Removal from duty - COC difficulties

A

Airforcematt

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A couple years ago my career field changed to flight status, which requires a flight physical to remain in the job. I completed the physical but the records were lost so the AF has no record of it happening. I was scheduled for my flight physical however it was cancelled until after the completion of the MEB.

Due to my medical condition I am currently taking various medications that would normally render me unfit for duty if I were an active flyer.

AFI 48-123 states the following
"Acute medical problems, injuries, or their appropriate therapy are cause for withholding
certification of initial training or temporarily restricting the individual from controller duties until the problem is resolved"

I have two such conditions. My back (DDD, which makes it painful to sit for extended periods), and my Anxiety Disorder/PTSD (depending on which doc I talk to)

I have spoken with my doctor but he says he cannot place any restrictions on my job as he is not a flight surgeon. I have also voiced my concerns to my leadership up to the O-6 level but have been told that I should just "concentrate on the checklists and you'll be okay" - Based on my pain level and mental issues which are both affecting the quality of my work I strongly disagree with them.

On the commanders letter detailing my condition to the medical evaluation board the following statements were made.

"[my name] is currently conducting his primary duties under a modified schedule providing him oversight while performing his duties. This modified schedule was effective [date]"

and

"Currently [my name] is not able to perform his duties as a _____ member without direct supervision."

Shortly after this letter was signed by my O-6 my schedule was changed again where I work half of my days alone. I'm seriously concerned that working alone is not a good idea but my boss disagrees with me. When I first expressed my concerns to him he told me that if I managed to get my doctor to remove me from duty he would force me to cross-train. When I told him today that the MEB would keep that from happening he told me that if I got removed from duty by my doctor then I would become the O-6's secretary. I'm having a hard time keeping my OWN schedule and tasks straight, working for the O-6 would be an unmitigated DISASTER for me.

Not really sure how to proceed from here. I'm leaning towards just riding it out and trying not to mess up but at the same time if I do that I feel like it could be used against me at my board cause technically I'm still doing my job even though I "have to have supervision" - my boss claims safety is not a concern

Any thoughts? I may be making mountains out of molehills here but I don't think I am... Then again it's 4am and I don't have any desire to sleep so I may not be thinking clearly... :/
 
I have made this statement in the past and it still rings true...

A Commander's Letter is only a recommendation and a viewpoint, just like a Commander will look at a profile or limited duty order as a recommendation and an opinion NOT AN ORDER. They will look at it and interpet what they want from it.
 
Is your main concern you feel you or others safety is at risk by working alone or are you looking for a new NMA from your command showing the changes in your work/duties?

If you or others are "unsafe" than you have a duty to do the right thing. If you simply want a new NMA I don't see an added benefit based on what you posted.

If you need work restrictions your PCM or specialists can make those recommendations. If they want your flight surgeon to ground you or place the restrictions than go see your flight surgeon. They can then talk with each other and get it straightened out. Obviously you are already grounded. Therefore your flight surgeon shouldn't have to make these "calls" unless Aviation Medicine is retaining you on their books. You could always ask to be transferred out of Aviation Medicine since you are grounded and unable to work in that field. My experience is once you are no longer on flight status they cut chocks and move you to another section of the hospital. If you received a waiver and were subsequently back on flight status you would then transfer back to Aviation Medicine.
 
I'm in a weird gray area in that I should be being seen by flight med but since I don't yet have my initial flight physical I'm still being seen by family practice. I think this is a safety issue but my boss disagrees. My PCM has said he cannot limit my specific duties at work, that I'll have to work things through my COC. I was leaning towards trying again to have my PCM recommend limitations but with the threat of an even higher stress situation looming if I do so I feel like I've backed into a corner and have no choice but to just try and deal with my current work environment. I was more venting than anything else with this post - thanks for keeping it real guys :)
 
Would talking with Patient Advocacy and letting them know how your are being treated badly, and you feel that your rights of medical treatment due to your medical conditions are not being met? Maybe this would be a good push?
 
Good-ish news to report on this front. My wife had an appt today with my PCM, I spoke to him while I was there and reiterated my concerns. Much to my surprise he agreed with me and made me DNIF which will restrict me to office duties and remove me from what I saw as an unsafe situation. He actually apologized to me and stated that he should have done this long ago based on the medication I was taking but didn't understand what I was asking for when I talked to him in the past. On the flipside I'm freaking out about how things are going to play out at work. Hope I don't end up in the doghouse over this one...
 
That is some good news on that front, I am sure your daily battles will shift to another front... It really shouldn't be this way for anyone on the MEB, but it sure the hell feels like it... Hang in there bro!
 
grizz13 said:
That is some good news on that front, I am sure your daily battles will shift to another front... It really shouldn't be this way for anyone on the MEB, but it sure the hell feels like it... Hang in there bro!
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Update for my situation. The medical limitations that were placed on me have been lifted because I'm not technically on flight status yet (like I mentioned in the first post of the thread). When informed that the limitations had been lifted I was told that it was the Flight Med O-6's call and if anyone had any questions they could talk to him about them. I expressed concern about working with the medication that I was on and was told to "take it up with my chain of command" and if I had any problems that they would be more than willing to tell my leadership I should not be working but they couldn't put it in writing. This frustrated me/set me back quite a bit mentally so I took some time to calm down before taking it to my boss. Because my Supervisor was out of the shop I ended up talking to my OIC about the problems. The last time I talked with the OIC and the O-6 in my COC I was basically told "suck it up" - since that time I have a new OIC and he is about as opposite as you can get.

Get THIS! He told me "your medical needs come first, don't sweat the shifts - we got them covered" and once I told him about the DNIF being removed he told me "You won't be working till YOU tell me you feel comfortable - scratch that, you'll have to CONVINCE me you are good to go before I let you go back to work" How awesome is that?!

I seriously feel like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that I don't have to worry about feeling like I'm in an unsafe situation/placing others in an unsafe situation. In about two weeks time I've gone from a COC that wanted me to "suck it up" and a supervisor that was threatening to cross train me to get rid of me to an OIC that is willing to fight for me and tells me my medical needs come first.
 
That is good news matt, but be careful. Make attempts to do you shifts to show that you are working on it. Don't just not show up, this may or may not look bad. When I was told not to show back up for work after PT, I still attempted to work, but was consistently told I wasn't needed and to go take care of myself. I still got a great NCOER due to the fact I still took care of Soldiers during and after duty hours, but another didn't and he got a really bad NCOER and they didn't give him a seperation award... Attempts are better than not attempting!
 
grizz13 said:
That is good news matt, but be careful. Make attempts to do you shifts to show that you are working on it. Don't just not show up, this may or may not look bad. When I was told not to show back up for work after PT, I still attempted to work, but was consistently told I wasn't needed and to go take care of myself. I still got a great NCOER due to the fact I still took care of Soldiers during and after duty hours, but another didn't and he got a really bad NCOER and they didn't give him a seperation award... Attempts are better than not attempting!
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Good reminder Grizz, thanks :) I'm one of those people that I'd have to be dead to miss work. I'm very proud that despite everything that I'm going through I've missed very few days of work. My NCOIC told me they should have a admin type job for me in the next few days, we'll see what they come up with.
 
afmatt said:
Good reminder Grizz, thanks :) I'm one of those people that I'd have to be dead to miss work. I'm very proud that despite everything that I'm going through I've missed very few days of work. My NCOIC told me they should have a admin type job for me in the next few days, we'll see what they come up with.
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Good, and take no offense from leaders when they say your aren't needed. Take the time to get yourself and family ready for the transition of getting out. Start saving some money now, cuz you'll miss out on a few months of pay! Start window shopping for jobs/colleges and figure out what you want to do when you get out. This is going to leave you with ample time to figure out a good idea... Never plan, they always fall apart...
 
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