Can they admin separate instead of retire for failing body composition measurements?

[nativesun79]

I have a chronic condition that has led to receiving waivers for the waist measurement for the last seven years, along with profiles for no running due to multiple herniated and bulging discs. Now that the waist measurement (abdominal circumference) has been removed from the PT test, my PCM indicated I do not need that exemption on my profile. However, the DoDI still requires body composition tests to be done (which were previously done using the AC), and those are set to resume in October 2021. I currently do not have an ADSC and am eligible to retire on 1 Jul 2022.

I was approved to transfer to the USSF, which comes with a 2 year ADSC. My concern is that if I transfer and my PCM refuses to provide an exemption for the body composition test in the DoDI, that they could try to administratively separate me instead of allowing me to retire in a year. My first PT test or PHA that would measure height and weight under the DoDI would be in Jan 2022. This concern is causing me to consider not accepting my transfer into the USSF.

I have looked through the regs and I have not found the information I'm looking for. Can they admin separate instead of allow you to retire for non-criminal offenses such as failing a body composition requirement?

 

[RonG]

[selected text]
I have looked through the regs and I have not found the information I'm looking for. Can they admin separate instead of allow you to retire for non-criminal offenses such as failing a body composition requirement?

Generally, an administrative separation can occur for any number of reasons, including:

• A pattern of misconduct;
• Drug abuse;
• Insubordination;
• Weight control issues;
• Nonperformance of duties; or
• Poor duty performance.

I am not familiar with the military regulations on this matter; however, I distinctly remember a case from long ago (with 24th Infantry Division) where an Army SFC/E7 was denied reenlistment or extension even though he had something like 19 years 5 months, all active duty. A bar to reenlistment had been initialed earlier in his then-current enlistment. That case is not like yours, but it does show that the soldier did not have an automatic entitlement to complete the 20 years AD, under the regulations in force at the time.

Good luck,
Ron

 

[chaplaincharlie]

Talking to to your doc. There are medical conditions that make maintaining a normal body composition medically impossible. Have him/her wite that in your medical records. Have you considered retiring vice transferring to Space?

 

[nativesun79]

@RonG thanks for the info.

@chaplaincharlie I have considered just staying in the USAF until retirement to not incur an additional ADSC. My entire career has been space, so it would be nice to be in a service that aligns with what I did my entire career.

I have had the medical condition documented in my medical file since 2013 and have been through two IRILOs, both of which returned me to duty and one provided an ALC-C2 code that made me non-deployable. The new Chief of Flt Medicine removed my exemption last year indicating that my numbers were "starting to look better" despite the fact that I had not achieved maximum medical rehabilitation nor was there an improvement in my weight or ability to lose weight.

I'm not as concerned about hitting 20, as even if they start the height weight measurement in Jan 2022 (my next PT test after this one in July), they would have to document a failure and then provide several months to correct the issue before they could even initiate administrative actions. By that time I would be at 20 years.

The real question, which I have not found in the regs, is assuming all that happens and they decide to pursue admin actions, can they deny a retirement of a service member with 20+ years of duty, all under honorable conditions, that now does not meet their medical requirements as a result of the service not providing the same medical exemption that they did for the last 8 years?

 

[chaplaincharlie]

If the medics do not concur that your current medical conditions make your weight outside your control, administrative action can be taken. Even if you end up retired vice administrative action, the wait for a decision will not be fun. I've seen it happen.