Medical Employment Limitation ( MEL )

[Hussar1987]

All,

Just received a notification of change of MELs.  I am an Armoured Officer and have been downgraded to O4 from O5 due to a heart issue.  Geographic is 4.  The MEL states that I unfit for operational military environments over 3 months. 

Is this me done?  To this simpleton I have got to be in breach of univerality of service.  Is this what I have to look forward to?  Med Release?

Any advice or perspective would be greatly appreciated.  I find the aval information (online) incredibly vague.  I cannot imagine a career without any opportunity to deploy again. 

 

[Ostrozac]

have been downgraded to O4 from O5

Generally speaking, the bigger the numbers, the worse your medical condition. So you can't be downgraded to 4 from 5. 5 is worse.

Do you mean the other way around? That you used to be O4, you're now worse, and now you're O5? Or do you mean that your condition improved from O5 to O4?

 

[Hussar1987]

Good catch.  Yes; I am now a 4 and was a 5. 

 

[ModlrMike]

It's good that you went from O5 to O4, but to keep some perspective, G4O4 does not have a good prognosis WRT retention.

 

[Ostrozac]

Based on my experience -- a member shouldn't be assigned a permanent medical category until the medical condition stabilizes. If the condition continues to improve, the member should be given the benefit of the doubt in the temporary medical category world.

Once the condition stabilizes long term, and a permanent medical category is assigned, then you start getting into the world of retention, accommodation, etc... And as stated, 04G4 isn't a great medical category.

 

[CombatDoc]

Is this a PCAT or TCAT?  If it's a PCAT, the permanent MELs will be assigned by D Med Pol, and if significant these will then be forwarded to DMCA for their adjudication re: Retain without Restriction/Compulsory OT/or Release.  With a PCAT of G4O4 and a limitation of "unfit deployment for periods > 3 months" the prognosis for continued service is not good, but, DMCA will make that decision regarding your career.  I recommend that you contact your local MO and Case Manager for further advice WRT the way ahead.

 

[CountDC]

uh uh - not absolute on the DMCA deciding.  New policy came out 1 Jul that may place it in the CO's hand.  DMCA will decide if it is low or high risk PCAT and MEL.  If low risk then they will send an advisory to the unit and the CO will have the option of retention without restrictions, retention with restrictions or recommend for release.  If high risk then DMCA will continue the process.  I received both types from them in the last two weeks.

 

[xo31@711ret]

nothing is absolute; I've been retired from the regs since 06; my last posting was as a Sgt at CFCC Freddy-town & BMC Gagetown doing medicals; G4 from what I remember, was unfit because of medical limitations  or because of the unacceptable risk to the health and/or safety ;
(G5 required scheduled specialist medical care more frequently than every six (6) months; basically meaning unfit for extended overseas employment, ships, etc  (an area that does not have ready access to FULL  medical services). Back in the 'good ol' days' of the 80's and 90's such individuals were sometimes given a base and-or desk job. But from what I understood, a person with a G4 (or G5) is  taking up a numbered position. For example a cbt arms soldier who is undeployable. So ,does the CO want an individual who cannot deploy?Is this fair? Perhap, perhaps not, depends on your opinion. Is this still the same? Probably not; like I said I retired from the regs in 06. Mike might know as retired same trade a couple years ago as a C2.

 

[CombatDoc]

Since I'm not retired and do actually wear a medical cap badge, I can tell you that a G4O4 PCAT is not going to be going to a CO for decision.  G4O4 permanent will be reviewed by DMCA.  The policy authorizing CO's to make this determination is only for "low risk" MELs - a G4O4 would not fall into this category.  You can argue that, but you'd only be wrong.

 

[Onthewayout]

Hello!

I have recently been put on a P-CAT, most of my MILs are pretty clear but there is one that leave room for interpretation...."Clerical work only"

What does that include or exclude?

My supervisor wants me to go on parade since i dont have that restriction on my P-CAT (even if the arthritis makes it hard for me to walk around some days), does that fall under "Clerical Work"?

Please help!

Onthewayout AKA Themouse

 

[George Wallace]

A "Parade" is not "Clerical Work".  You have two problems here:

1.  Your supervisor is not looking at what the intent of the Doctor's chit says; and
2.  Your Doctor/medical staff was not clear in defining what you "could not do".


An example being Parades.  Your supervisor may be looking at a Parade as a simple act of marching out onto parade, standing and then marching off parade.  He may not look at a Doctor being concerned about the degree of movement required on a parade combined with long periods of standing.  If the medical staff are not specific in what they put on your chit, you may find supervisors who will want you to do things against the intent of the chit, through those omissions.  Clarity is very important.

 

[Onthewayout]

Thank you for your quick reply!

I know what your saying, i've been on chist for almost 2 years before getting my P-CAT and it clearly said on thsoe "NO DRILL-NO PARADE", when my PCAT came in from Ottawa it wasn,t as clear anymore and my boss thinks i got cured by the miracle of ordinary bureaucraty...

I am trying to stay positive trough that whole getting out early situation...why do they feel like making it harder for me? Can't wait for my JPSU posting!

Guess I'm off to sick parade on Monday!!

 

[medicineman]

Clerical Work Only means just that...I actually prefer the term "Sedentary Duties Only", which means essentially "Sitting on your backside".  You need to have a chit clarification.

MM

 

[Shamrock]

Clerical Work Only means just that...I actually prefer the term "Sedentary Duties Only", which means essentially "Sitting on your backside".  You need to have a chit clarification.

MM

Which is a good point as clerks perform drill. I see quite often 'unfit military work environment' - leaves me wondering how long until someone asks for the time off.

 

[medicineman]

Which is a good point as clerks perform drill. I see quite often 'unfit military work environment' - leaves me wondering how long until someone asks for the time off.

Usually those folks get employed somewhere like the rink or gym or something like that where they don't wear a uniform and don't have uniformed folks in charge of them, except for the JPSU.  Unfit military or operational environment doesn't mean unfit getting paid to go to work.

MM

 

[Onthewayout]

Usually those folks get employed somewhere like the rink or gym or something like that where they don't wear a uniform and don't have uniformed folks in charge of them, except for the JPSU.  Unfit military or operational environment doesn't mean unfit getting paid to go to work.

MM

This is what I've been trying to go for for almost a year now...unfortunatly it's up to the unit's discretion and my unit is very rpetty disrcet about it since everytime i ask about it no one in my immediate COC have an answer for me...This is all getting very frustrating... I didn't ask to get hurt, i got a wife and kids and the prospect of loosing my job is stressful enough without having to put up with that "lets givehim a hard time since he's almost done" kind of attitude....

 

[Teager]

Onthewayout i'm posted to a JPSU and I defiently understand your fears of losing your job and the stress it creates. I'm not sure about how to go about getting yourself posted to a JPSU but i'd think if you have a P-Cat talk to your career manager and get them to push for a posting there. If your feeling the stress feel free to send me a message.

 

[Onthewayout]

Onthewayout i'm posted to a JPSU and I defiently understand your fears of losing your job and the stress it creates. I'm not sure about how to go about getting yourself posted to a JPSU but i'd think if you have a P-Cat talk to your career manager and get them to push for a posting there. If your feeling the stress feel free to send me a message.

Much appreciated!

 

[Onthewayout]

Called my CDU this mornign to get an official answer to give my boss, and like mentionned, clerica work pretty much means do nothing but sit at a desk (or in the canteen in my case ><) all day...thx for the help!

 

[medicineman]

This is what I've been trying to go for for almost a year now...unfortunatly it's up to the unit's discretion and my unit is very rpetty disrcet about it since everytime i ask about it no one in my immediate COC have an answer for me...This is all getting very frustrating... I didn't ask to get hurt, i got a wife and kids and the prospect of loosing my job is stressful enough without having to put up with that "lets givehim a hard time since he's almost done" kind of attitude....

OTWO - I was referring to people that have the unfit military/operational environment when I said that...alot of folks that are JPSU posted with clerical only have a uniformed job doing some sort of clerical work with another unit on base or with the JPSU themselves.  Didn't mean to confuse the issue.

MM