Marine here needing some advice. Starting to lose sleep over PEB.

Hey all, Marine POG Sergeant here with almost 10 years of service looking for some peace of mind from any expert advice available. I know no answer is definite when it comes to PEB results but I'm hoping someone who has been around long enough has noticed any specific trends for Marines. You can skip to the questions if you don't want to read everything.

Background:
I'm on a PEB for a shoulder injury that occurred almost 4 years ago. It started as a laberal tear but has quickly become something more severe. Up until last year I went thru physical therapy but was still running PFT's, CFT's and doing all the standard annual training in full pain but with the degradation of performance. I was "sucking it up" like we are all expected to but now I can barely sit for long periods without my back hurting, move my neck without it popping or lift my arm up higher than shoulder height without a shooting pain down my left arm.

Fast forward to last year, new duty station where I finally ditched my pride and did all the light duty and limdu and another round of physical therapy as prescribed. Unfortunately things did not get better and as soon as surgery was recommended by my ortho I was also referred to go on a PEB since my contract is almost up.

This brings us to today. I have no option for surgery at the moment since I'm on the C&P portion of the PEB and I'm scared I might be found FIT (since I do mainly have a desk job) but unable to reenlist due to inability to pass annual training. I find it unsettling to think that I might be separated without severance and with a messed up shoulder for the rest of my life.

This leaves me to my questions and uncertainty in all this:

1. What are the trends in non-combat MOS Marines being found fit? Since most of us are "riflemen" first (and as a POG I know that's a loaded statement) are decisions based on their ability to be combat ready? If not, is my inability to pass a PFT/CFT, shoot on the range, effectively lead my Marines at PT, and go out to the field considered? How do they expect me to be eligible for promotion and reenlistment if they find me fit but unable to perform?

2. My CO turned my NMA in already and stated that I'm a good performer of my MOS but I cannot do any of the physical requirements that are expected of a full duty Marine. Did he hurt me by saying that I do my job well? I do the work but I'm in constantly working in pain and have to pop 100mg of ultram before working, they don't know that.

3. How do you deal with this stress? It sucks having your fate being decided by a handful of people you've never met. It really takes the control out of your life and it's driving me nuts. Also, all the C&P appointments I've had have me driving 2-3 hours outside my city on weekends (I'm at an independent duty) and it's starting to take its toll. It feels like I haven't relaxed in weeks.

4. There is a sense of shame involved. I was not willfully referred to a PEB and didn't even know what it was until a month ago. I know there are guys and gals out there with crazier injuries than mine and it makes me second guess the whole process. I feel like I'm not worthy of it and just embarrassing myself. When I go to my doc and C&P I can feel judgement about how my injury effects my MOS. It's weird. At one point I almost believed I wasn't even hurt (even though MRI shows I am) and just being "WAB". Has anyone felt this effect before?

Anyway thanks for reading and sorry about the wall of text.
 
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I was former Marine, too...had 14 years in. Don't worry too much about the NMA as it is simply that, a NON medical assessment. The key point is that he said you do your job well but cannot meet full Marine Corps Standards. We are all supposed to be able to deploy world wide, no exceptions. If you can't meet full requirement and able to deploy, you aren't fit to be a Marine. PERIOD. From your description, your NMA and mine sound close to the same, and it worked for me...granted, I typed mine up for myself and the CO just signed off on it ;)
 
Hey thanks Josh I feel confident in your response. I was thinking the same thing about not meeting full Marine Corps standards to be unfitting. How long ago did you get medically separated?
 
By law you cannot be administratively separated or denied reenlistment due to the same condition a PEB found fitting.

Mike
 
C. PER REF B, MARINES MAY BE INVOLUNTARILY ADMINISTRATIVELY SEPARATED UNDER THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT BASIS OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS, FOR FAILURE TO MEET OR OBTAIN MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR A MILITARY OPERATIONAL SPECIALTY. THIS BASIS MAY BE USED WHEN FAILURE TO MEET THE STANDARD RESULTS FROM PERSONAL LIMITATIONS, LACK OF MOTIVATION OR LACK OF SUITABILITY CAUSED BY CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES NOT RATABLE BY THE PEB AND NOT COVERED BY A MORE SPECIFIC OR APPROPRIATE DISCHARGE CATEGORY. USE SPD CODE GFT, HFT, AND JFT AS APPROPRIATE AND THE NARRATIVE REASON FOR SEPARATION SHALL BE PHYSICAL STANDARDS FOR THESE TYPES OF DISCHARGES. PRIOR TO INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION UNDER THIS CODE, CONSIDERATION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE POTENTIAL FOR CONVERSION TO A SPECIALTY THAT WOULD ENABLE THE MARINE TO CONTINUE SERVICE VICE ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION.

What are these conditions or circumstances that are not ratable by the PEB?
 
pittpan2005 said:
What are these conditions or circumstances that are not ratable by the PEB?
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Generally, they are the conditions that are not a disability (but, rather, part of a person's makeup). Here is a good list from MARCORSEPMAN 1910-120:

(1) Enuresis (bedwetting).
(2) Sleepwalking and/or Somnambulism.
(3) Dyslexia and other learning disorders.
(4) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
(5) Stammering or Stuttering.
(6) Incapacitating fear of flying confirmed by
psychiatric evaluation.
(7) Airsickness, Motion Sickness, and/or Travel
Sickness.
(8) Phobic fear of Air, Sea, and Submarine Modes of
Transportation.
(9) Uncomplicated Alcoholism or Other Substance Use
Disorder.
(10) Mental retardation.
(11) Adjustment Disorders.
(12) Impulse Control Disorders.
(13) Sexual Gender and Identity Disorders paraphilias.
(14) Factitious Disorder.
(15) Obesity.
(16) Over height.
(17) Psuedofolliculitis barbae of the face and/or neck.
(18) Medical Contraindication to the Administration of Required Immunizations.
(19) Significant allergic reaction to stinging insect venom.
(20) Unsanitary habits.
(21) Certain anemias – in the absence of unfitting sequelae – including G6PD deficiency, other
inherited Anemia Trait, and Von Willebrand’s Disease.
(22) Allergy to Uniform Clothing or Wool.
(23) Long Sleeper Syndrome.
(24) Hyperlipidemia.

Note that I do not think all of there are "automatically" not ratable- I think you have to do a full analysis as to whether the condition is static, its cause, and other factors. Also, note that DoDI 1332.38 update has specifically removed chronic Adjustment Disorders as non-ratable (I think the law has always made this condition rateable).
 
So I just talked to my Career Jammer and he said those found fit are separated anyway by Convienence of the Government. It really is determined by your ability to pass the annual training required . Unfortunately, for those under 6 years of Service will probably miss out on any type of Seps pay. I'm just not clear that if I end up going this route if it'll be 50% or 100% seps pay since I'm not allowed to be denied reenlistment due to "what the PEB found fitting".

Argh, it's like the more answers I get the more questions are raised. It never stops.

E3.P7.5.5.5. If a member not entitled to physical disability compensation under Chapter 61 of reference (b) due to the circumstances listed above has six years or more, but less than 20 years of active service, immediately prior to that discharge, the member shall be entitled to separation pay as an involuntary discharge or release from active duty as prescribed by Section 1174 of reference (b), unless the Secretary concerned determines that the conditions under which the member is discharged do not warrant payment of such pay.
 
I don't doubt they are doing their best to ignore what Congress has told them they must do. Doesn't mean they are right and does not mean that it can't be challenged.
 
Try not to stress to much. All you can do it ensure all your paper work is corretly done prior to submitting to the PEB. Once that happens you can't control anything. So no need to stress. Marine Sgt here also and I was recently placed on the PDRL due to my lower back. I'm a mechanic so my back kept me from working on vehicles, or do any required annual training. Which was all noted on my NMA, also stated I did not want to continue service. I was a little iffy about putting that but read into it to much. Usually if you state you do want to continue service the PEB will try everything they can to give you a fit finding. But again being Marines we must be world wide deployable. Anyone of us can be put into a situation were we need to patrol and fight. So the PEB takes that into account, if your injury wont allow you to hump or run up that hill and come back then they will find you unfit. I'm sure everything will work out in your favor. If you are found unfit, but don't hit the magic 30% appeal it till you do. You don't want to miss out on the benefits of being medically retired over medically seperated.
 
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