I have come up on a very hard time in my career. I have 17yrs in as an E-7 and I am up for promotion and of course transfer. I am caught up in the housing market and can’t move the family. I can’t rent the house (would cost me about $600 and can’t afford) and if I sell I would lose at least 100K and my life savings. Turning down the promotion is going to cost me a lot (I can live with that), but more than likely I will not be able to stay here. I have been on Limited Duty due to the fact that I can’t leave the family. It has been a very hard time for me since this is the first time I have ever been like this. I want to be able to go Geo Bach, but I just can’t do it. I love the CG, but I am trapped between leaving the family and the CG. One thing that I am beginning told is that I might be medical boarded. I don’t want to go that way but I just might not be able to avoid it. I know that different people have been in this situation and I was wondering what are my options, if I go to a med board what am I looking at for retirement, and is there any other options that I might be overlooking? My command is trying to help me and they are looking at all options to help me. I truly love the CG and it pains me to be in this situation and I have been a hard worker all my career and I don’t want it to end. I am also scared about the job market on the outside. Any advice is greatly welcome.

How did you cope with being away from the family when you were underway? How did you deal with it then?

I'm guessing you're on limited duty due to depression? I've read your previous posts and the underlying help you're calling out for might not be found here. I urge you to seek out EAP and any emotional counseling available to you.

quote:

Originally posted by CgShipmate:
I urge you to seek out EAP and any emotional counseling available to you.

+ 1

I also think that it may be a good idea to keep your family involved in the decision-making process.

I am using EAP and other doctors, but it just does not seem to be helping like it should. I have almost seven years sea time and at the time it did not bother me doing my patrols. Both of my kids were born while I was on the ship and when I left my last ship they were three and two. Even after that I have been to many different "C" schools (one week to two months long) and the CPOA and that did not bother me at all. I just don't understand why I am having this problem now. I guess having the family in the homeport was ok and now I will not have that option. I am just curious what other people with a med retirement got. I am trying to look at all my options and worst case. I feel like I have failed and I don't want to end a great career like this. Thanks again. My family is also very involved and that is part of the proble I have such a strong family and so very close to them. I just wonder if the CG is going to help with the "work life" I have heard soo much about. The thing I have going for me is my command and that is lucky for me.

quote:

I feel like I have failed

Don't think like that shipmate. You provide a great living for your family, and I hope everything works out for you.

Sorry to hear you are having such troubles. If your diagnosis/treatment is one that requires discharge IAW the MedMan, then your advancement and relocation decisions are moot. I've seen several CG medical boards and not one of them was awarded more than 30pct - even serious conditions. Your best bet is to engage the VA through a Veterans Service Organization representative or VA counselor. They can give you the best advice if discharge is pending.

If you are allowed to remain in the CG and undergo treatment, take the advancement, geo-bach for 3 years. You will be much better off w/ retirement and you will be surprised how quick it goes.

Someone I know very well was allowed to stay at his last unit until he retired. This person had 18 years and was med boarded, and had to get out at 20. I really admired his command and the Coast Guard for allowing this hard working individual to do this. There are ways. Good luck.

Everyone hits speed bumps in life and needs some help getting through them. I'll leave the specifics of medical issues to the professionals. I would caution you on putting too much of that on these boards though, you don't know who is reading them.

Work Life is an assistance program, but rarely do they step in to official boards, though I have seen it in a catastrophic medical situation. They may be able to assist with transitional issues.

As far as the career advice, I'll give you what I would give any E-7 sitting at my desk. You must look at the options you have control over and address them properly. You are an E-7 with 17 yrs, and should be well aware of most of the CG programs at this point in your career. I'm assuming the promotion is to E-8 from your initial post, and will tell it like an E-7/8 should be able to hear it. Sorry if it's "offensive," but you don't have alot of time and you asked for the advice. (Your Profile leaves alot to assumption here, which may or may not be accurate, but so be it.)

World Wide Assignment is the fundamental CG eligibility requirement. If you are not eligible, you won't get the promotion if it's contingent on your transfer. And if your job is already filled, you're out of a job. Two E-7's can't occupy the same billet. Now that your Command is aware of your issues, they may not want you to remain there. Your replacement will take over and you will fade to the background.

Having an E-7 in this position is not good for an extended time at a Command. Usually they are the leader and the example for junior enlisted. So while you may have their support at this time, they still have a command to run, and your replacement to bring up to speed. You may be transferred to the nearest support command until your situation is finalized. This could change your allowances for better or worse. Check it out.

Have you investigated the Reserve option? I''m not sure how close you are to end of current contract. This may keep you close to your family, but you're still subject to activation, which could be away also. If you are medically discharged of retired, you won't be eligible for the Reserves. And if there's not a Reserve billet nearby, you may have to travel to drill.

You are already in the medical system and should be discussing what a Med Board means to you and your family with your nearest Personnel Officer/Chief and/or Medical Officer or Chief. Reaching Retirement or not reaching it, impacts your family both financially and for benefits.

Med Boards are not predictable, as every case is different. Frankly, they aren't a reliable financial planning tool either. Your entire career and medical record will be taken apart and examined. Yours is not the only case on the table, so don't expect something to happen right away.

Find out the difference between medical discharge and medical retirement. I believe they are different animals with different benefits. Again, these are questions for the Personnel and Medical advisors for current info that you can use for your particular case.

Playing devils advocate here, there may be a number of cases the Med Board can reference similar to yours. You aren't the first person who has issues separating from your family, or maintaining a house in a bad economy, etc. It could be cut and dry and a very quick turnaround with a rubber stamp and a DD-214. You need to be prepared for that too.

Mental Health is a gray area that is viewed carefully by the military and the outside world too. The process alone can be extremely stressful and emotionally draining on the individual and the family. A good lawyer, a great therapist, a world of patience, and a good nest egg are the backbones for success in this area. I went through this with a friend for a civilian disability case not long ago. There are more mental health cases and legal decisions to reference these days than there used to be.

I'm sorry to sound so harsh, but these are all realities that you may have to deal with if your case goes to a Med Board. If you are claiming a medical issue is precluding you from WWA in the CG, that's their final option and you may not have any choices at this point.

A solid look at discharge prior to retirement and that impact on you and your family will help you decide which is more doable. There are no "easy" decisions in this type situation. That's why it's important to talk to those who can advise you on the impacts now, including and most especially your therapist. This way you can make an informed decision with your family.

Three years isn't that long in the grand scheme of life, compared to the security of a military retirement and benefits for you and your family. If it's at all possible to put yourself in a mindset that your "underway while away," and your "home port is where your family is," you'll never regret it! I know it may not be possible though, and wish you well in this situation.

Good Luck to you and your Family!

Its only money , Look into the HAP program, that should help you negate some of your loss on the house, if you lose money on the house but it cost you the retirement then you have probably lost a lot more than that.

Lots of sound advice already given. Here's my straight-up armchair 2 cents.

1. You're not alone with this situation, there have been others too.

2. You didn't exactly say why you're on limited duty other than you "can't leave the family"? If that is the medical issue you speak of....I'm not sure that is an actual medical issue in the eyes of the CG. It might be what "you" feel is a med issue, but the CG might see it as an personal issue. You have to be eligible for world-wide assignment. As an E7 you should already know this and/or have been told this....hence the anxiety. Did someone in your Chain already tell you this? Maybe your CSC/CMC?? It's a tough pill to swallow sometimes...but it's doable. Which leads me to #3.....

3. Geo-batching is easy. Alot of folks have done it recently with the housing market. A couple have even posted on here. I went temp geo-batch for this tour I'm on now. It's actually pretty easy and gives you a chance to focus on the new promo and job. I'm making an assumption here....your part of your local CPO Mess??? If so, they can help out with keeping an eye on the family and homefront should an emergency arise while you geo-batch. Did you talk to the COM?

4. As an E7, you should also know that you can submit your retirement letter 24 months out. You're not there yet.

5. I see three options:

a. If you absolutely feel you can't go geo-batch from the family, you will be putting yourself in the position of leaving the CG.....possibly with no retirement of any kind....including a med retirement.

b. Accept the fact you will be transferring and possible with a new promo, take the family and eat the $600 a month on the house. Remember, it's only temporary (2 years).

c. Accept the fact you will be transferring as a geo-batch and possibly with a new promo. The CG rquires you to do 2 yrs for the promo. It goes by quick.

YN102 - Two people can temp fill one billet. The AO's can use that as a temp tool to resolve a temp issue somewhere else in their pipeline. It's not the norm, but it is at their disposal.

Shipmate,
From your tone and what you've posted I recommend you do a few things. Schedule a follow up with your PCM to discuss how you're doing. Contact your HS, or if you'd prefer you can always talk with your cognizant CG clinic, ask to speak to the HSC/HSCS/HSCM/CWO MED for advice. Keep the dialogue with your family, supervisor, pastor etc. going, especially when you have not so good days.
Everyone has opinions on med boards, most of which have no effing idea of what they spew so be careful about listing to sea lawyers.
I'm in the global if you need someone to talk to.
CWO Andersen

quote:

I am also scared about the job market on the outside. Any advice is greatly welcome.

My career ended due to a medboard so I know a LITTLE about them.

You have 17 years invested in the CG. Three more and you are home free. That's a lot of time to potentially throw away. It is highly unlikely that IF you were medically retired that retirement would come close to what you would have if you could make it through the next three years.

Something else to keep in mind.....the housing market is beginning to turn around. It is possible the family separation would not be for the full three years. Plus, 30 days leave per year....you will have opportuunities to see them.

Scared of the job market on the outside? You should be, it is truly in th etoilet right now. You didn't mention your rating so there is no way to know how easily that might transfer to the civilian side.

Do everything you can to work through the separation anxiety, it will be well worth it.

To the OP, after reading your posts, I really wanted to provide you with some great suggestions but I have nothing that others haven't already mentioned. I too, was going to suggest doing your last three, or more I guess, in the Reserves.

Take a look at this thread. I see a bunch of strangers who are trying to help you out. Now that alone has got to mean something. From what you are posting, the folks in the CG who know you are apparently trying to do the same.

Listen clearly...."You are NOT a failure!!!" Do whatever you can to fight off stress and depression. Been there, done that after an on-the-job accident that cost me my career in Customs tagteamed with the wife taking off with her boyfriend, all in 2004.

Here some advice from my dad that I will share with you. He said, "Don, your sons are still looking to you as an example. Would you want Donnie (my Marine Corps son) to quit if he got hurt?"

Hopefully you can understand why I think that advice might help push you along through the really tough days and nights.

Please work on that stress.

I'll end with a quote that will seem very sappy as it is from "Rocky VI" but when I heard it, it really hit home with me;

From Rocky VI when he was talking to his son

"You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!" - Rocky

Good luck,

Don

BZ to every poster in this thread for keeping it on topic and pleasant. Somewhat of a rare trait now days for a member to post a personal problem, and great advice be given in reply.

T

ok, some straight talk:

Your pay raise will be $418 a month, just in base pay alone. So I just took care of 2/3rds of that $600 of the rental option. Choose the right place to live, the right cable plan, the right cell phone plan, the right internet plan, the right insurance deductable, etc and you can easily find the rest.

You don't want to sell, fine. I am not gonna be a softie and tell you I feel bad for your situation housing market wise. I'd bet if you made $499,999.99 profit you'd laugh all the way to the bank knowing you didn't have to share a dime of that in taxes, so any loss below that, I don't expect to have to share a dime with you either.

So my advice is pretty easy. That doesn't mean you will ike it, and I am sure I won't be on your Christmas Card list, but here it goes:

Suck it up, take the advancement, take the transfer, take either the sale loss or rental loss (the market WILL come back in time) and move on.