Sick Bay Commandos

[pacmanx1]

Sick Bay Commandos

September 12, 2010 posted by Dale R. Suiter

Soldiers and Marines that frequented sick call has historically been referred to as "Sick Bay Commandos". An old Jody Call goes: "Blind, Crippled and Crazy, we are all lazy" troops on sick call were made to sing marching to sick call. (years ago – I doubt many Troops or Marines have to march in formation to sick call in today's military.)

Members of the military must now prove to the United States government, i.e. the military medical system and Veterans Administration that wounds received in action or line of duty injury or illness can be attributed to military service. This can be a complex issue for TBI victims and other wounded or ill members of the military that have not documented their medical issue. I urge family members to keep a separate medical file for their military loved ones. If they receive a yellow sticky note, make a copy of it. Keep it in chronological order too.

Cases that go to medical boards and compensation and pension hearings (before the VA) must be documented. Any witness statements are very, very helpful too. There is no such thing as to much documentation. No injury or illness is to small.

Case in point. Firefight, 42 years ago. Squad leader fires his M-16. The muzzle of the weapon is next to the right ear when he fires. The Marine says: "Damm Sarge" and moves to another position. Of course, now, 42 years later he has a bad ear. No proof exists. He did not leave his squad. There was no such thing as sick call for something considered so minor as a sore ear.

Now, the guy with the "bad ear" can in no way prove the injury is related to combat service. There is no record of it. Finding the squad leader is not an option.

Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guard Personnel – do yourself a huge favor – document any medical issue. There is no such thing as "too minor" today. This does not mean that you are "Sick Bay Commando". It merely means that you will be prepared if you need the nation to care for you later in life – when, if it is not in writing – you stand a reasonable chance of being denied benefits.

Regards All

Dale R. Suiter

[LarryJ]

Excellent post. It surprises me how many cases just like this that I have seen in the past year. Where I know that the veteran is not "making it up" but there is NO evidence other than their word. Heartbreaking, especially when I see that the veteran is losing their home and family just because there is no documentation of ANY kind.

Go to sick call. Make notes. So what if "they" call you a "Sick Bay Commando"..............40 years from now, the name calling will be only a memory...........the physical disabilities that you incurred while on duty, well, they'll be there until you die!

[john999]

I wonder what kind of marks you get on your record now if you ask to see a psychiatrist in the modern army? In my day you were considered a shitbird and a psycho all at the same time. It was just unheard of to ask to for help unless you were trying to avoid a courts martial or something.

[brokensoldier244th]

I had this problem when I got hurt during my last week in basic (fell from an obstacle onto my ruck, carrying the radio-two lower blown discs) during our final field exercise. I was 23 and told that I would have to be fixed and recycled, which could take months, and my family was back home taking care of my mom. I sucked on a bottle(s) of ibuprofen, did the final road march, got seen by BAS while clearing post to AIT, and started all over again there. It was almost 2 months before I got an X-ray or MRI. By that point they realized I wasn't making shit up. Then it was another 7-8 months to process the MEB/PEB. I was in for year and didn't do jack. My command got tired of me and finally issued me a permanent pass to move about post just so I could keep on all the stuff I had to do. I shudder to think what would have happened if Id been an 18 year old fresh from home trainee instead of 23 and college educated with life/work experience.

[stillhere]

Sick Bay Commandos

September 12, 2010 posted by Dale R. Suiter

Soldiers and Marines that frequented sick call has historically been referred to as "Sick Bay Commandos". An old Jody Call goes: "Blind, Crippled and Crazy, we are all lazy" troops on sick call were made to sing marching to sick call. (years ago – I doubt many Troops or Marines have to march in formation to sick call in today's military.)

Members of the military must now prove to the United States government, i.e. the military medical system and Veterans Administration that wounds received in action or line of duty injury or illness can be attributed to military service. This can be a complex issue for TBI victims and other wounded or ill members of the military that have not documented their medical issue. I urge family members to keep a separate medical file for their military loved ones. If they receive a yellow sticky note, make a copy of it. Keep it in chronological order too.

Cases that go to medical boards and compensation and pension hearings (before the VA) must be documented. Any witness statements are very, very helpful too. There is no such thing as to much documentation. No injury or illness is to small.

Case in point. Firefight, 42 years ago. Squad leader fires his M-16. The muzzle of the weapon is next to the right ear when he fires. The Marine says: "Damm Sarge" and moves to another position. Of course, now, 42 years later he has a bad ear. No proof exists. He did not leave his squad. There was no such thing as sick call for something considered so minor as a sore ear.

Now, the guy with the "bad ear" can in no way prove the injury is related to combat service. There is no record of it. Finding the squad leader is not an option.

Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guard Personnel – do yourself a huge favor – document any medical issue. There is no such thing as "too minor" today. This does not mean that you are "Sick Bay Commando". It merely means that you will be prepared if you need the nation to care for you later in life – when, if it is not in writing – you stand a reasonable chance of being denied benefits.

Regards All

Dale R. Suiter

There are many articles supporting the fact that War is bad for your ears. It is the most granted disability by the VA. The trouble with the record keeping and the sick bay reports are that they are usually not there even if you did go.

When a vet musters out these days there is a battery of tests preformed and quite a few problems are found and noted. Back when the Vietnam vets were getting out either for early outs for school or at there date of fulfillment of their service that was not done. The raters have a tendency to require paper work to get anything and if your physical is not there then you have to show support some other way.

In some cases NOT having a physical report can help you because the VA also will use the reports that are there to be iron clad and will deny all the way to the BVA.

If you believe in your claim in your heart and mind stay with it and you eventually will win it will just be a long haul.

[Vync]

Very good advice here

[shag]

good advice as stated earlier....but what a shame it has to be that way.