CC Letter

T1D

T1D

PEB Forum Regular Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
Mine was just sent up. Obviously the objective here is to keep me in for at least 4 more years so I can retire. Does anyone with any experience have anything I might want to ask my CC to add? Thanks!


Memorandum for Record

RE: xxx

YOS: 15 Years 10 Months


Xx. Xx Xx is an outstanding leader in the Air force. Xx was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April 2015. Xx’s primary AFSC is an Instructor/Evaluator Combat Systems Officer; additionally he is the 55WG OPSEC Program Manager (OPM). Xx is an outstanding aviator, hand selected to teach and train 55WG leadership coming into the RC-135 community. His abilities as an aviator, instructor and evaluator are above reproach. Currently Xx must take insulin to manage his diabetes which places him in a Duties Not to Include Flying (DNIF) status. Xx fulfills his role as an instructor doing academic and simulator training for RJ fliers. Xx is an outstanding OPM, winning the 2014 ACC OPSEC Program Manager of the year and is competing for the Air Force OPSEC Program Manager of the year. He is a vital member of the 55WG/XP plans division where his inputs have been critical to the success of 55WG conventional plans. His medical condition have NO impact to our in garrison mission! In his position as OPM his cannot deploy for longer than 60 days (AFI 10-701 ACC SUP 1) and keeping him in garrison actually increases his effectiveness as the OPM. To bolster his instructional acumen Xx has been working on his PhD. and will graduate in 2016.

Xx. Xx has missed minimal time due to his medical condition. When he was first diagnosed he spent three days in the hospital to stabilize his blood sugar and spent two more days at home recovering. After the five days he has returned to work and has only had a few medical follow-up appointments that have kept him out of the office for a short period of time. He works hard to schedule his appointments around critical times at work so there is no impact on the mission. I have spoken with Xx. Faith, Xx’s primary care manager, who sees no reason that his condition would preclude him from continuing service to the Air Force. Xx is fully capable of performing any tasks that the Air Force asks. Unfortunately AFI’s mandate that Type 1 diabetes is a medical condition that is not compatible with flight. Xx works diligently to control his diabetes through diet and exercise, using insulin only when needed. His diet modifications minimized, but not eliminated, the need for injections. Xx’s experience as an instructor sets him up to continue as an instructor in any field, to include college academics! I personally feel that Xx would have no issues in deploying, so long as he has access to insulin. Yes, this will limit the locations that he may deploy to, but it should not fully preclude him from deploying.

I whole heartedly recommend keeping Xx. Xx in the Air Force. He is a vital asset to the xxWG and losing him would have a detrimental impact on our mission. I fully understand that he would be coded as non-deployable, assignment limitation code – C, but he still will help complete the mission. Additionally, I would recommend that Xx become an instructor for the Air Force. Ideal options include teaching in the Air University at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Academic instructor or Commander of Cadets, USAFA, or a ROTC instructor. We simply cannot allow a great instructor as Xx to leave the Air Force! He will have a positive impact on future generations of Airmen.
 
T1D said:
Mine was just sent up. Obviously the objective here is to keep me in for at least 4 more years so I can retire. Does anyone with any experience have anything I might want to ask my CC to add? Thanks!

Memorandum for Record

RE: xxx

YOS: 15 Years 10 Months

Xx. Xx Xx is an outstanding leader in the Air force. Xx was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April 2015. Xx’s primary AFSC is an Instructor/Evaluator Combat Systems Officer; additionally he is the 55WG OPSEC Program Manager (OPM). Xx is an outstanding aviator, hand selected to teach and train 55WG leadership coming into the RC-135 community. His abilities as an aviator, instructor and evaluator are above reproach. Currently Xx must take insulin to manage his diabetes which places him in a Duties Not to Include Flying (DNIF) status. Xx fulfills his role as an instructor doing academic and simulator training for RJ fliers. Xx is an outstanding OPM, winning the 2014 ACC OPSEC Program Manager of the year and is competing for the Air Force OPSEC Program Manager of the year. He is a vital member of the 55WG/XP plans division where his inputs have been critical to the success of 55WG conventional plans. His medical condition have NO impact to our in garrison mission! In his position as OPM his cannot deploy for longer than 60 days (AFI 10-701 ACC SUP 1) and keeping him in garrison actually increases his effectiveness as the OPM. To bolster his instructional acumen Xx has been working on his PhD. and will graduate in 2016.

Xx. Xx has missed minimal time due to his medical condition. When he was first diagnosed he spent three days in the hospital to stabilize his blood sugar and spent two more days at home recovering. After the five days he has returned to work and has only had a few medical follow-up appointments that have kept him out of the office for a short period of time. He works hard to schedule his appointments around critical times at work so there is no impact on the mission. I have spoken with Xx. Faith, Xx’s primary care manager, who sees no reason that his condition would preclude him from continuing service to the Air Force. Xx is fully capable of performing any tasks that the Air Force asks. Unfortunately AFI’s mandate that Type 1 diabetes is a medical condition that is not compatible with flight. Xx works diligently to control his diabetes through diet and exercise, using insulin only when needed. His diet modifications minimized, but not eliminated, the need for injections. Xx’s experience as an instructor sets him up to continue as an instructor in any field, to include college academics! I personally feel that Xx would have no issues in deploying, so long as he has access to insulin. Yes, this will limit the locations that he may deploy to, but it should not fully preclude him from deploying.

I whole heartedly recommend keeping Xx. Xx in the Air Force. He is a vital asset to the xxWG and losing him would have a detrimental impact on our mission. I fully understand that he would be coded as non-deployable, assignment limitation code – C, but he still will help complete the mission. Additionally, I would recommend that Xx become an instructor for the Air Force. Ideal options include teaching in the Air University at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Academic instructor or Commander of Cadets, USAFA, or a ROTC instructor. We simply cannot allow a great instructor as Xx to leave the Air Force! He will have a positive impact on future generations of Airmen.
Click to expand...

In my opinion, the aforementioned statement from your CC seems to very comprehensively address your current ability to perform assigned military duties within the unit despite the symptomatology of your medical condition, and hopefully should be most beneficial in your attempts to remain on active duty in the U.S. military.

As such, the CC letter conforms to the typical performance/administrative evidence required for inclusion to a DoD IDES case file. Other performance/administrative evidence includes evaluation reports, military physical fitness tests, and approved Line of Duty investigations (if applicable). Please take care and continue to get well! :)

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: T1D
A great CC letter. It addresses work performance and value to the AF well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: T1D
That is remarkably well written and heart warming. It is also persuasive and argue mental. I hope all goes well in your pursuit. It sounds like things will go your way.
Always keep an open mind.
 
  • Like
Reactions: T1D
Thank you so much for the feedback. First meeting with the PEBLO Office today, and they let me know they were pushing for TDRL before I even came in. The Flight Doc and my endo were more than helpful with stating how I got an excellent on a PT test 2 months after my diagnosis. My boss is getting my Group and Wing Commanders to write letters similar to the one from the Squadron Commander. I had flown with the Group and Wing Commanders within the last year, so they were going to write a narrative of how I instructed them and how I could go somewhere to teach. Any input on their letters would be great. Thank you!
 
One recommendation I could make from your last post that has helped out a bit during my MEB process would be "Referral Letters". Whether you're trying to explain a medical issue or trying to stay in. Have family, friends, and defiantly co-workers, write about your progression as well as your performance within the last few months. State about your medical issue and how it effected your performance in either a positive or negative way (positive as in it has no relative issue in your performance if you're to stay in. This can help you significantly in the long run.
The more the better.
 
Great idea. My doctor said I was the most motivated patient she ever had, and made a personal recommendation with how she "knew" I would be more than capable to stay in at least until retirement. This should be interesting. I wish there were some statistics where we could see how people in our shoes have done in the past.
 
Research. Just research how many people with diabetes have stayed in or are still in. See what they have done that helped them make that possible. Tweak it to your comfort and compile an argument. No one would have anything to argue against proof. Research and recommendations' is a good start on your free time brother. Good luck in your pursuit on staying in!
 
Just a thought- it is difficult to be retained as a pilot in the AF with diabetes. I am not saying it cannot be done- just that it is difficult. With that in mind, I point out that it is possible to extend the MEB/PEB process via exercising appeal options. I have a case currently with a SAFPC appeal (which, of course, came after the Formal PEB) which was filed in October of last year. That means that the SAFPC portion of the case has lasted so far more than 9 months. A VA rating reconsideration can take several months. It is not unheard of for cases to take more than a year to process from the point of the FPEB moving forward.

The advantage of this? Well, aside from continuing to draw pay and increase your time in service, you can also continue to perform, show good control of your blood sugars, gather additional ongoing support from your chain of command. Continued strong performance can only help your case.

Limited Assignment Status is something you can also consider.

The downside of the argument that you are fit and should be returned to duty is that it means committing to an argument that you are "not all that disabled." So, if things go sideways and you are found unfit, will be hard to show that you should be retired.

The letter looks good.

All of this is just food for thought. Hope you get a good outcome!
 
Thanks so much, Jason. The PEBLO Office and Airman's Counsel rep I spoke with encouraged me to let the VA doctors know what my symptoms were, and how I have improved. They almost made it seem as if TDRL or LAS were going to be just about the only options for me. After looking into TDRL, it seems as if this would be something my Chain of Command could advocate for via letters to the board. What is confusing to me is if the results come back without getting TDRL. In that case, would I appeal, apply for LAS, or both?
 
T1D said:
After looking into TDRL, it seems as if this would be something my Chain of Command could advocate for via letters to the board. What is confusing to me is if the results come back without getting TDRL. In that case, would I appeal, apply for LAS, or both?
Click to expand...

First, I can't tell you what to do or what the best approach would be. That said, I don't care much for asking the chain or having the chain advocate for an outcome. Such recommendations are not very helpful and can backfire.

Second, I don't know what advantage or good would come from getting placed on TDRL. Though it is possible to return to duty from TDRL, the odds are against it. Likely, even more so for a pilot (or senior folks, generally).


You don't "apply" for TDRL, technically. It is something you could argue for. You do apply for LAS. It is also not often granted, but, if you are found unfit, it may be the most likely way to continue to serve until retirement. The problem is that if you are truly doing well, relatively speaking, then you may not have a good path for a retirement finding for diabetes. So, if the facts are what I am understanding, it may be that a return to duty finding is your best option. If that fails, maybe LAS will work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: T1D
That makes a lot of sense. It sounds like my PEBLO Office might have been a bit misinformed with how that process works. They seemed to be convinced I would be able to finish out my final 4 years until retirement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top