Could This Be My "stressor"

[Ryan H.]

I was awarded Combat Aircrew Wings after my first deployment to Iraq. They are the equivelant to a Combat Action Ribbon, but the VA does not recognize that. It seems that since only a handfull of people get these they just turn a blind eye to it. I would like an opinion on this because I am taking this MCO and my Original award certificate into my C&P this Sat.

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MCO P1000.6G

COMBAT AIRCREW INSIGNIA

1. The Combat Aircrew Insignia may be authorized for those aircrewmen

qualified under para- graph 3309, who have participated in aerial flight

during combat, and those enlisted personnel who qualify for nontechnical

aircrew positions and serve in such positions in aerial combat.

2. Unit commanders may designate as combat aircrewmen, and authorize the

wearing of the Combat Aircrew Insignia, those enlisted personnel who

satisfactorily meet the prerequisites listed below. Make an appropriate entry

(to include any authorization for combat stars earned under paragraph 3310.4)

in the Marine’s record per current instruction.

3. The prerequisites for designation as a combat aircrewmen follow:

a. The Marine must be a volunteer for combat aircrew duty.

b. The Marine must be qualified per physical and psychological

requirements of the Manual of the Medical Department.

c. The Marine must be a regularly assigned member of a flight crew in an

aircraft participating in combat operations.

d. The Marine must be a graduate of an established course of instruction

and/or OJT qualifying the Marine for a position in the flight crew of a Marine

aircraft.

4. Combat aircrewmen who have qualified to wear combat stars may wear the

Combat Aircrew Insignia on a permanent basis. A maximum of three combat stars

may be awarded for display on the Combat Aircrew Insignia. The criteria for

earning individual combat stars (which are authorized by unit commanders) are

as follows:

a. Engagement of an enemy aircraft.

b. Engagement of an enemy vessel with bombs, rockets, torpedoes, guns or

missiles.

c. Participation in offensive or defensive operations against enemy

fortified positions.

5. A Marine who is qualified to wear both the Naval Aircrew Insignia and the

Combat Aircrew Insignia has the option of wearing the one of his choice.

Requests for verification of combat aircrew status must include sufficient

documentation to substantiate compliance with the prerequisites. Address all

inquiries concerning this insignia to the CMC (ASM).

6. The combat aircrew designation will be canceled by the unit commander

whenever the flight status of the Marine is terminated because he is no longer

physically, psychologically or technically qualified for combat aircrew

duty,or because he is transferred to a billet in which duty involving flying

is not required. Unless the Marine has qualified for permanent retention

under paragraph 3310.4, the authorization to wear the Combat Aircrew Insignia

is revoked upon cancellation of the designation.

[Berta]

PS all-this is why you should all file a DD 149 if you think your DD 214 might be wrong-

I just checked Rod's DD 215 as I responded to Ryan-

He got 4 additional awards on the DD 215- one of them was to add 3 Bronze Stars to his VSM-

Can you imagine that- I bet many Marines never got these right-

The original 214 says VSM and here the bronze campaign Stars appear on the DD 215-with 2 decorations from Vietnam

and the Presidental Unit CItation.

Maybe this is why he had to write that horrendous stressor letter-in 1994

And now I even wonder if he even sent this DD 215 to the VARO-

He got it after he filed for higher rating for his DD 214-

and that took 6 years-a posthumous 100% award-

Anyone see my point? If the DD 214 is wrong- and then they correct it-decades after the fact-

the VA has to fully award of the new DD 215 and what these awards actually mean.

His MOS was truck driver but all Marines were Infantry too-he was diagnosed and helped to file for PTSD within hours and got 30% in a few months back in 1983 but to get the proper 100%-now I think his older DD 214 did not come close to really showing combat-

Boy- I just realised that the first 214 he had which was was missing those 3 Bronze Stars did NOT reflect battle.

[Jazona]

Ryan,

Is the citation signed by one of your ranking officers? CO? NCOIC? If so, that Sir, is GOLD! That is documented proof of a stressor. Protect it, don't give it to anyone, make copies and give them out. It clearly puts you in the theater of action, documents hostile enemy fire and that your efforts "contributed materially to the sucess of the United States Military". If you want supporting data, look through your documents for anything related to the mission, cargo manifests, seperate rations forms any and all pieces of paper that relates.

Put them in a safe place. I lost some of mine cause they got wet during a move. As to the "other" stuff...keep it around as when you get to be an old fart like me...they're fun to look at.

Where are you at in your claim? Never mind..found it down there. Yes, by all means take this, I still wouldn't take the original in the C&P, and have them read it. Take everything that has to do with hostile enemy fire.

jaz

Wanted to add...folks, when looking through our military records, just because a document looks like copy and isn't of worth, hold that puppy up to the light and check for a military watermark...proves it was copied on a military copier...for what it's worth.

Edited March 17, 2008 by Jazona

[Philip Rogers]

Ryan H. - I believe this verifies your stressor(s). You can bring a copy to the C&P but don't allow the original to leave your sight. I don't think this will make any difference for or at your C&P but will help with the service center's decision as to service connection. It certainly verifies your stressor. They may still request statements as to what happened in particular incidents. Are they calling your diagnosis "anxiety disorder" or "PTSD?"

pr

This is what the citation says.

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In accordance with the reference, you are here by awarded the Combat Aircrew Insignia with three stars for participation in multiple combat missions as a Crew Chief aboard a Ch-46e Sea Knight aircraft in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. All missions were flown over terrain where hostile fire from enemy Iraqi forces was actually recieved or was reasonably expected. By your resourcefullness and your outstanding performance of duty while exposed to hostile fire or the threat of hostile fire, you contributed materially to the sucess of the United States Military and National Objectives in the liberation of the Iraqi people. These actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

[Ryan H.]

Berta.. Thank you for taking so much interese in this. My DAV rep is hard to come by.

"I am a civilian so I can only assume that this is an individual citation to you. And that the 3 stars each denote a campaign or battle like the stars on my husband's ribbon-Vietnam"

Combat Aircrew Wings are an individual award, and each star is a representation of how many times I recieved met the criteria for the award.

"Or do you mean they denied at that time and you have continued with the PTSD claim?"

Here are my breif expierences with the VA. Upon leaving active duty i went through cattle proccessing system that is the exit exams. I complained of PTSD before i exited active duty during my VA evaluations. They did not grant service connected PTSD, but did grant General anxiety. They did not, however, feel that i deserved compensation. The examining Dr did give me a GAF of 60, but did not make any attemt to discuss my combat deployments. So i am service connected for anxiety, but im not getting any compensation for it.

"Is the citation signed by one of your ranking officers? CO?"

Yes it is signed by then LtCol Brian c Murtha..... The nephew of Jack Murtha the congress man of PA.....lol

I just got back from my therapy apt with the VA shrink. She made a copy of her notes from our first meeting. She has diagnosed me with PTSD and moderate depression. She has given me a GAF of 55.

That is 5 points lower than my inital rating.....does that help me in all of this?

i apologise for bringing all this when im so close to my C&P apts. My dav rep is terrible and i pretty much have been doing all the leg work myself. I started to reopen every thing about 2 and 1/2 years after my original ratings. I do not believe that 10% but i really didnt think that i could do anything about it. the info that i have found on this site in just the 24 hours i have been on it has helped greatly.. Thanks to all that have replied.

[Testvet]

it is a time consuming process and appeals and treatment is important you have to work a VA claim like you do a job, you have to keep your records organized, seperated in areas so you can find them, folders help, tabs help, notebooks make sure you get and keep copies of doctor treatment notes, C&P exams, private doctors records etc. some of us have been dealing with our claim for years and in a few cases decades, they try and get you to quit by denials or awarding low ball percentages, you are the only one that can decide to drop your claim, you are the only true advocate for your claim the service officers you will deal with in the coming years, most won't return your calls, a few will never even speak to you, they send it all by mail, a few will know less than you do, and if you get real lucky you find one that is good at what they do and actually help you, other than that plan on helping yourself and ask questions, lot's of them the only dumb question is the one you don't ask........

[Ryan H.]

testvet-

Thank you for the advise. So i do have another question... Should i send a copy of the award citation in to the VA as evidence or should i just bring it with me to the C&P? I am fully prepared to be screwed over again. I have other "issues that i am wanting to have looked at as well but i dont want to push too far to fast. Like flat feet, and lower back condition. I was denied service connection for these problems but i have clear evidence of having the problems throughout my service.