WAY back, when this all started - in fact, JUST as it started, we were preparing for transfer. On January 17 I submitted my "dream sheet," my list of picks for where we wanted to transfer to. On the 19th, I went to Walter Reed.
As a result, I was placed on a status called "TLD - Temporary Limited Duty." I was medically barred from transfer, to ensure I got close and continuing care. It was "temporary" in nature - not to exceed 1 year. And I got treated, had two surgeries, and things are looking up.
They waited 6 months and, finally, with positive results and follow-up MRIs that showed no aggressive growth, I pushed, and I was finally cleared back to "fit for full duty." I had to fight for it, and follow-up that the paperwork was filed, but it was done - on July 24th, I was cleared and placed back on "Fit For Full Duty" status.
Along the way, I had been discussing transfer options with my detailer (assignment officer). I have a long litany of e-mails going back and forth regarding my career aspirations, family desires, etc. I wanted Puerto Rico, as mentioned, and had medical clearance to go there. But he couldn't do anything until I was back to FFFD.
Well, as mentioned, I finally got cleared, and I sent the detailer an e-mail. I reminded him of our conversations, proudly noted I was okay to transfer, and sent him my personal cell phone number, my home e-mail address, and asked that he contact me "at your earliest convenience" to "discuss my options."
In less than 10 minutes, I got a reply e-mail. In the form of an automated e-mail, with "ORDERS ATTACHED." Nothing, no discussion, no warning, no courtesy heads-up...just orders to report, in 90 days, to the Coast Guard Cutter ALEX HALEY...in Kodiak. Alaska.
I was livid. My XO was in shock. Called the CO, who was out, to relay the news. I went home and had to, somehow, relay the news to Laura. (It was rather humorous, but I'll save that for another date.)
To be fair and completely honest, I (we) did not WANT to go. We had no desire to pack up a 2 year-old and a 6 month-old, spend 20 days driving across the entire continent, to end up on a remote island in the Aleutian chain where I would be gone for 2-4 months at a time, and Laura would have to sign up to receive text message "bear alerts" in case one was spotted in mandatory housing. To be an 18 hour flight away from family and friends, etc. We did not want it.
But there's a secondary concern - what about my follow-up care? I had willingly waived my HIPPA rights to make sure the detailer knew what was going on. So he sends me to Kodiak? On a cutter?
So I contacted my neuro-oncologist, the aforementioned super-awesome Doc Theeler. Told him of the orders. His response was "That's not an appropriate assignment for you at this time. Tell me what I need to do, what paperwork, memo, etc. you need." Because the nearest neuro clinic to Kodiak is 498 miles away in Anchorage.
And that's where the story takes a turn for the positive. Because the Coast Guard is smart, and requires everyone going "OCONUS" (Outside Continental US, anything other than the lower 48) to undergo a full screening for suitability - medical, dental, financial, family, everything. But, one has to be careful.
Because, the medical screening notes that members who are NOT qualified to go overseas risk being designated as "Not Worldwide Deployable," which then means you may be subject to a "med board" - the administrative process of kicking someone out because they aren't medically fit for service.
So, going back to my doc's response, I typed the memo for him. If you've ever met me, you'll know I'm a bit of a policy wonk and very adept at reading and comprehending boring manuals. So I stuck my head into Coast Guard policy - three main manuals. The "Military Assignments and Authorized Absences Manual," the "Medical Manual," and the "Military Separations Manual." I read and knew the relevant sections backwards and forwards.
So, I typed the memo, cited all sorts of policy, sent it to doc, included the reference policy (so he'd know what he's signing), and waited. Well, he changed about 3 words, signed it, and returned it to me on letterhead.
So, if you've ever wondered what a "Get Out of Jail, Free!" card looks like, I now have one. I actually have about 10, because I printed and saved and sent that thing everywhere.
Unfortunately, we STILL weren't out of the woods. Because I took said memo with me to my medical screening with my USPHS PCM doc, she read it, and...
said...
"So what he's saying is, you should get a med board."
WHAT??! How, what...NO!! "He" specifically states that a med board IS NOT appropriate at this time! That my condition is "temporary" in nature, and I should return to full worldwide deployable status in 2 years (with continued positive monitoring).
I was apoplectic. And scared poopless. PCM said she wanted to "consult with colleagues" before rendering a decision. She said she needed a week.
I came back a week later. And she, honest-to-God, asked me why I was there. "Uh, because you told me to come back in a week for my overseas screening?" Well, she still hadn't made a decision on the med board, but she DID say that she agreed that the orders to Kodiak were "not suited" for me at the time. But she would get back to me.
My orders did get cancelled a few days later. So at least there's that - we were now certain that we were NOT packing everything up and moving across country in a month. But still no news on if I'd still be in the Coast Guard.
Finally, someone, somewhere, got brought into the conversation, and cooler heads prevailed. Turns out all the wording and references cited in the memo had the EXACT intended consequence: I was told I would have to file a separate memo of my own, one where I requested a TEMPORARY waiver from PSC (Personnel Servicing Command) to be two years of Not Worldwide Deployable. As part of the waiver, and per my doc's instructions, I can be reassigned, I just need to be located somewhere within "two hours' reasonable commute" of a Tri-Care approved neurology clinic.
My assignment officer has now, more or less, given up and just said "Apply for the normal jobs as part of the AY15 rotation." So I'll be part of the normal transfer process. It's incumbent on ME to make sure that all the places I apply to are able to meet my medical needs. I have been warned not to try and take advantage of this - and I have no intention of doing that. Like, putting down all of 3 primo-awesome places and pretending they're the only places I could go. (A normal list is anwyhere from 50-80 billets.)
So yeah, end result: we're here in Maryland, still. Sticking it out until the normal time, June/July of 2015. I won't even see what's available until January 10, and our final list is due January 30. Orders are usually then sent out around late March/early April.
Doing good. All is well. And every day I wake up without a brain tumor is a great day.
And that's where the story takes a turn for the positive. Because the Coast Guard is smart, and requires everyone going "OCONUS" (Outside Continental US, anything other than the lower 48) to undergo a full screening for suitability - medical, dental, financial, family, everything. But, one has to be careful.
Because, the medical screening notes that members who are NOT qualified to go overseas risk being designated as "Not Worldwide Deployable," which then means you may be subject to a "med board" - the administrative process of kicking someone out because they aren't medically fit for service.
So, going back to my doc's response, I typed the memo for him. If you've ever met me, you'll know I'm a bit of a policy wonk and very adept at reading and comprehending boring manuals. So I stuck my head into Coast Guard policy - three main manuals. The "Military Assignments and Authorized Absences Manual," the "Medical Manual," and the "Military Separations Manual." I read and knew the relevant sections backwards and forwards.
So, I typed the memo, cited all sorts of policy, sent it to doc, included the reference policy (so he'd know what he's signing), and waited. Well, he changed about 3 words, signed it, and returned it to me on letterhead.
So, if you've ever wondered what a "Get Out of Jail, Free!" card looks like, I now have one. I actually have about 10, because I printed and saved and sent that thing everywhere.
Unfortunately, we STILL weren't out of the woods. Because I took said memo with me to my medical screening with my USPHS PCM doc, she read it, and...
said...
"So what he's saying is, you should get a med board."
WHAT??! How, what...NO!! "He" specifically states that a med board IS NOT appropriate at this time! That my condition is "temporary" in nature, and I should return to full worldwide deployable status in 2 years (with continued positive monitoring).
I was apoplectic. And scared poopless. PCM said she wanted to "consult with colleagues" before rendering a decision. She said she needed a week.
I came back a week later. And she, honest-to-God, asked me why I was there. "Uh, because you told me to come back in a week for my overseas screening?" Well, she still hadn't made a decision on the med board, but she DID say that she agreed that the orders to Kodiak were "not suited" for me at the time. But she would get back to me.
My orders did get cancelled a few days later. So at least there's that - we were now certain that we were NOT packing everything up and moving across country in a month. But still no news on if I'd still be in the Coast Guard.
Finally, someone, somewhere, got brought into the conversation, and cooler heads prevailed. Turns out all the wording and references cited in the memo had the EXACT intended consequence: I was told I would have to file a separate memo of my own, one where I requested a TEMPORARY waiver from PSC (Personnel Servicing Command) to be two years of Not Worldwide Deployable. As part of the waiver, and per my doc's instructions, I can be reassigned, I just need to be located somewhere within "two hours' reasonable commute" of a Tri-Care approved neurology clinic.
My assignment officer has now, more or less, given up and just said "Apply for the normal jobs as part of the AY15 rotation." So I'll be part of the normal transfer process. It's incumbent on ME to make sure that all the places I apply to are able to meet my medical needs. I have been warned not to try and take advantage of this - and I have no intention of doing that. Like, putting down all of 3 primo-awesome places and pretending they're the only places I could go. (A normal list is anwyhere from 50-80 billets.)
So yeah, end result: we're here in Maryland, still. Sticking it out until the normal time, June/July of 2015. I won't even see what's available until January 10, and our final list is due January 30. Orders are usually then sent out around late March/early April.
Doing good. All is well. And every day I wake up without a brain tumor is a great day.
Pearl Harbor?
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