usually one week each month.
In June of 1992, I had a problem with bleeding due to an anal fissure that was discovered during my retirement physical, but no action recommended. I went to the VA Hospital in St. Paul, MN for treatment. I told them at that time that I could also feel an obstruction in my bowel when I wiped. They scheduled me for surgery and told me that normally they would do a complete colonoscopy before surgery, but thought it would be safe to skip it. I didn't know any better and agreed to the surgery without the colonoscopy. I have had no further problems with the anal fissure. In September of 1992, I was diagnosed with colon cancer and had a tumor removed that was only 4 cm into the colon. I am absolutely positive that the surgeons at the VA doing my anal fissure surgery had to have seen the tumor and sent me home to die with no mention that I should have it checked further. I just had a full colonoscopy today and have had no recurrence of the cancer since 1992. I believe part of the higher death rate for active duty retirees is the lackadaisical attitude of the VA doctors.
Jay R. Anderson, MSGT USMC Retired